No.3 (AC) Squadron Royal Australian Air Force in WW2

A Brief History of Hawker Hurricane Operations

January 1941 – April 1941 

On the 12^th of January 1941 the Squadron was informed their obsolescent Gladiator aircraft were to be replaced with 16 of the more modern Hawker Hurricane Mk.I fighters. The introduction of the Hurricane began that same day when three pilots flew three Gladiators back to No.102MU at RAF Abu Sueir then journeyed by road to RAF Station Amriya, where they began a short but intense introduction to the Hurricane by RAF personnel. The original three pilots were joined by three more on the 22^nd and all six pilots continued their familiarization training for the rest or the month. Meanwhile, the Squadron had moved from Gambut to Bir Hacheim, Tmimi and finally to Martuba airfield located some 268km NNE of Benghazi, Libya.  HQ 202 Group informed the Squadron on 28 January that the first Flight of six Hurricanes was available for collection and that a second Flight of six would be available from 31 January. Accordingly, the six pilots at Amriya were ordered to No.102 MU and collected the first Flight of six Hurricanes. 

FLTLT G.H Steege and FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Abu Sueir on the morning of February 1^st with Hurricanes P3967 and P5176 for a delivery flight to Martuba via Amriya, two more Hurricanes V7295 and V6737 were delivered on February 2^nd by FLTLT J.R Perrin and FLGOFF A.A Gatward followed by the third pair V7299 and V7770 by FLGOFFs J.F Jackson and J.H Saunders on February 3^rd.  Another three pilots were sent Amriya/Abu Sueir on 1^st Feb to collect the next three available Hurricanes, which they flew back to Martuba on 6^th Feb.

On 5^th Feb the first six Hurricanes were tasked with the Squadron’s initial Hurricane operation to fly to Mechili airfield, refuel then carry out an offensive patrol between Mechili and Benghazi. One aircraft failed to start and the remaining five departed Martuba at 0730hrs arriving at Mechili by 0805hrs but unfortunately the promised fuel was not yet at the field and was supposedly enroute. The crews waited until 1530hrs but when the fuel still hadn’t arrived they departed Mechili and returned to Martuba at 1620hrs. The next few days saw no flying because severe dust storms blanketed the entire region. On the 9^th Feb pilots of 274Sqn delivered five additional Hurricanes to the unit but took two of the original six aircraft back to Abu Sueir. Leaving the Squadron with 12 Hurricanes of which eight were serviceable and four unserviceable. That evening 202Grp HQ ordered the Squadron to begin moving the next day from Martuba to Benina airfield some 20km west of Benghazi, Libya. The majority of squadron personnel and equipment departed Martuba at 0800hrs and overnighted at Barce before arriving at Benina airfield on the afternoon of 10th Feb. Eight serviceable Hurricanes made the transit flight from Martuba the same day and landed at Berka airfield on the outskirts of Benina. The whole Squadron was settled in at Benina when the last of the Squadron’s aircraft were ferried in from Martuba on the afternoon of 13^th Feb. The next day the Squadron was tasked to provide continuous air cover over Benghazi during the daylight hours and seven aircraft provided that cover between 0645 and 1800hrs. Given Benina’s proximity to the frontline combat was inevitable and this proved so when the Squadron engaged a Luftwaffe aircraft for the very first time on 15^th February. 

A 3SQN Hurricane Mk I at Benina, Libya.  (Probably Serial P3763.)  Note the “blinkers” above the engine exhaust pipes – meant to protect the pilot from being dazzled by exhaust flames during night-flying.  This aircraft has “spaghetti” camouflage applied to the leading-edges of its wings and cowling, which made the dark (ex-UK) finish of the Hurricanes less obvious when viewed from ahead in the blue desert sky.  [Peter Cuthbert Collection.]

Operations from Benina airfield, Libya. February to 03April 1941

FLTLT Gordon Steege (V6737) and FLGOFF John Saunders (V7476) departed Benina at 0630hrs on the 15^th for a defensive patrol over Benghazi harbour and at 0745hrs a lone Ju88 was spotted approaching Benghazi from the North. Saunders dived to attack while Steege provided top cover and after two attacks Saunders lost sight of the Ju88 in the clouds and returned to base claiming a probable. Later that day his Probable claim was upgraded to Confirmed when an RN Minesweeper crew stated they saw a JU88 crash 9km west of Benghazi and rescued the German airmen. There is some confusion regarding the outcome of the battle as German records show that JU-88A5 L1-JR WNr3214 from III /KG1 crash landed at Tripoli with heavy damage after a mission to Benghazi, but no other Ju88 was reported as missing. 

By this time German aircraft were becoming more prevalent as they provided close air support to the Afrika Corp armoured columns advancing across Libya. Allied troops were defending a line anchored on the coastal town of Agedabia, some 150kms SW of Benghazi and the Squadron was tasked to provide air cover to the hard pressed Allied formations. Three Hurricanes FLTLT Gordon Steege (V6737), FLGOFF John Jackson (P5176) and FLGOFF John Saunders (V7770) departed Benina at 1010hrs on 18^th Feb and flew south to Agedabia where they were refuelled then launched again at 1450hrs for an Offensive Patrol between Agedabia and Agheila. At approximately 1600hrs the trio was returning to Agedabia at 4000ft about 30km north east of Agheila when Jackson sighted three unescorted Ju87s directly below them at 1000ft and after warning the other two dived to attack the unsuspecting Stukas.

As Jackson dived down he saw another nine or so Ju87s following behind the first three and warned the other two who then attacked the larger Stuka formation. Jackson stated in his after action report:-“I did a diving attack on a Ju 87 and seemed to pepper it well and it eventually sheered away. I attacked another bloke by a shallow-dive quarter attack and peppered him until he also sheered away. Both looked as if they were going to land. Then I did a dead astern attack on a third bloke and followed and peppered him until he started to break up in front of me and eventually crashed in flames, and I had to pull up over him, as by this time we were only at about 200 ft. I then encountered fairly heavy ack-ack and machine-gun fire from our own troops and climbed like billyo to get away, and lost sight of the other Huns. Steege and Saunders waded into the main force of Stukas which had split apart and headed in all directions to escape the Hurricanes in their midst. Both pilots shot at targets as they presented in the melee but could not press their attacks as the Stukas scattered and the Hurricanes were low on fuel which forced them to disengage and return to Agedabia. All three Hurricanes sustained minor damage. The final claims were Jackson one destroyed and two damaged; Steege one probable and one damaged; Saunders one probable and one damaged. German records show that JU-87R-1 WNr 3351 with Feldwebel Hans Drolshagen and Unteroffizier Wolfgang Schaefer of 1/Stg was shot down near Agedabia and the crew killed. Also, Feldwebel Erich Morgenstein and gunner were WIA and their aircraft severely damaged. They also claimed one Hurricane was shot down. Earlier that morning FLGOFF Jewell made a very heavy landing in V7414 when returning from a local post maintenance test flight. The aircraft sustained Cat.B damage to the undercarriage and lower fuselage which was beyond the unit’s repair capability and was sent to RAF EL Adem for repair. Unfortunately the aircraft was destroyed by the RAF in early April before El Adem was overrun by the Afrika Corp. 

The following day (19^th Feb) the Squadron again sent patrols from Benina to operate from Agedabia with the first patrol of four departing Benina at 1000hrs. When landing at Agedabia FLGOFF Alan Gatward (P2556) landed badly damaging the port wing and undercarriage so he took over PLTOFF Kloster’s machine (V7752) and departed at 1000hrs with FLTLT Jock Perrin (V7557) and FLGOFF Alan Boyd (P3725) for an Offensive Patrol in the Agheila area. Approaching the patrol area they spotted a number of apparently unescorted Ju87s from II/StG 2 dive-bombing the village. Perrin looked all around for an escort but seeing none led the flight down to attack the Stukas. Perrin shot down Ju 87R-1 WNr. 5455 of 5. /StG 2 flown by Unteroffizier Kurt Stuber and Unteroffizier Walter Neutwig (gunner) which crash-landed near Nofilia with both members of the crew wounded. Immediately after sending off the Stuka Perrin was bounced by four III/ZG 26 Bf.110s who set his gravity tank on fire but this did not stop Perrin from turning the tables on the 110s and shooting down Leutnant Wehmeyer's Bf 110E-1 WNr. 3886, which the pilot managed to ditch into the sea. Wehmeyer and his wounded gunner, Obergefreiter Wilhelm Wüst got into their dinghy and were picked up 24 hours later by an Axis rescue craft. Perrin then managed to crash land and egress the machine before the 110s strafed the wreck.  Gatward was also bounced by several Bf110s and was shot down in flames without getting out of the aircraft. Interestingly, all four Bf 110 pilots claimed a Hurricane shot down. Later examination of the records shows that Perrin was shot down by Feldwebel Richard Heller and Gatward by Leutnant Alfred Wehmeyer.

To replenish combat losses SQNLDR Campbell, FLGOFF Davidson and FLGOFF Turnbull flew to 102MU at Abu Sueir and collected three more Hurricanes. At the same time, HQ detached three Hurricanes and pilots from 73Sqn which arrived at Benina on 22^nd Feb, V7533 [FLGOFF J. Storrar], P3767 [PLTOFF R.L. Goord] and P3769 [PLTOFF D. Scott DFC]. These additional aircraft arrived at just the right moment as the Afrika Corp lead elements had made contact with the British defensive line on 20th Feb between Agheila and Marsa Brega and were pressing hard against the line. Also on this day the first mobile radar station, AMES 216, began operation to aid in the air defence of Benghazi and in the very near future 3 Squadron would become the first RAAF unit to be vectored to intercept an enemy aircraft. The remainder of February saw the Squadron fly 108 defensive patrols over Benghazi without seeing any action with one exception. SQNLDR Duncan Campbell was scrambled at 0905hrs on the 28^th in Hurricane P3980 to intercept an incoming bogey detected by the new operational Radar at Benghazi.  Campbell was guided into visual range of the incoming bogey which he identified as a Ju88 and after making two passes the Ju88 was shot down three miles south of Benghazi and from the wreckage was identified as JU-88A-1, 4D-HR WNr 6021 of III/KG30.

3SQN Hurricanes parked beside the windsock at Benina. 
[Peter Cuthbert Collection.]

March 1941 would later be seen as the calm before the storm as Squadron personnel saw very little in the way of aerial combat. Their primary task was to maintain defensive patrols over Benghazi supplemented by six one day deployments to Agedabia with no enemy aircraft being encountered until the final day of the month. This hiatus allowed maintenance staff to get all available aircraft up to scratch and get the squadron prepared for the inevitable confrontation with the Afrika Corp. Prior to month’s end the squadron flew 312 individual sorties which resulted in five accidents:

02Mar FLGOFF John Saunders in P5176 completed an Offensive Patrol and was taxying back to his dispersal area when he struck a truck causing Cat.A damage to the starboard wing tip and the forward edge of the mainplane. 

04Mar FLGOFF Al Rawlinson in V7484 departed Benina at 1135hrs for a tactical recce over Agheila-Ras Lanuf. After completing the recce and homeward bound the engine failed and would not restart. Rawlinson force landed near Mersa El Brega and sustained an eye injury the aircraft however was extensively damaged. The next day a RAF RSU crew arrived on scene and assessed the aircraft as damaged beyond repair, stripped it for spares and destroyed the remains.

20Mar FLGOFF Lindsay Knowles in P3763 was returning to Benina after a scramble when the port wheel would not lock down correctly. The undercarriage collapsed on landing and the aircraft sustained moderate damage. Recovered by a RAF RSU for repair and returned three days later

24Mar V7558 was being taxied to the standby area by a groundcrew Fitter when the tail wheel assembly snapped off causing Cat.A damage.   

