Spirit of the Blue by Hugh Thomas

Author:Hugh Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780750979818
Publisher: The History Press

The Desert Air Force’s primary role was to support the British Army, which had retreated to the Egyptian coastal town of El Alamein in mid-1942. For over a year, the Allied forces had remained there, pinned down by large German forces. Rommel’s Afrika Korps was pushing ever closer, knocking at the door. The British Eighth Army could not hold out for ever; it required ground support but it also needed aerial protection from Luftwaffe aircraft dive-bombing its positions.

For Peter, the past three weeks had been a hectic introduction to the art of desert flying. Now, 23 October was to mark the beginning of an intense bout of combat fighting for him. He was asked by Jack Finnis, his commanding officer, to carry out a reconnaissance of the northern sector area on this date, reporting back with a suitable landing ground for the entire Wing that was closer to the Axis lines. It was a measure of his maturity and experience – despite the fact that he had flown in the desert for no more than twenty-one days – that he was tasked with finding, and found, an airstrip that he thought might be appropriate. This airstrip became known as LG 172. In the afternoon of that day, 243 Wing moved to LG 172, further towards the Axis line, in anticipation of the intended drive by the Allied land forces. The first British shells were fired at half-past eight in the evening, and thereafter the British artillery unleashed a barrage of incredible intensity. Peter believes that this strike was probably the most ferocious and concentrated artillery barrage in the entire war. Never had he witnessed the sight and deafening sound of hundreds of guns pounding the Axis lines. The barrage started just as the light faded, continuing overnight and well into the following day.

At the crack of dawn on 24 October, 243 Wing patrolled the line, providing aerial cover for the British ground forces from the German dive-bombers. The four squadrons were positioned at different height intervals, the top and middle flights providing cover by engaging fighters, while the bottom flight protected the ground forces by attacking dive-bombers.

On that particular day, No. 33 Squadron had been designated ‘bottom squadron’, and as such was the closest to the activity on the ground. Later in the afternoon, the Wing was in action again when Peter claimed a direct hit.

He called these events ‘The Putsch’ in his logbook.

24 Oct – Patrol of the line – protecting army, push in the North. 4 Me 109s were seen above but they did not attempt to attack. A small amount of accurate flak.

24 Oct – Patrol of the line – intercepted by 15 Me 109s and 202s [Macchi 202] on reaching Alamein.

Terrific dogfight ensued. Self one 109 damaged. Everybody OK. Bags of activity on the ground.

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