25Mar SGT J.A Berridge in P3725 was landing at Sidi Barrani when the undercarriage collapsed. Cat.B damage. 

P3763 on its nose after a landing incident.  Benina 20/3/41.
(Pilot L.E KNOWLES.)

The squadron did carry out several operations against German forces the first being on 16 March when six Hurricanes were despatched to help stop a German Panzer reconnaissance force 20 miles west of Agheila. Five days later five Hurricanes stage through Agedabia on a raid against the LG at Marada Oasis some 200km south of Agedabia. On this occasion intelligence had made a mistake and the only aircraft present was an abandoned Italian S-79 bomber which was duly strafed and left in flames. Another four Hurricanes set out to repeat the mission on the 22^nd but were forced to abort when they encountered a severe dust storm enroute. Nothing further of note occurred between the 22^nd and the 30^th but the start of a much more intensive period of action began the next day. 

At 0915hrs on 31March ten Fiat BR.20M bombers of the recently arrived 98 Gruppo BT departed Tamet LG for their first daylight raid, the target being the Agedabia LG. The formation split into 240^a Squadriglia and 241^a Squadriglia elements and headed toward their target picking up their escort over Marble Arch consisting of four Bf 110 fighters from ZG26. The two formations arrived over Agedabia about noon and bombed their targets before heading for home with 240^a leading and 241^a a few minutes behind. Acting on intelligence reports 12 Hurricanes from 3Sqn had departed Agedabia LG at 1015hrs and were flying in staggered flights at 3000/7000 and 10000ft respectively. They were orbiting the target area but when the enemy force was spotted they were flying at their furthest distance from the attacking force and could not prevent the enemy bombers from unloading on the LG. They did however catch up to the rear group as they headed north and fell upon the five BR20s of 241^a Squadriglia and its pair of escorting Bf 110s. 

The lower flight of Hurricanes attacked the two escorts and SQNLDR Campbell was credited with shooting down Bf110E-1 WNr3948 3U-PR of 7/ZG26 flown by Oberfeldwebel Josef Bracum and Unteroffizier Kasper of 7/ZG26, both airmen dying in the fiery crash. Meanwhile the other two flights were ideally placed to attack but a series of bad decisions, bad airmanship and woeful radio equipment saw only two Hurricanes actually attack the bombers, the other Hurricanes never achieved an attack position. The CO was ropeable and tore strips off his pilots when they returned to base. FLGOFF Jackson later wrote: “Found out when I got back to Benina that John Saunders and Lindsay Knowles had got in attacks on the bombers and John had badly damaged one, Knowles probably two. They were the only two to attack the bombers – good work. Actually, we all should have been able to attack the bombers but, through breaking formation and milling about, the squadron lost its effectiveness and a lot of chaps had gone off home singly or in pairs and didn’t even see the bombers.

As stated only FLGOFF Lindsay Knowles (V7566) and FLGOFF John Saunders (V6730) managed to engage the bombers and between them made repeated attacks until they ran out of ammunition. Italian records show that four of the five bombers were seriously damaged and all four force landed at Marble Arch, the fifth bomber was also damaged but managed to return to Tamet LG. In BR20 (MM21910) air gunner Luigi Ambrosino was killed and two other crewmen wounded. Similarly, crewmen in BR20 (MM22245) and BR20 (MM21921) were wounded. If the bulk of the Hurricane force had been able to join the fray the results would probably have been catastrophic for the Italian bombers.  

In contrast to March the month of April 1941 proved to be a very eventful time and by 19^th April the squadron had been withdrawn from the Western Desert and sent to RAF Aqir in Palestine to reequip and regroup after fighting a gruelling withdrawal in face of the seemingly invincible Africa Corp. The action started on Wednesday 2 April when Rommel unleashed a two-pronged attack to retake Benghazi with his Panzer divisions targeted on Benghazi and the Italian Brescia Division and Ariete Armoured Division targeted on Mechili. First blood went to 3Sqn when FLGOFF M.D Ellerton and FLGOFF A.M Edwards were scrambled to intercept an incoming bogey approaching Benghazi at 20,000ft. They were vectored to the bogey and at 1820hrs identified it as a SM.79 which both pilots then attacked and chased for 30 miles out to sea. The trimotor constantly lost height as it strove to get down into the ever present concealing heavy sea mist and was last seen entering the mist with smoke pouring from the starboard engine whereupon the pilots returned to Base and claimed a shared Probable. However, the aircraft was not shot down but returned to Castel Benito airbase badly shot up with the Observer Tenente Ugo del Curto and air gunner 1° Av Anceschi killed in the action. Neither was the aircraft a SM.79, it was in fact a Cant.Z.1007bis (MM33372) of 175^a Squadriglia RST, which was so badly damaged it was written off and scrapped for spares. 

Pete Jeffrey [far left] and 3SQN pilots on standby at Benina. 
Note the gramophone and accordion to help pass time.

On the evening of 2^nd April the squadron was warned by HQ Cyrenaica to be prepared for evacuation at short notice given the parlous state of the war and the rapid German advance. At 1145hrs the next morning the squadron was tasked with a maximum effort to cover the now retreating British and Australia troops in the Agedabia – Antelat area and soon after 10 Hurricanes accompanied by three 73Sqn Hurricanes departed Benina for the patrol over the Sceledina area. No sooner had they arrived on station they were informed that all Squadron ground elements were withdrawing to the East and the aircraft were ordered to land at Got-Es-Sultan LG some 45km to the East of Benina at the completion of their mission.  Not long after a force of Ju 87s from II/StG 2 escorted by Bf.110s from ZG 26 was spotted approaching Sceledina and a typical swirling dogfight ensued. The outcome of this skirmish has been discussed many, many times over the years and the results are still as unclear today as they were then. The squadron operations record book states that “... none of the pilots who took part in the fight agree as to the number of E/A but it is probable that there were 8 M.E 110’s and a similar number of J.U 87s. It is probable that 5 M.E 110s and 3 J.U 87s were shot down with three other J.U 87s damaged.” Notwithstanding the words recorded in the ORB the following claims were made:

FLGOFF Peter Turnbull (V7492) claimed two Bf.110 destroyed and two damaged. He was later credited with four destroyed.

FLTT Gordon Steege (V3937) claimed one BF.110 destroyed 

FLTLT Alan Rawlinson (V7772) claimed two Ju.87s destroyed

South African LT G.K Smith claimed one Ju.87 destroyed

FLGOFF J.H Jackson (V7677) claimed one JU.87 probable

FLGOFF Davidson (V7566) claimed one JU.87 probable 

Hurricanes V7292 and V7566 both sustained Cat.A damage.

FLGOFF John Jackson wrote of the engagement: “...They turned out to be about ten Me 110s escorting about 15 Ju 87s, which were dive-bombing and ground-strafing our retreating ground forces. I only spotted two Me.110s and didn’t see any of the other enemy aircraft. I followed Gordon Steege into the attack and got on the tail of a Me.110s, just after he had fired a few bursts at it and sheered away from it. I fired two bursts and my guns stopped – rotten luck. Just as I was getting very close, I saw a few bits and pieces and sparks flying from the Bf110. Pete Turnbull followed me into the same Bf110, and gave it a burst also. Gordon Steege got credit for this kite, as he attacked first and probably got in the best attack. Immediately my guns stopped I did a steep spiral to gain speed and went like hell to get out of the area as I reckoned it was useless to remain without guns firing. I flew back to Benina, where I knew the CO was still waiting, and gave him news of the fight. “Pete Turnbull had a go at two more Me 110s and blew an engine out of one and bits off another and fired at a couple of others. Smith, one of three South African pilots attached to us, attacked the Ju.87s and blew the tail clean off one and sent it down in flames. Jimmy Davidson also claimed one Ju.87 and Alan Rawlinson sent two 87s down in flames”.

At 2200hrs on 3^rd April HQ Cyrenaica ordered the squadron to begin evacuating Got-Es-Sultan LG immediately as the enemy was closing rapidly. The main body of the squadron departed by 2300hrs for Maraua LG some 165km NNE of Benghazi  leaving behind the aircraft, pilots and a very small servicing echelon to launch the aircraft as soon as possible the next day. 

A profile of V7772, in which Alan RAWLINSON claimed two Stukas on 3/4/41. 
[Artist: Steve Mackenzie.]

Operations from Maraua LG, Martuba LG in Libya and Sollum LG, Sidi Heneish in Egypt, 4th -19^th April 1941

All squadron aircraft departed at first light on the 4^th April and arrived at Maraua well before the main road party which did not arrive until 1100hrs (slow transit time due to heavy road congestion). Notwithstanding their late arrival, the ground crew swung into action and readied the aircraft for a maximum effort and launched nine aircraft for an Offensive patrol over retreating Allied troops in the Maraua-Sceledina-Msus area. FLGOFF Davidson (V7566) aborted and returned to Maraua after 30min with a dud engine. The squadron then managed to provide five Hurricanes for a second patrol later in the afternoon which patrolled the Msus area, no enemy aircraft were met during either patrol. Late that night HQ Cyrenaica gave the squadron two orders: one was to fly a maximum effort at first light to provide air cover for Allied forces retreating through the Barce Pass located 40km east of the LG and the second order was to move the squadron from Maraua to Martuba a further 150km to the east. At the crack of dawn on 5^th April eight Hurricanes (seven 3Sqn and one SAAF) departed Maraua and orbited the Barce Pass until their fuel situation forced them to retire, no enemy aircraft were encountered. While the patrol was in the air, a squadron convoy with the bulk of the personnel and equipment departed for Martuba by road at 1000hrs for the estimated 7-hour journey. Once again a small servicing echelon was left to prepare the aircraft for further operations or transit to Martuba.

While the aircraft from the early patrol were being turned around the pilots consumed a hasty meal and at approximately 1350hrs five 3Sqn Hurricanes and three 73Sqn machines headed back to Brace Pass to resume the air cover.  At 1405hrs a formation of Ju87s was sighted bombing allied troops south of the Pass and after carefully checking for the presence of German fighters the Hurricanes made a concerted attack that led to claims for three Stukas of 6/StG2 being shot down, two to PLTOFF Ellerton in V7353; and one to PLTOFF Kloster in P5176. German records later showed that three Stukas were either shot down or crash landed. On the reverse side of the ledger, FLGOFF A.M Edwards was hit by return fire and forced to land with a damaged engine. He was picked up almost immediately by a patrol from the 2^nd Armoured Division but Edwards and his rescuers were then captured by German forces. 

A third patrol of seven 3Sqn and two 73Sqn Hurricanes under the command of SQNLDR Duncan in V7567 departed Maraua at 1635hrs for Barce Pass and a short time later intercepted 12 unescorted Stukas from 4/StG2 attacking Allied convoys near Barce Pass and after the usual check for escorting fighters waded into the Ju87s.

FLGOFF John Jackson described the action thus: “...decided to do another patrol immediately, led by Duncan Campbell, to search for Mort Edwards and at the same time protect our retreating troops from enemy dive-bombers. We had gone no distance before we bumped into a large number of Ju 87s, unescorted by fighters. We attacked immediately and I saw Jock Perrin send one down in flames. I then attacked another and gave it a good burst and reckoned I had damaged it badly, when another Hurricane came at it from my starboard and, doing a beam attack, sent it down in flames. I then attacked two others, damaging them, and got on the tail of a fourth and gave it a couple of bursts and silenced its rear guns, when my guns ceased to fire. I then had the enemy at about 100ft and felt enraged that he looked like escaping, and his rear gunner appeared to be dead, so I thought I might dive at him and clip him with my wing, I decided it was too low to get away with this, so I made a couple of dummy attacks at him, and much to my delight and surprise, he crash-landed in a Bedouin cultivated wadi and his aircraft hit the side of the wadi and spun around in a cloud of dust. I flew around a few times and eventually the pilot got out looking a bit dazed. I gave him a wave and returned to Maraua but pinpointed the spot in case I ever get back over the area and will ground-strafe the aircraft and completely destroy same, though I doubt if it could ever be flown out of the wadi. Hurricane I P3967/OS-B of 3 RAAF was flown by Jock Perrin when he claimed 3 Ju87s of II/StG 2 on 5 April 1941. Two days earlier, Flt Lt Gordon Steege had used it to claim a Bf 110. “Score this patrol was Jock Perrin three, self one and two possibles, Jewell three, and I forget the rest. Jewell saw Duncan Campbell losing height with a stream of white smoke pouring from his aircraft and he has not been seen since. I feel confident that both Mort and Duncan force-landed safely, though they may be taken prisoners.”

A total of nine Stukas were claimed shot down, six by 3 Sqn and three by 73 Sqn. Examination of German records showed that five Stukas failed to return and all those that did return sustained serious damage and casualties. Whatever the inaccuracies of the claims the fact remains German records show eight Stukas destroyed and several others heavily damaged in one day and this represented an unsustainable rate of attrition for the Stuka Gruppen. On the debit side the squadron lost two aircraft and two pilots, one as POW (Edwards) and one KIA. Squadron Leader Duncan Campbell was shot down near Barce when his Hurricane was hit by return-fire from one or more of the Stukas and was last seen on fire and diving steeply towards the ground.  

After the battle with the Stukas the surviving Hurricanes returned to Maraua where they were ordered to immediately fly to Martuba, which they did without waiting to refuel.  The small servicing party also left Maraua after they had completed the destruction of 48,000 rounds of ammunition and any other equipment or transport that was not taken by the main party.  Eventually, all elements of the Squadron reunited at the Martuba LG by 2100hrs on 5^th April where only one hour later HQ Cyrenaica ordered them to move to Gazala East LG located 50km west of Tobruk. However, the CO SQNLDR Peter Jeffrey decided that in view of the movements over the last two days the Squadron convoy would get a nights rest and move out the following day. Accordingly, the road convoy departed at 0730hrs on the 6^th and reached Gazala East LG by 1100hrs where they awaited the arrival of the Hurricanes from Martuba. No sooner had the squadron united again at Gazala they were ordered to move immediately to 73 Sqn’s old base at Sidi Mahmoud LG just east of Tobruk. The road convoy departed at 2130hrs but were forced to stop at 0230hrs by a very strong dust storm and, as luck would have it, when the morning came the found themselves right alongside the airfield. 

The aircraft arrived in the early morning of 7^th April and the squadron was able to launch three patrols during the day. The first mission was a defensive patrol over retreating Allied forces in the Derna area during which no enemy aircraft were encountered. The second mission was an offensive patrol in the Mechili area and at the Mechili LG they found and destroyed two Ju.52/3ms transports belonging to III/KGrzbV 1. The third mission proved once again the adage about the best laid plans of mice and men. The aircraft departed for an offensive patrol in the Derna-Martuba area but found nothing and were returning to Sidi Mahmoud when FLGOFF Lindsay Knowles in P5176 developed engine trouble and was forced to land at Gazala East. Unbeknownst to Knowles the flight leader had radioed Base and arranged for a fast vehicle to go to the aid of the stranded aircraft. Knowles waited patiently beside his aircraft for rescue until the twilight when the Army personnel manning the base told him they were evacuating as the enemy was only a short distance away. Under strict orders to prevent aircraft from being captured Knowles took the only way out and burnt the machine and departed with the Army personnel. A short time later the vehicle from Base arrived on the scene to find a destroyed aircraft and no pilot! 

At 1600hrs HQ Cyrenaica ordered the squadron to move immediately to LG.E79 located approximately 40km east of Sollum, Egypt and 210km SSE of Tobruk, the convoy duly departed at 1730hrs but, as per the other evacuations, the aircraft and a small servicing party were left at Sidi Mahmoud with orders to depart the following morning at first light. The convoy completed a demanding 25hr long road trip across some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet before arriving at LG.E79 at 1830hrs on 8^th April. Seven aircraft departed Sidi Mahmoud in the afternoon and carried out an offensive patrol in the Mechili area before flying on to LG.E79. PLTOFF W.E Jewell in V3818 force landed 20km from Gazala East LG when his engine failed but was quickly rescued by an Army patrol. In an almost identical scenario to Lindsay Knowles the previous day the proximity of enemy forces compelled him to burn his aircraft and escape with the Army patrol. The squadron spent the next three days at E79 and as they were not required to fly more than one mission on the 9^th April they took the time to service and repair the aircraft, equipment and their vital transportation vehicles. In the late morning of 12^th April the Squadron was informed the Army had evacuated Sollum and headed to Tobruk so the CO decided to move the squadron and informed HQ of his decision (the squadron was now part of the newly formed 204 Group). The aircraft departed E.79 at 1600hrs and flew 200km NNE to Mersa Matruh airfield located some 300kms east of Tobruk but enroute they were ordered to land at Sid Heneish airfield. Meanwhile the road convoy departed E.79 at 1700hrs and arrived at Matruh the following day at 1000hrs only to be told they had to go another 50km east to Sidi Heneish. The convoy duly reached Sidi Heneish and quickly prepared the aircraft for two offensive patrols over Tobruk and surrounds during which no enemy aircraft were met. That evening 204 Grp HQ provided the squadron with several tasks which were essentially reconnaissance missions.

The first mission of 14^th April was an offensive patrol over Tobruk but FLGOFF A. Boyd in P2638 was forced to abort when his guns would not fire.  Simultaneously other patrols were sent out to Tobruk, Sollum, Fort Capuzzo and to a suspected new Axis LG south near Mersa Gargub. While 3 Sqn Hurricanes went about their business the Axis launched the first of many, many air raids against Tobruk and its harbour and at approximately 0800hrs an estimated 70 aircraft attacked. As soon as SQNLDR Jeffrey learned of the attack he dispatched his last two Hurricanes to investigate and assist the Tobruk defenders.  FLGOFF W.S Arthur in V7728 and Lt A.A Tennant SAAF in P3725 were approaching Tobruk from the east at 1000ft when they spotted three Bf.110 fighters about to attack. They quickly reversed the situation and turned to attack the enemy and both pilots claimed a Probable with both pilots stating they saw their victim dive away steeply toward the sea with blueish smoke issuing from the fuselage before disappearing into the low cloud/mist cover. German records show that Bf.110D-3 WNr 3418 of III/ZG2 was lost in the engagement. After this clash Arthur and Tennant resumed their patrol and found a JU.52 on the ground at Menastir LG, which they proceeded to strafe. In total, the squadron flew 16 reconnaissance sorties this day with only one resulting in combat.

Early on 15^th April FLGOFF Arthur in V7728 flew a solo low level attack against enemy MT on the Tobruk to Bardia road destroying or damaging several vehicles and in the process sustaining some Cat.A damage from the impressive amount of SAA fire put up by the vehicles. Later that morning the CO Peter Jeffrey received word that enemy aircraft were again at the Menastir LG and were to be attacked. Jeffrey decided to do go alone in V7770 and found Menastir devoid of aircraft but at another field near Fort Capuzzo he spotted four Ju52 transports about to land. Searching the skies he could not find any escorts so he attacked and shot one down in flames while the other three were landing one took violent evasive action and crash landed. Jeffrey then strafed the other two until they were flaming wrecks and attacked the last one but ran out of ammunition before it was destroyed. [The four transports were Ju.52/3ms of 1/KGrzbV 9 which recorded one shot down and three destroyed on the ground].

During the afternoon FLGOFF Kloster in V7482 was leading an offensive patrol in the area and two of the flight, FLGOFF Lindsay Knowles in AS990 and PLTOFF Donati in V7834, dived down and strafed the last Ju52 until it erupted in a ball of flames, obviously loaded with petrol. A bit later FLGOFF John Jackson in V7770 spotted Lockheed Hudson AX682 of 267Sqn which had force landed 15km NW of Sollum when carrying Field Marshall Wavell and his staff. As the aircraft was now in enemy territory Jackson, following standing orders, strafed the Hudson until it burned.    

By the morning of the 16^th the hard working ground crew managed to present eight serviceable Hurricanes for operations and seven of the aircraft departed for an offensive patrol over the Tobruk-Bardia area. No worthwhile targets were detected and enemy aircraft were conspicuous by their absence. The worsening situation along the Bardia-Tobruk line demanded every assistance and the Royal Navy sent the 10,000 ton Town Class Cruiser HMS Gloucester to provide close naval gun fire support from her twelve 6” (152mm) guns. Spotting the gunfire around the Bardia-Fort Capuzzo area was done by the ship’s Walrus seaplane which was, in turn, covered by Hurricanes from 3Sqn. Some Bf.110s arrived and made feint attacks but were chased out to sea by the Hurricanes but the chase was quickly abandoned when the flight leader FLGOFF Turnbull suspected they were being decoyed away from the Walrus so he aborted the chase and returned to the naval units.

The next three days proved entirely uneventful for the squadron as they flew a total of 23 sorties on tactical reconnaissance and offensive/defensive patrols in the Tobruk-Bardia region. No enemy contact was made during this time. On the morning of the 19^th the CO Peter Jeffrey was informed by HQME that because of the Hurricane losses in 3 Sqn, 73 Sqn and 274 Sqns all Hurricanes from 3 Sqn and 73 Sqn were to be handed over to 274 Sqn immediately. Furthermore, 3 Squadron was to proceed to RAF Aboukir the next day and go on 10 days leave before being re-equipped with the new Curtis Tomahawk fighters.

Summary of Hurricane Operations.

Information contained in the 3 Sqn Operational Record Books and other references show that a total of at least 40 Mk.I Hurricanes served with the Squadron between 01 February and 19 April 1941. The aircraft are known to have flown at least 894 operational sorties; the number of non-operational flights will never be known as this data was not recorded. However, it would be safe to assume the total number of non-operational flights would be significantly higher than the known operational flights. All things considered, it would be reasonable to state that 3 Sqn Hurricanes flew between 1,000 and 2,000 flights. 3Sqn pilots made the following combat claims:

Date	Pilot	Hurricane	Aircraft	Claim
15Feb41	FLGOFF J. Saunders	V7476	Ju88	destroyed
18Feb41	FLGOFF J. Jackson	P5176	Ju87	1 x destroyed and 1 x damaged
	FLGOFF J. Saunders	V7770	Ju87	1 x probable and 1 damaged
	FLTLT G. Steege	V6737	Ju87	1 x probable and 1 damaged
19Feb41	FLTLT J. Perrin	V7757	Ju87	destroyed
			Bf110	destroyed
28Feb41	SQNLDR D. Campbell	P3980	Ju88	destroyed
31Mar41	SQNLDR D. Campbell	P3980	Bf110	destroyed
	FLGOFF L. Knowles	V7566	Br20	2 x damaged
	FLGOFF J. Saunders	V6730	Br20	2 x damaged
02Apr41	FLGOFF M. Ellerton	V7353	Cant.Z	Shared probable
	FLGOFF A. Edwards	V7566	Cant.Z	Shared probable
03Apr41	FLTLT G. Steege	P3967	Bf.110s	Destroyed
	FLTLT A. Rawlinson	V7772	Ju87	2 x destroyed
	FLTLTP. Turnbull	V7492	Bf.110s	2 x destroyed and 2 damaged
	LT G.K Smith	Unk	Ju87	Destroyed
	FLGOFF J. Jackson	V7677	Ju87	Probable
	FLGOFF S. Davidson	V7566	Ju87	Probable
05Apr41	PLTOFF M. Ellerton	V7353	Ju87	2 x destroyed
	PLTOFF W. Kloster	P5176	Ju87	destroyed
	FLTLT J. Perrin	P3967	Ju87	3 x destroyed
	FLGOFF J. Jackson	Unk	Ju87	1 x destroyed 2 x probables
	FLGOFF Jewel	Unk	Ju87	3 x destroyed
07Apr41	FLGOFF L. Knowles	P5176	Ju52	1/3 share of 2 x Ju52 destroyed
	Unk	P2765	Ju52	1/3 share of 2 x Ju52 destroyed
	Unk	V7770	Ju52	1/3 share of 2 x Ju52 destroyed
14Apr41	FLGOFF W. Arthur	V7728	Bf.110s	Probable
	Lt A. Tennant	P3725	Bf.110s	Probable
15Apr41	SQNLDR P. Jeffrey	V7770	Ju52	3 x destroyed
	FLGOFF L. Knowles	AS990	Ju52	Share Ju52 destroyed
	PLTOFF Donati	V7834	Ju52	Share Ju52 destroyed

Seven Hurricanes were lost in combat resulting in the deaths of two pilots and 17 aircraft sustained various degrees of damage during Operational Flights., resulting in a range of non-lethal injuries to four pilots.  

Table 1

Hawker Hurricane Mk.I Aircraft 

Operated by No.3 Squadron RAAF from January 31 to 19 April 1941

	Aircraft	TOC	From	SOC	Fate
1	N2628	29Mar41	274Sqn	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
2	P2556	08Feb41	274Sqn	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
3	P2638	01Apr41	73Sqn	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
4	P3720	03Apr41	73Sqn	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
5	P3722	27Feb41	274Sqn	01Mar41	to 274Sqn
6	P3725	13Feb41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
7	P3726	22Feb41	73Sqn	10Mar41	to 73Sqn
8	P3727	22Feb41	73Sqn	03Apr41	to 73Sqn
9	P3729	22Feb41	73Sqn	02Mar41	to 73Sqn
10	P3763	13Feb41	102MU	07Apr41	Force landed in the desert, destroyed to prevent capture.
11	P3675	13Feb41	102MU	19Apr41	to 103MU
12	P3818	19Feb41	274Sqn	08Apr41	Force landed in the desert, destroyed to prevent capture.
13	P3822	13Feb41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
14	P3967	31Jan41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
15	P3977	08Feb41	274Sqn	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
16	P3980	13Feb41	102MU	07Apr41	Force landed in the desert, destroyed to prevent capture.
17	P5176	31Jan41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
18	V6737	31Jan41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
19	V7295	31Jan41	102MU	08Feb41	to 102MU
20	V7299	31Jan41	102MU	08Feb41	to 102MU
21	V7347	08Feb41	274Sqn	05Apr41	Force landed near Barce, destroyed to prevent capture.
22	V7353	19Feb41	274Sqn	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
23	V7414	06Feb41	102MU	18Feb41	destroyed on evacuation from El Adem
24	V7424	27Feb41	274Sqn	19Apr41	to 102MU as non-repairable.
25	V7482	13Apr41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
26	V7484	08Feb41	274Sqn	04Mar41	crash landed in desert near Mersa el Brega - DBR
27	V7492	22Feb41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
28	V7552	08Feb41	73Sqn	19Feb41	Shot down by Bf110s near Mersa el Brega
29	V7553	22Feb41	73Sqn	02Mar41	to 73Sqn
30	V7557	16Feb41	102MU	19Feb41	Shot down by Bf110s near Mersa el Brega
31	V7558	24Feb41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
32	V7566	24Feb41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
33	V7567	22Feb41	102MU	05Apr41	Shot down attacking Ju87s
34	V7728	12Apr41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
35	V7734	12Apr41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
36	V7753	09Mar41	102MU	05Apr41	to 33Sqn
37	V7770	31Jan41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
38	V7772	06Feb41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish
39	V7858	16Feb41	102MU	10Mar41	to 102MU
40	AS990	24Feb41	102MU	19Apr41	to 274Sqn or 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish

Note: Of the 20 aircraft on charge when 3sqn was withdrawn from operations six aircraft went to 274Sqn and 14 went to 204 Group Aircraft Pool at Sidi Heneish. No Serials were recorded in the ORB so it is not possible to state which aircraft went where. 

Table 2

Serials of 3 Sqn Hurricane Aircraft Losses 1941

3 Squadron is known to have operated at least 40 Hurricane aircraft. Of the 40 used seven were lost through operational and non-operational causes. The remainder of this document details the history of the aircraft lost and the men who flew them.

Date	Pilot	Hurricane	Details
19Feb41	FLTLT Gatward	V7552	Shot down in flames by Me.110s near Mersa El Brega. Pilot KIA
19Feb41	FLTKT Perrin	V7557	Shot down in flames by Me.110s near Mersa El Brega. Pilot shaken but survived crash landing
04Mar41	FLTLT Rawlinson	V7484	Force landed near Mersa El Brega and was extensively damaged. Pilot injured. Aircraft destroyed to prevent capture
05Apr41	FLGOFF Edwards	V7347	Force landed in the desert, picked up by 2nd Armoured Division but captured with his rescuers
05Apr41	SQNLDR Campbell	V7567	Shot down and KIA while attacking Ju87s
07Apr41	FLGOFF Knowles	P3980	Force landed Gazala East LG with engine problems. Aircraft destroyed to prevent capture. Pilot OK.
08Apr41	FLGOFF Jewel	P3818	Force landed 20km south of Gazala with engine problems. Aircraft destroyed to prevent capture. Pilot OK.

P3818

00Jun40 A Block 3 Mk.I Hurricane fighter of the third production batch of 544 Hurricanes built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at their Kingston, Langley and Brooklands factories. The 17^th of 35 aircraft built in the serial range P3802 to P3836 under contract 962371/38. Fitted with a 1,030hp (770 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin III V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine driving a three-bladed Rotol constant speed propeller.

Armament consisted of eight 0.303 inch (7.7mm) Browning machine guns, four in each wing, with 338 rounds per gun for six of the guns and 324 rounds for each of the two outside guns, giving a total of 2,676 rounds. The aircraft was camouflaged in the RAF Fighter Temperate scheme:  the upper surface colours being the standard Dark Green/ Dark Earth and the under-surfaces painted Sky.

12Jun40 Delivered to RAF No.20 Maintenance Unit at RAF Ashton Downs, Gloucestershire for acceptance checks. Aircraft modified for use in the MTO by fitment of a Vokes air filter in a large chin fairing under the nose fairing.  Aircraft now officially known as Hurricane Mk.1 (Trop).

14Aug40 Delivered to RAF No.47 Maintenance Unit (Packing Unit) at RAF Sealand, Flintshire where it received final preparation for overseas shipment.

16Aug40 Aircraft loaded aboard HMS Argus at Liverpool as one of 30 Hurricanes for shipment to RAF Takoradi, in Gold Coast, Africa. 

05Sep40 Aircraft arrived at RAF Takoradi where it was reassembled and tested

23Sep40 RAFVR pilot SGT C. Taylor had completed a successful test flight but when landing allowed the aircraft port wing tip to hit the ground causing Cat.A damage, which was repaired at the Unit.

29Sep40 Aircraft ferried along the Takoradi Route and reached Cairo on 13Oct40.

13Oct40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.107 Maintenance Unit at Kasfareet, Egypt where it prepared for use in desert conditions.

28Oct40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.33 Sqn at Fuka LG located 220km west of Alexandria. 

14Feb41 Aircraft sent to No.101 Maintenance Unit at Amriya airfield when 33Sqn moved to Greece.

19Feb41 One of three ex-33Sqn Hurricanes collected by 3sqn pilots and flown to Berka II Landing Ground, Benina 20km west of Benghazi, Libya.  The aircraft was taken on charge and issued to B Flight.

3Sqn Hurricane P3818 at Benina Feb-Mar 1941 showing the application of the additional ‘Spaghetti’ camouflage to the nose, wing leading edges and Spinner. 

Drawing and photo via Steve McKenzie

20Feb41 1^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 0830hrs as one of two Hurricanes that carried out an uneventful 2hr Defensive patrol over Benghazi.

27Feb41 2^nd Operational Flight PLTOFF J.M Davidson departed Benina at 1503hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft reported over Benghazi. No enemy sighted and the pair returned to Base at 1510hrs. 

27Feb41 3^rd Operational Flight PLTOFF J.M Davidson departed Benina at 1520hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft reported over Benghazi. No enemy sighted and the pair returned to Base at 1559hrs. 

28Feb41 4^th Operational Flight PLTOFF J.M Davidson departed Benina at 0740hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft reported over Benghazi. No enemy sighted and the pair returned to Base at 0900hrs. 

28Feb41 5^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina as one of three Hurricanes that carried out an uneventful 1hr 15min Defensive patrol over Benghazi.

28Feb41 Aircraft flew five Operational Flights and made at least six non-operational flights in Feb41.

03Mar41 6^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1305hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1515hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

07Mar41 7^th Operational Flight FLGOFF P.B Turnbull departed Benina at 1115hrs as one of nine Hurricanes that made 45min flight to Agedabia where the aircraft refuelled and awaited orders. Enroute the flight carried out an Offensive Patrol before landing Agedabia at 1200hrs airborne 45min.

07Mar41 8^th Operational Flight FLGOFF P.B Turnbull departed Agedabia at 1400hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1605hrs, airborne for 2hrs 5min.

08Mar41 9^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble scrambled from Benina at 1520hrs tasked to intercept enemy aircraft reported over Benghazi. No enemy sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1545hrs.

08Mar41 10^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble scrambled from Benina at 1830hrs tasked to intercept enemy aircraft reported over Benghazi. No enemy sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1840hr.

09Mar41 11^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1650hrs as one of eight Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1845hrs, airborne for 1hr 55min.

10Mar41 12^th Operational Flight FLGOFF S.W Arthur departed Benina at 1435hrs to intercept enemy aircraft over Benghazi. No enemy sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1605hrs, airborne for 1hr 30min.

12Mar41 13^th Operational Flight FLGOFF S.W Arthur departed Benina at 1335hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft over Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1410hrs, airborne for 35min.

12Mar41 14^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1820hrs tasked to intercept enemy aircraft reported over Benghazi. No enemy sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1915hrs, airborne for 55min.

15Mar41 15^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 0810hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1040hrs, airborne for 2hrs 30min.

19Mar41 16^th Operational Flight FLTLT B.R Pelly departed Benina at 1300hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1500hrs, airborne for 2hrs.

20Mar41 17^th Operational Flight FLTLT B.R Pelly departed Benina at 1335hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft over Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1410hrs, airborne for 35min.

24Mar41 18^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 0630hrs as one of seven Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Magnum-Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 0840hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

24Mar41 19^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1433hrs as one of seven Hurricanes that made 45min flight to Agedabia where the aircraft refuelled and awaited orders. Enroute the flight carried out an Offensive Patrol before landing Agedabia at 1540hrs airborne 45min.

24Mar41 20^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Agedabia at 1750hrs as one of seven Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Agedabia at 1900hrs, airborne for 2hrs. Aircraft remained at Agedabia.

25Mar41 21^st Operational Flight The aircraft spent the day at readiness for 2^nd Armoured Division and were released at 1600hrs.  FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Agedabia at 1715hrs as one of seven Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Sweep enroute to Benina, where they landed at 1830hrs, airborne for 1hr 15min. 

28Mar41 22^nd Operational Flight FLGOFF W.E Jewel was scrambled from Benina at 1315hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft over Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1355hrs, airborne for 40min.

28Mar41 23^rd Operational Flight FLGOFF W.E Jewel was scrambled from Benina at 1430hrs tasked to intercept enemy aircraft over Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1440hrs, airborne for 10min.

29Mar41 24^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1433hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Sweep over Mersa- El Brega-Aghelia-Agedabia areas. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1530hrs, airborne for 2hrs.

30Mar41 25^th Operational Flight FLGOFF B.L Bracegirdle scrambled from Benina at 1725hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft reported over Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1825hrs, airborne for 1hr.

31Mar41 26^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1022hrs as one of twelve Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Sweep over the Agedabia area. Based on intelligence reports, HQ RAF Cyrenaica directed the squadron to launch a maximum effort and conduct an Offensive Patrol over Allied troops in the Agedabia area. Accordingly, twelve Hurricanes were launched between 1015 and 1020hrs then headed for the target area in three flights of four flying at 5500, 7000 and 9000ft. At 1140hrs the Hurricanes made contact with a mixed formation of five Italian BR.20M bombers with two Bf110 escorts.  Action resulted in 3Sqn claiming 1 x Bf110 destroyed and 3 x BR 20 bombers damaged. Later analysis showed in fact that four of the five bombers were so badly damaged they landed at Arae Philenorum LG and the fifth bomber, not do badly damaged had managed to return to Tamet. One Bf 110 was lost and the other damaged.

Trimble returned to Benina at 1235hrs, airborne for 2hrs 13min. 

31Mar41 Aircraft flew 21 Operational Flights and made an unknown number of non-operational flights in Mar41.

01Apr41 27^th Operational Flight Lt G.K Smith departed Benina at 0810hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1010hrs, airborne for 2hrs.

02Apr41 28^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 0830hrs as one of five Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1040hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

02Apr41 29^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1230hrs as one of five Hurricanes that joined a further four Hurricanes of 73Sqn tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1450hrs, airborne for 2hrs 20min.

03Apr41 Aircraft moved from Benina to new operating base at Got-Es-Sultan LG 45km east of Benina.

03Apr41 30^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Got-Es-Sultan at 1600hrs as one of six Hurricanes that joined a further three Hurricanes of 73Sqn tasked for a Defensive Patrol over retreating allied troops in the Sceledina area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1830hrs, airborne for 2hrs 30min.

03Apr41 At 2200hrs HQ Cyrenaica ordered the squadron to begin evacuating Got-Es-Sultan LG immediately as the enemy was closing rapidly. The main body of the squadron departed by 2300hrs for Maraua LG some 165km NNE of Benghazi  leaving behind the aircraft, pilots and a very small servicing echelon to launch the aircraft as soon as possible the next day. 

04Apr41 All aircraft departed Got-Es-Sultan at first light and flew to Maraua LG, 120km NE of Benghazi, Libya.

04Apr41 31^st Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Maraua at 0800hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Maraua-Sceledina-Msus areas. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1020hrs, airborne for 2hrs 20min.

05Apr41 Aircraft moved from Maraua LG to new operating base at Martuba LG, south of Derna, Libya.

06Apr41 Aircraft moved from Martuba LG to new operating base at Gazala East LG, 60km west of Tobruk, Libya.

06Apr41 32^nd Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Gazala East at 0800hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Derna area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1025hrs, airborne for 2hrs 25min.

06Apr41 33^rd Operational Flight FLGOFF W.E Jewel departed Gazala East at 0930hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Derna area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1140hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

07Apr41 Aircraft departed Gazala East at first light and arrived 0730hrs at Sidi Mahmoud LG, 20km east of Tobruk, Libya.

08Apr41 Aircraft moved from Sidi Mahmoud LG to new operating base at LG.E79 20km east of Sollum, Egypt.

08Apr41 34^th Operational Flight 260725 FLGOFF W.E Jewel departed LG.E79 with FLTLT Al Rawlinson for an Offensive Patrol of the Mechili area of the battlefield. Jewel’s aircraft developed engine problems and he was forced to make an emergency landing in the desert 20km south of Gazala, Libya.  A retreating British Army patrol told him enemy lead elements were approaching the area rapidly and advise him to join the patrol. With no other choice Jewel and the Army troops destroyed the Hurricane then made a successful escape to Tobruk. Jewel was returned to the Squadron the following day

30Apr41 Aircraft flew eight Operational Flights and made at least seven non-operational flights in Apr41.

00Mar41 Aircraft struck off charge. 

Hawker Hurricane MK.1 with RAF Serial P3818 served with RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn from 19Feb41 until 08Apr41, a period of 48 days. During that period the aircraft made thirty-four operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total operational time was 50hrs 12min.

P3980

00Jul40 A Block 3 Mk.I Hurricane fighter of the third production batch built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at their Kingston, Langley and Brooklands factories. The 21^st of 25 aircraft built in the serial range P3960 to P3984 under contract 962371/38. Fitted with a 1,030hp (770 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin III V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine driving a three-bladed Rotol constant speed propeller.

12Jun40 Delivered to RAF No.20 Maintenance Unit at RAF Ashton Downs, Gloucestershire for acceptance checks. Aircraft modified for use in the MTO by fitment of a Vokes air filter in a large chin fairing under the nose fairing.  Aircraft now officially known as Hurricane Mk.1 (Trop).

10Aug40 Aircraft returned to Hawkers for modification and/or repair.

18Aug40 Delivered to the Packing Unit of RAF No.47 Maintenance Unit at RAF Sealand, Flintshire where it received final preparation for overseas shipment.

19Aug40 Aircraft loaded aboard HMS Argus at Liverpool as one of 30 Hurricanes for shipment to RAF Takoradi, in Gold Coast, Africa.

05Sep40 Aircraft arrived at RAF Takoradi where it was reassembled and tested

29Sep40 Aircraft ferried along the Takoradi Route and reached Cairo on 18Oct40.

18Oct40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.107 Maintenance Unit at Kasfareet, Egypt where it prepared for use in desert conditions. 

28Oct40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.274 Sqn at El Amriya near Alexandria, Egypt. 

13Feb41 One of five ex-33Sqn and 274Sqn Hurricanes collected by 3sqn pilots and flown to Berka II Landing Ground, Benina 20km west of Benghazi, Libya.  The aircraft was taken on charge and issued to B Flight.

24Feb41 1^st Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Berka at 1520hrs leading three other squadron Hurricanes for an interception of enemy aircraft reportedly flying over Benghazi. No enemy were found and the flight returned to Base at 1605hrs, airborne for 45min.  

25Feb41 2^nd Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Berka at 1240hrs leading two other squadron Hurricanes for an interception of enemy aircraft reportedly flying over Benghazi. No enemy were found and the flight returned to Base at 1315hrs, airborne for 35min.  . 

26Feb41 3^rd Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Berka at 1426hrs leading two other squadron Hurricanes for an interception of enemy aircraft reportedly flying over Benghazi. No enemy were found and the flight returned to Base at 1527hrs, airborne for 61min.  

27Feb41 4^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Berka at 1604hrs leading one other squadron Hurricane for an interception of enemy aircraft reportedly flying over Benghazi. No enemy were found and the flight returned to Base at 1638hrs, airborne for 34min.  

28Feb41 5^th Operational Flight. The squadron was on defence alert and launched ten individual sorties to intercept enemy aircraft reportedly flying over Benghazi and the surrounding harbour.  SQNLDR D. Campbell scrambled from Berka at 0905hrs and at 0915hrs he intercepted and shot down a Junkers 88 five kilometres south of Benghazi. The aircraft shot down was Ju88-5A, WNr 2172 coded L1+JP of 7/Staffel, Lehrgeswader 1. Campbell landed Base at 0930hrs, airborne for 30min.

28Feb41 Aircraft flew five Operational Flights and made at least seven non-operational flights in Feb41.

02Mar41 6^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Berka as one of eight Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over Agedabia-Agheila areas. No enemy were found and the flight returned to Base at 1250hrs, airborne for 2hrs 15min.

03Mar41 7^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Berka at 1305hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1515hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

04Mar41 8^th Operational Flight. The squadron was on defence alert and launched eight individual sorties to intercept enemy aircraft reportedly flying over Benghazi and the surrounding harbour.  SQNLDR D. Campbell scrambled from Berka at 1430hrs but found no enemy aircraft before returning to Base at 1500hrs, airborne for 30min.

04Mar41 9^th Operational Flight. The squadron was on defence alert and launched eight individual sorties to intercept enemy aircraft reportedly flying over Benghazi and the surrounding harbour.  FLGOFF L.E Knowles scrambled from Berka at 1800hrs but found no enemy aircraft before returning to Base at 1815hrs, airborne for 15min.

05Mar41 10^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Berka at 1005hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1210hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

07Mar41 11^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Berka at 1115hrs as one of nine Hurricanes that made 45min flight to Agedabia where the aircraft refuelled and awaited orders. Enroute the flight carried out an Offensive Patrol before landing Agedabia at 1200hrs airborne 45min.

07Mar41 12^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Agedabia at 1400hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1605hrs, airborne for 2hrs 5min.

08Mar41 13^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF L.E Knowles scrambled from Berka at 1455hrs tasked to intercept aircraft in the Benghazi area. No enemy aircraft were found before returning to Base at 1520hrs, airborne for 25min.

08Mar41 14^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF L.E Knowles scrambled from Berka at 1530hrs tasked to intercept aircraft in the Benghazi area. No enemy aircraft were found before returning to Base at 1540hrs, airborne for 10min.

08Mar41 15^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF L.E Knowles scrambled from Berka at 1630hrs tasked to intercept aircraft in the Benghazi area. No enemy aircraft were found before returning to Base at 1640hrs, airborne for 10min.

08Mar41 16^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF L.E Knowles scrambled from Berka at 1740hrs tasked to intercept aircraft in the Benghazi area. No enemy aircraft were found before returning to Base at 1850hrs, airborne for 1hr 10min.

09Mar41 17^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Agedabia at 1650hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1845hrs, airborne for 1hrs 55min.

16Mar41 18^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Berka at 1745hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked for Defensive Patrol over Benina to safeguard Wellingtons refuelling at the aerodrome. No enemy were encountered before the aircraft returned to Base at 1900hrs, airborne for 1hr 15min.

18Mar41 19^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell scrambled from Berka at 1020hrs tasked to intercept aircraft in the Benghazi area. No enemy aircraft were found before returning to Base at 1120hrs, airborne for 1hr.

19Mar41 20^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Agedabia at 1300hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1510hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

20Mar41 21^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF B.L Bracegirdle departed Benina at 0935hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft over Soluch. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1005hrs, airborne for 30min.

21Mar41 22^nd Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Benina at 1215hrs as one of five Hurricanes that flew to Agedabia where thy refuelled and awaited orders. Landed Agedabia at 1255hrs, airborne for 35min.

21Mar41 23^rd Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Agedabia at 1415hrs as one of five Hurricanes tasked for a low level attack on enemy aircraft at Marada LG. At 1500hrs the operation was aborted because of a severe dust storm blanketing the target area. Aircraft returned to Berka at 1615hrs, airborne for 2hrs.

24Mar41 24^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 1433hrs as one of seven Hurricanes that made 45min flight to Agedabia where the aircraft refuelled and awaited orders. Enroute the flight carried out an Offensive Patrol before landing Agedabia at 1540hrs airborne 45min.

24Mar41 25^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Agedabia at 1750hrs as one of seven Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Agedabia at 1900hrs, airborne for 2hrs. Aircraft remained at Agedabia.

25Mar41 26^th Operational Flight. The aircraft spent the day at readiness for 2^nd Armoured Division and were released at 1600hrs.  FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Agedabia at 1715hrs as one of seven Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Sweep enroute to Benina, where they landed at 1830hrs, airborne for 1hr 15min.

28Mar41 27^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Benina at 1030hrs as one of seven Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Soluch-Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1200hrs, airborne for 1hr 30min.

29Mar41 28^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Benina at 1330hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Mersa-El Brega-Agheila-Agedabia areas. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1530hrs, airborne for 2hrs.

31Mar41 29^th Operational Flight. Based on intelligence reports, H.Q RAF Cyrenaica directed the squadron to launch a maximum effort and conduct an Offensive Patrol over Allied troops in the Agedabia area. Accordingly, twelve Hurricanes were launched between 1015 and 1020hrs then headed for the target area in three flights of four flying at 5500, 7000 and 9000ft. At 1140hrs the Hurricanes made contact with a mixed formation of five Italian BR.20M bombers with two Bf110 escorts. At 1145hrs SQNLDR D. Campbell made a head-on attack against a Bf.110s, firing a 10 second burst starting at long range and closing rapidly. During the burst multiple hits were observed causing the enemy to cease fire before bursting into flames between the cockpit and starboard engine. The 110 passed above Campbell and commenced an upward roll before entering a vertical dive and exploding on impact. The aircraft Campbell shot down was Bf110E-1 WNr3948 3U-PR of 7/ZG26 flown by Oberfeldwebel Josef Bracum and Unteroffizier Kasper of 7/ZG26, both airmen died in the fiery crash.

31Mar41 Aircraft flew 24 Operational Flights and made an unknown number of non-operational flights in Mar41.

01Apr41 30^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Benina at 0810hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1010hrs, airborne for 2hrs.

02Apr41 31^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF P.R Turnbull departed Benina at 0830hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1040hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

02Apr41 32^nd Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Benina at 1230hrs as one of five Hurricanes that joined a further four Hurricanes of 73Sqn tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1450hrs, airborne for 2hrs 20min.

03Apr41 Aircraft moved from Benina to new operating base at Got-Es-Sultan LG 45km east of Benina.

03Apr41 33^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF P.R Turnbull departed Got-Es-Sultan at 1600hrs as one of six Hurricanes that joined a further three Hurricanes of 73Sqn tasked for a Defensive Patrol over retreating allied troops in the Sceledina area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1830hrs, airborne for 2hrs 30min.

03Apr41 At 2200hrs HQ Cyrenaica ordered the squadron to begin evacuating Got-Es-Sultan LG immediately as the enemy was closing rapidly. The main body of the squadron departed by 2300hrs for Maraua LG some 165km NNE of Benghazi  leaving behind the aircraft, pilots and a very small servicing echelon to launch the aircraft as soon as possible the next day. 

04Apr41 All aircraft departed Got-Es-Sultan at first light and flew to Maraua LG, 120km NE of Benghazi, Libya.

05Apr41 Aircraft moved from Maraua LG to new operating base at Martuba LG, south of Derna, Libya.

06Apr41 Aircraft moved from Martuba LG to new operating base at Gazala East LG, 60km west of Tobruk, Libya.

06Apr41 34^th Operational Flight. Lt Tennant (SAAF) departed Gazala East at 0800hrs as one of five Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Derna area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1025hrs, airborne for 2hrs 25min.

06Apr41 35^th Operational Flight. Lt Tennant (SAAF) departed Gazala East at 0800hrs as one of five Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Derna area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1025hrs, airborne for 2hrs 25min.

07Apr41 Aircraft departed Gazala East at first light and arrived 0730hrs at Sidi Mahmoud LG, 20km east of Tobruk, Libya.

07Apr41 36^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF L. Knowles departed Sidi Mahmoud with three other Hurricanes and joined with a further four Hurricanes from 73 Sqn to conduct an Offensive Patrol between Derna and Martuba. After completing the patrol and heading home the aircraft developed engine problems that forced Knowles to land at Gazala East LG. He remained with the aircraft awaiting assistance until the evening when the Army contingent became to prepare for evacuation because the enemy was only a few miles away. Knowles therefore burnt the aircraft and retreated with the Army to Tobruk.

00Apr41 Aircraft struck off charge. Hawker Hurricane MK.1 with RAF Serial P3980 served with RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn from 13Feb41 until 07Apr41, a period of 53 days. During that period the aircraft made thirty-six operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total operational time was 49hrs 10min.

V7347

00Ju40 A Block 4 Mk.I Hurricane fighter of the fourth production batch built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at their Langley facility near Slough, Berkshire. The 11^th of 50 aircraft built in the serial range V7337 to V7368 under contract 62305/39. Fitted with a 1,030hp (770 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin III V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine driving a three-bladed Rotol variable speed propeller.

01Aug40 Delivered for acceptance checks to RAF No.10 Maintenance Unit at RAF Hullavington, Wiltshire. Aircraft modified for use in the MTO by fitment of a Vokes air filter in a large chin fairing under the nose fairing.  Aircraft now officially known as Hurricane Mk.1 (Trop).

07Nov40 Delivered to RAF No.47 Maintenance Unit (Packing Unit) at RAF Sealand, Flintshire where it received final preparation for overseas shipment.

11Nov40 Aircraft loaded aboard HMS Furious at Liverpool as one of 34 Hurricanes for shipment to RAF Takoradi, in Gold Coast, Africa.

28Nov40 Aircraft arrived at RAF Takoradi where it was reassembled and tested

20Dec40 Aircraft ferried along the Takoradi Route and reached Cairo on 01Jan41.

02Jan41 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.107 Maintenance Unit at Kasfareet, Egypt where it prepared for use in desert conditions.

14Jan41 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.73 (F) Sqn at Gazala West LG located 50km west of Tobruk, Libya.

03Feb41 Aircraft delivered to RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn at Martuba LG airfield located 268km NNE of Benghazi, Libya.

13Feb41 Aircraft moved to new operating base at Benina LG located 20km west of Benghazi, Libya.

17Feb41 1^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.A Gatward departed Benina at 0730hrs as one of six Hurricanes that made 45min flight to Agedabia where the aircraft refuelled and awaited orders. Enroute the flight carried out an Offensive Patrol before landing Agedabia at 0840hrs airborne 1hr 10min.

17Feb41 2^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.A Gatward departed Agedabia at 1030hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila-Marada area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Agedabia at 1235hrs, airborne for 2hrs 5min.

17Feb41 3^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.A Gatward departed Agedabia at 1445hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila-Marada area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1650hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

20Feb41 4^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF B.L Bracegirdle departed Benina at 1530hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the pair landed Base at 1730hrs.

21Feb41 5^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF W.G Kloster departed Benina at 1345hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the pair landed Base at 1545hrs.

21Feb41 6^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF J.H Saunders departed Benina at 1615hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the pair landed Base at 1815hrs.

22Feb41 7^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 1600hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the pair landed Base at 1800hrs.

23Feb41 8^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 0655hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked for a Protective Patrol over a convoy sailing between Benghazi and Tobruk. No enemy encountered and the trio landed Base at 0920hrs, airborne for 2hrs 25min.

28Feb41 9^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1230hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the pair landed Base at 1325hrs.

28Feb41 Aircraft made nine Operational Flights and several non-operational flights in Feb 1941.

03Mar41 10^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1620hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy encountered and all aircraft landed Base at 1712hrs, airborne for 52min.

05Mar41 11^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1000hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1205hrs, airborne for 2hrs 5min.

06Mar41 12^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1500hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1705hrs, airborne for 2hrs 5min.

16Mar41 13^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 0700hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for a low level attack on a concentration of enemy MT and troops 20 miles west of Agheila. Edwards and two others remained high while the other three attacked the enemy formation. Edwards returned to Base at 0920hrs, airborne for 2hrs 15min.

17Mar41 14^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1330hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the trio landed Base at 1430hrs.

19Mar41 15^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF M.D Ellerton departed Benina at 1340hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the pair landed Base at 1415hrs.

21Mar41 16^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1655hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the pair landed Base at 1810hrs.

22Mar41 17^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1100hrs as one of four Hurricanes tasked to conduct a Sweep while enroute to Agedabia LG. Aircraft landed Agedabia at 1140hrs where they refuelled and awaited orders for the next operation.

22Mar41 18^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Agedabia at 1230hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked for a low level attack on Marada LG. One crashed SM.79 was the only aircraft at the LG so the trio made two passes strafing AA posts, tents, vehicles and personnel before returning to Agedabia at 1430hrs, airborne for 2hrs.

22Mar41 19^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1715hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked to conduct a Sweep while enroute to Benina, where they landed at 1755hrs.

23Mar41 20^th Operational Flight. FLTLT A.C Rawlinson departed Benina at 1235hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the pair landed Base at 1250hrs.

23Mar41 21^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1745hrs tasked for a defensive patrol over Benina to safeguard refuelling Wellington bombers. No enemy encountered and the aircraft landed Base at 1815hrs.

28Mar41 22^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1030hrs as one of seven Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Soluch-Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1200hrs, airborne for 1hr 30min.

31Mar41 23^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1022hrs as one of twelve Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Sweep over the Agedabia area. Based on intelligence reports, HQ RAF Cyrenaica directed the squadron to launch a maximum effort and conduct an Offensive Patrol over Allied troops in the Agedabia area. Accordingly, twelve Hurricanes were launched between 1015 and 1020hrs then headed for the target area in three flights of four flying at 5500, 7000 and 9000ft. At 1140hrs the Hurricanes made contact with a mixed formation of five Italian BR.20M bombers with two Bf110 escorts.  Action resulted in 3Sqn claiming 1 x Bf110 destroyed and 3 x BR 20 bombers damaged. Later analysis showed in fact that four of the five bombers were so badly damaged they landed at Arae Philenorum LG and the fifth bomber, not do badly damaged had managed to return to Tamet. One Bf 110 was lost and the other damaged. Edwards returned to Benina at 1235hrs, airborne for 2hrs 13min. 

31Mar41 24^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 1840hrs tasked to intercept an enemy aircraft over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the aircraft landed Base at 1850hrs.

31Mar41 Aircraft made fifteen Operational Flights and several non-operational flights in Mar 1941.

02Apr41 25^th Operational Flight. SAAF pilot Lt G.K Smith departed Benina at 0800hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1020hrs, airborne for 2hrs 20min.

03Apr41 Aircraft moved from Benina to new operating base at Got-Es-Sultan LG 45km east of Benina.

03Apr41 26^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Benina at 0830hrs as one of ten Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over retreating allied troops in the Agedabia-Antelat area. Soon after arriving on station they were informed that all Squadron ground elements were withdrawing to the East and the aircraft were ordered to land at Got-Es-Sultan LG some 45km to the East of Benina at the completion of their mission. No enemy were encountered during the operation and the aircraft landed at the Es-Sultan LG 1005hrs, airborne for 1hr 35min.

03Apr41 At 2200hrs HQ Cyrenaica ordered the squadron to begin evacuating Got-Es-Sultan LG immediately as the enemy was closing rapidly. The main body of the squadron departed by 2300hrs for Maraua LG some 165km NNE of Benghazi  leaving behind the aircraft, pilots and a very small servicing echelon to launch the aircraft as soon as possible the next day. 

04Apr41 All aircraft departed Got-Es-Sultan at first light and flew to Maraua LG, 120km NE of Benghazi, Libya.

04Apr41 27^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Maraua at 1155hrs tasked to conduct an Offensive Patrol in the Maraua-Sceledina-Misus area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1330hrs, airborne for 1hr 35min.

05Apr41 Aircraft moved from Maraua LG to new operating base at Martuba LG, south of Derna, Libya.

05Apr41 28^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Martuba at 0755hrs as one of eight Hurricanes tasked to conduct a Protective Patrol over allied troops retiring through the Barce Pass. No enemy were encountered and the aircraft returned to Maraua at 0920hrs, airborne for 1hr 25min.

05Apr41 29^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Martuba at 1350hrs as one of four 3Sqn Hurricanes accompanied by three of 73Sqn for a patrol over troops retiring through the Barce Pass. At 1405hrs a force of nine Stukas were intercepted south of Barce Pass in the act of bombing allied troops. The Hurricanes waded in and claimed 5 shot down and two damaged.  P5176 (Kloster) one destroyed and V7353 (Ellerton two). Two other claims were made by the 73 Sqn pilots. German records stated three lost and five heavily damaged, all from 6/StG2. 

Fifteen minutes after the action the Hurricanes were headed back to Maraua when Edwards radioed he had engine problems and was going to make a forced landing in the desert and succeeded when he crash landed 30 miles south of Tocra Pass, Libya. (Edwards believed the engine failure was a result of taking hits from a Stuka rear gunner during the earlier engagement).  He was then fortunately rescued by elements of the British 2^nd Armoured Division who were making a fighting retreat towards Tobruk. His apparent luck ran out when the Division was surrounded by superior German forces near Mechili and forced to surrender on the morning of 08Apr1941. Edwards was one of approximately 3,000 Allied troops that were then whisked away into captivity, initially in Italy and later in Germany.  

00Apr41 Aircraft struck off charge. 

Hawker Hurricane MK.1 with RAF Serial V7347 served with RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn from 13Feb41 until 07Apr41, a period of 53 days. During that period the aircraft made twenty-nine operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total operational time was 42hrs 57min.

250711 Flying Officer Albert Mortley Edwards (27) was born on 13 April 1914 in Armadale Victoria the son of Mr Herbert William and Marion Mildred Edwards of Armidale. 

Albert crash landed in the Libyan Desert and was captured by Axis troops. He was taken to Benghazi where he was interrogated and given POW No.2526 before being shipped to Italy in May 1941. On 16May he was incarcerated in Rezzanello POW Camp P.G 17 near Piacenza in northern Italy where he remained until May 1942. He was then transferred to Sulmona POW Camp P.G 78 in the Abruzzo region of Italy where he remained until July 1943. He transferred to his final Italian camp at Bologna POW Camp P.G 19 in the Emilia-Romagna area of Italy. When Italy surrendered in Sep1943 he was transferred by rail to Germany and was placed in Sagan Luft 3 until Jan 1945. On 5Feb1942 he was force marched out of Sagan and made to walk to the Tarmstad-Malag Nord near Lubeck, Germany. He remained here for three months until he was release by British Army elements and returned to the UK.

On 08Aug45 he embarked for repatriation to Australia, arriving Sydney in early September and following a short period he was posted No.1 Medical Rehabilitation Unit at Warburton, Victoria to undergo nine months of treatment.  Albert discharged from the RAAF in Melbourne on 30Jul46 with the substantive rank of Flight Lieutenant.  

Albert Mortley Edwards passed away in Springvale, Victoria on the 6^th of November 1975, aged 61 years young and his remains interred in The Victorian Garden of Remembrance in Springvale, City of Greater Dandenong, Victoria. 

V7484

00Jul40 A Block 4 Mk.I Hurricane fighter of the fourth production batch built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at their Langley facility near Slough, Berkshire. The 24^th of 50 aircraft built in the serial range V7461 to V7510 under contract 62305/39. Fitted with a 1,030hp (770 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin III V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine driving a three-bladed Rotol variable speed propeller.

01Aug40 Delivered for acceptance checks to RAF No.19 Maintenance Unit at RAF St Athan, Wales. Aircraft modified for use in the MTO by fitment of a Vokes air filter in a large chin fairing under the nose fairing.  Aircraft now officially known as Hurricane Mk.1 (Trop).

06Nov40 Delivered to RAF No.47 Maintenance Unit (Packing Unit) at RAF Sealand, Flintshire where it received final preparation for overseas shipment.

09Nov40 Aircraft loaded aboard HMS Furious at Liverpool as one of 34 Hurricanes for shipment to RAF Takoradi, in Gold Coast, Africa.

28Nov40 Aircraft arrived at RAF Takoradi where it was reassembled and tested

02Dec40 Aircraft ferried along the Takoradi Route and reached Cairo on 15Dec40.

21Dec40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.107 Maintenance Unit at Kasfareet, Egypt where it prepared for use in desert conditions.

23Dec40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.274 Sqn at El Amriya near Alexandria, Egypt. 

30Dec40 Aircraft sustained Cat.A damage when landing in high winds at Sidi Barrani LG. FLGOFF H.C Down was uninjured and the aircraft was quickly repaired at Sidi Barrani.

12Jan41 Aircraft was landing at Amriya when it went into a bomb crater and tipped onto its nose. SAAF pilot 2^nd Lt R.H Talbot was shaken but uninjured, the aircraft sustained Cat.A damage.

08Feb41 Aircraft delivered by 274Sqn pilots to RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn at Martuba LG airfield located 268km NNE of Benghazi, Libya.

13Feb41 Aircraft moved to new operating base at Benina LG located 20km west of Benghazi, Libya.

17Feb41 1^st Operational Flight FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 0945hrs tasked for a Standing patrol over Benghazi. No enemy were encountered, aircraft returned to Bas eat 1200hrs, airborne for 2hrs 15min.

17Feb41 2^nd Operational Flight FLGOFF W.E Jewel departed Benina at 1345hrs tasked for a Standing patrol over Benghazi. No enemy were encountered, aircraft returned to Bas eat 1600hrs, airborne for 2hrs 15min.

22Feb41 3^rd Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1220hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the pair landed Base at 1315hrs, airborne for 55min.

28Feb41 4^th Operational Flight FLGOFF L.E Knowles departed Benina at 0745rs tasked for an Interception of enemy aircraft over Benghazi. No enemy were encountered, aircraft returned to Base at 0925hrs, airborne for 1hr 40min.

28Feb41 5^th Operational Flight FLGOFF L.E Knowles departed Benina at 1015rs tasked for an Interception of enemy aircraft over Benghazi. No enemy were encountered, aircraft returned to Base at 1130hrs, airborne for 1hr 15min.

31Mar41 Aircraft made five operational flights and flew several non-operational flights in Mar 1941.

02Mar41 6^th Operational Flight FLGOFF T.H Trimble departed Benina at 1027hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked for an Interception of enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy were encountered, aircraft returned to Base at 1120hrs, airborne 53min.

03Mar41 7^th Operational Flight SGT D. Scott departed Benina at 1305hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1515hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

04Mar41 8^th Operational Flight FLGOFF A.C Rawlinson departed Benina at 1135hrs for a tactical recce over Agheila-Ras Lanuf. After completing the recce and homeward bound the engine failed and would not restart. The aircraft belly landed near Mersa El Brega and was extensively damaged, while the pilot sustained an injury to one of his eyes. Aircraft recovered the following day by a RAF RSU and assessed as damaged beyond repair, stripped for spares and destroyed.

00Mar41 Aircraft struck off charge. Hawker Hurricane MK.1 with RAF Serial V7484 served with RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn from 13Feb41 until 07Apr41, a period of 53 days. During that period the aircraft made eight operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total operational time was 12hrs 44min.V7552

00Jul40 A Block 4 Mk.I Hurricane fighter of the fourth production batch built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at their Langley facility near Slough, Berkshire. The 11^th of 50 aircraft built in the serial range V7337 to V7368 under contract 62305/39. Fitted with a 1,030hp (770 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin III V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine driving a three-bladed Rotol variable speed propeller.

01Aug40 Delivered for acceptance checks to RAF No.27 Maintenance Unit at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire. Aircraft modified for use in the MTO by fitment of a Vokes air filter in a large chin fairing under the nose fairing.  Aircraft now officially known as Hurricane Mk.1 (Trop).

06Nov40 Delivered to RAF No.47 Maintenance Unit (Packing Unit) at RAF Sealand, Flintshire where it received final preparation for overseas shipment.

09Nov40 Aircraft loaded aboard HMS Furious at Liverpool as one of 34 Hurricanes for shipment to RAF Takoradi, in Gold Coast, Africa.

28Nov40 Aircraft arrived at RAF Takoradi where it was reassembled and tested

02Dec40 Aircraft ferried along the Takoradi Route and reached Cairo on 15Dec40.

15Dec40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.107 Maintenance Unit at Kasfareet, Egypt where it prepared for use in desert conditions.

23Dec40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.73 (F) Sqn at Heliopolis airfield, Cairo.

02Jan41 Aircraft moved to new operating base at Sidi Heneish LG, Egypt.

03Jan41 PLTOFF L. Goord was flying practice air combat manoeuvres when some panels came adrift and others became loose. 

04Feb41 Aircraft sent for inspection and repair to No.102MU at RAF Abu Sueir.

07Feb41 Aircraft collected by a 3sqn pilot and flown to RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn at Martuba LG airfield located 268km NNE of Benghazi, Libya.

10Feb41 Aircraft moved from Martuba to a new base at Benina airfield some 20km west of Benghazi, Libya.

14Feb41 1^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF L.E Knowles departed Benina at 0815hrs tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the aircraft landed Base at 1035hrs.

14Feb41 2^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF L.E Knowles departed Benina at 0815hrs tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the aircraft landed Base at 1035hrs.

16Feb41 3^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 0735hrs tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the aircraft landed Base at 0950hrs.

16Feb41 4^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 1350hrs tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the aircraft landed Base at 1650hrs.

17Feb41 5^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 0730hrs as one of six Hurricanes that made 45min flight to Agedabia where the aircraft refuelled and awaited orders. Enroute the flight carried out an Offensive Patrol before landing Agedabia at 0840hrs airborne 1hr 10min.

17Feb41 6^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Agedabia at 1030hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila-Marada area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Agedabia at 1235hrs, airborne for 2hrs 5min.

17Feb41 7^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Agedabia at 1445hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila-Marada area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1650hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

18Feb41 8^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 1540hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the aircraft landed Base at 1650hrs.

19Feb41 9^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF G.E Kloster departed Benina at 0830hrs as one of four Hurricanes that made a 40min flight to Agedabia where the aircraft refuelled and awaited orders. Enroute the flight carried out an Offensive Patrol before landing Agedabia at 0910hrs airborne 1hr 10min.

19Feb41 10^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.A Gatward departed Agedabia at 1000hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol in the Agheila area. Approaching the patrol area near Mersa El Brega they spotted a number of apparently unescorted Ju87s from II/StG 2 dive-bombing the village. FLTLT Perrin looked all around for an escort but seeing none led the flight down to attack the Stukas. Perrin shot down Ju87R-1 WNr. 5455 of 5. /StG 2 flown by Unteroffizier Kurt Stuber and Unteroffizier Walter Neutwig (gunner) which crash-landed near Nofilia with both members of the crew wounded. Immediately after sending off the Stuka the three Hurricanes were bounced by four Bf110s and Gatward was shot down in flames without getting out of his aircraft. 

00Feb41 Aircraft struck off charge. 

Hawker Hurricane MK.1 with RAF Serial V7552 served with RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn from 07Feb41 until 19Feb41, a period of just twelve days. During that period the aircraft made ten operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total operational time was 18hrs 33min.

V7557

00Sep40 A Block 4 Mk.I Hurricane fighter of the fourth production batch built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at their Langley facility near Slough, Berkshire. The 25^th of 50 aircraft built in the serial range V7533 to V7572 under contract 62305/39. Fitted with a 1,030hp (770 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin III V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine driving a three-bladed Rotol variable speed propeller.

29Sep40 Delivered for acceptance checks to RAF No.20 Maintenance Unit at RAF Ashton Downs, Gloucestershire. Aircraft modified for use in the MTO by fitment of a Vokes air filter in a large chin fairing under the nose fairing.  Aircraft now officially known as Hurricane Mk.1 (Trop).

06Nov40 Delivered to RAF No.47 Maintenance Unit (Packing Unit) at RAF Sealand, Flintshire where it received final preparation for overseas shipment.

09Nov40 Aircraft loaded aboard HMS Furious at Liverpool as one of 34 Hurricanes for shipment to RAF Takoradi, in Gold Coast, Africa.

28Nov40 Aircraft arrived at RAF Takoradi where it was reassembled and tested

02Dec40 Aircraft ferried along the Takoradi Route and reached Cairo on 15Dec40.

15Dec40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.107 Maintenance Unit at Kasfareet, Egypt where it prepared for use in desert conditions.

23Dec40 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.73 (F) Sqn at Heliopolis airfield, Cairo.

02Jan41 Aircraft moved to new operating base at Sidi Heneish LG, Egypt.

08Feb41 Aircraft collected by a 3sqn pilot and flown to RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn at Martuba LG airfield located 268km NNE of Benghazi, Libya.

18Feb41 1^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 0900hrs tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft landed at 1120hrs, airborne for 2hrs 20min.

18Feb41 2^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF Bracegirdle departed Benina at 1600hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy encountered and the aircraft landed Base at 1635hrs, airborne for 35min.

18Feb41 3^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF Bracegirdle departed Benina at 1715hrs tasked for a Standing Patrol over Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft landed at 1830hrs, airborne for 1hrs 15min.

19Feb41 4^th Operational Flight. FLTLT J.R Perrin departed Benina at 0830hrs as one of four Hurricanes that made a 40min flight to Agedabia where the aircraft refuelled and awaited orders. Enroute the flight carried out an Offensive Patrol before landing Agedabia at 0910hrs airborne 1hr 10min.

19Feb41 5^th Operational Flight. FLTLT J.R Perrin departed Agedabia at 1000hrs leading two other Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol in the Agheila area. Approaching the patrol area near Mersa El Brega they spotted a number of apparently unescorted Ju87s from II/StG 2 dive-bombing the village. FLTLT Perrin looked all around for an escort but seeing none led the flight down to attack the Stukas. Perrin shot down Ju87R-1 WNr. 5455 of 5. /StG 2 flown by Unteroffizier Kurt Stuber and Unteroffizier Walter Neutwig (gunner) which crash-landed near Nofilia with both members of the crew wounded. Immediately after sending off the Stuka Perrin was bounced by four III/ZG 26 Bf.110s who set his gravity tank on fire but this did not stop Perrin from turning the tables on his adversary and shooting down Leutnant Wehmeyer's Bf 110E-1 WNr. 3886, which the pilot managed to ditch into the sea. Wehmeyer and his wounded gunner, Obergefreiter Wilhelm Wüst got into their dinghy and were picked up 24 hours later by an Axis rescue craft. Perrin then managed to crash land and egress the machine before the 110s strafed the Hurricane and destroyed it.

Perrin was wounded in one eye and burned around the arms and face, fortunately he was soon rescued by an Army patrol car and taken to Benina were he recounted to his fellow pilots that as he staggered from his burning aircraft following the crash-landing, half blinded by oil and blood, he was repeatedly machine-gunned by the Bf110s as he made a desperate dash for shelter behind a tree: "It was the fastest 100 yards I have ever run and, when I barged into that tree in my haste, I saw stars by the thousands." He recovered relatively quickly from his wounds and returned to active service with 3 Sqn at the end of April 1941. He was later awarded a DFC for his actions on 19^th February.

22Feb41 Aircraft struck off charge. 

Hawker Hurricane MK.1 with RAF Serial V7557 served with RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn from 08Feb41 until 19Feb41, a period of just eleven days. During that period the aircraft made five operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total operational time was 6hrs 21min.V7567

00Sep40 A Block 4 Mk.I Hurricane fighter of the fourth production batch built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at their Langley facility near Slough, Berkshire. The 35^th of 40 aircraft built in the serial range V7533 to V7572 under contract 62305/39. Fitted with a 1,030hp (770 kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin III V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine driving a three-bladed Rotol variable speed propeller.

05Oct40 Delivered for acceptance checks to RAF No.10 Maintenance Unit at RAF Hullavington, Wiltshire. Aircraft modified for use in the MTO by fitment of a Vokes air filter in a large chin fairing under the nose fairing.  Aircraft now officially known as Hurricane Mk.1 (Trop).

13Nov40 Delivered to RAF No.52 Maintenance Unit (Packing Unit) at RAF Cardiff, Wales where it received final preparation for overseas shipment.

01Dec40 Aircraft loaded aboard the 4,300grt freighter SS Hollinside at Swansea Docks as one of 12 Hurricanes for shipment to RAF Takoradi, in Gold Coast, Africa. The ship departed Swansea on 04Dec40 as part of convoy OB.257/259 and arrived Takoradi on 14Jan41.

14Jan41 Aircraft arrived at RAF Takoradi where it was reassembled and tested.

28Jan41 Aircraft ferried along the Takoradi Route and reached Cairo on 31Dec41.

01Feb41 Aircraft delivered to RAF No.107 Maintenance Unit at Kasfareet, Egypt where it prepared for use in desert conditions.

18Feb41 Aircraft allocated to RAAF No.3 Sqn at Benina airfield some 20km west of Benghazi, Libya.

27Feb41 FLGOFF W.E Jewel collected the aircraft from 107MU and delivered the aircraft to 3Sqn.

03Mar41 1^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF J.H Saunders departed Benina at 1620hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked to intercept a force of enemy aircraft heading for Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1712hrs, airborne for 52min.

05Mar41 2^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF L.E Knowles departed Benina 1005hrs tasked to intercept an enemy aircraft heading for Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1105hrs, airborne for 60min.

06Mar41 3^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF J.H Saunders departed Benina at 1455hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1705hrs, airborne for 2hrs 10min.

07Mar41 4^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.C Rawlinson departed Benina at 1115hrs as one of nine Hurricanes that made a 45min flight to Agedabia where the aircraft refuelled and awaited orders. Enroute the flight carried out an Offensive Patrol before landing Agedabia at 1200hrs airborne 1hr.

07Mar41 5^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.C Rawlinson departed Agedabia at 1400hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1605hrs, airborne for 2hrs 5min.

10Mar41 6^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 1100hrs as one of eight Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1330hrs, airborne for 2hrs 30min.

11Mar41 7^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 1510hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1125hrs, airborne for 35min.

12Mar41 8^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 1255hrs as one of seven Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1330hrs, airborne for 2hrs 35min.

13Mar41 9^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 0900hrs as one of two Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft approaching Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 0940hrs, airborne for 40min.

15Mar41 10^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 0810hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia-Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1040hrs, airborne for 2hrs 30min.

16Mar41 11^th Operational Flight. FLTLT G. Steege departed Benina at 0655hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for a low level attack on a concentration of enemy MT and troops 20 miles west of Agheila. Steege and two others attacked the enemy formation while the other three remained high. Two MT were destroyed and casualties inflicted on enemy personnel. Steege returned to Base at 0910hrs, airborne for 2hrs 15min.

23Mar41 12^th Operational Flight. FLTLT A.C Rawlinson departed Benina at 1235hrs as one of three Hurricanes tasked to intercept enemy aircraft in the Benghazi area. One friendly aircraft was located but no enemy were sighted. Aircraft returned to Base at 1250hrs, airborne for 15min.

24Mar41 13^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR P. Jeffrey departed Benina at 0630hrs as one of seven Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol. Fifteen minutes after departure Jeffrey informed the leader he was aborting with engine problems and returning to Base. Landed Benina at 0830hrs, 

28Mar41 14^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A. Boyd departed Benina at 1030hrs as one of eight Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Soluch-Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1200hrs, airborne for 1hr 30min.

29Mar41 15^th Operational Flight. FLTLT J.R Perrin departed Benina at 1525hrs tasked to intercept an enemy aircraft near Benghazi. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1200hrs, airborne for 35min.

31Mar41 Aircraft made ... operational flights plus a number on non-operational flights in Mar 1941

01Apr41 16^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF J Jackson departed Benina at 0810hrs as one of nine Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agheila area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1010hrs, airborne for 2hrs.

02Apr41 17^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF J.H Saunders departed Benina at 0800hrs as one of six Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over the Agedabia area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Base at 1020hrs, airborne for 2hrs 20min.

03Apr41 Aircraft moved from Benina to new operating base at Got-Es-Sultan LG 45km east of Benina.

03Apr41 18^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.M Edwards departed Benina at 0830hrs as one of ten Hurricanes tasked for an Offensive Patrol over retreating allied troops in the Agedabia-Antelat area. Soon after arriving on station they were informed that all Squadron ground elements were withdrawing to the East and the aircraft were ordered to land at Got-Es-Sultan LG some 45km to the East of Benina at the completion of their mission. No enemy were encountered during the operation and the aircraft landed at the Es-Sultan LG 1005hrs, airborne for 1hr 35min.

03Apr41 At 2200hrs HQ Cyrenaica ordered the squadron to begin evacuating Got-Es-Sultan LG immediately as the enemy was closing rapidly. The main body of the squadron departed by 2300hrs for Maraua LG some 165km NNE of Benghazi  leaving behind the aircraft, pilots and a very small servicing echelon to launch the aircraft as soon as possible the next day. 

04Apr41 All aircraft departed Got-Es-Sultan at first light and flew to Maraua LG, 120km NE of Benghazi, Libya.

04Apr41 19^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Maraua at 1155hrs tasked to conduct an Offensive Patrol in the Maraua-Sceledina-Misus area. No enemy were sighted and the aircraft returned to Benina at 1330hrs, airborne for 1hr 35min.

05Apr41 20^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR D. Campbell departed Maraua at 1635hrs leading seven 3Sqn and two 73Sqn Hurricanes tasked to provide cover for allied troops retreating through Barce Pass. As the formation neared their patrol area they intercepted 12 unescorted Stukas from 4/StG2 attacking Allied convoys near the Pass and after the usual check for escorting fighters waded into the Ju87s. In the whirling chaos that epitomizes aerial combat the Hurricanes all selected a target and began the battle.  Unknown to his pilots Campbell’s Hurricane was mortally wounded by return fire from the Stukas. He was last seen by two of his Squadron in a vertical dive with flames and thick smoke issuing from the nose of the aircraft. He was not seen to crash but when he failed to return to Base he was listed as MIA and later changed to KIA. Campbell’s body was never found.

A later Army report stated: “one Hurricane had been attacked by a JU87 as it was attacking another JU87. The Hurricane pulled up steeply to approximately 500 feet, and then fell away in a steep dive with smoke and flames coming from the engine. The Hurricane was not seen to crash but it disappeared behind a low hill in a steep dive, crashing in enemy territory”.

00Apr41 Aircraft struck off charge. Hawker Hurricane MK.1 with RAF Serial V7567 served with RAAF No.3 (F) Sqn from 27Feb41 until 05Apr41, a period of just seven days. During that period the aircraft made twenty operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total operational time was 31hrs 08min.

RAAF pilot 134 Squadron Leader Duncan Campbell (25) was born on 30 September 1915 in Leeds, England the son of Colin and Maria Campbell, of Dulwich Hill, New South Wales, Australia. Duncan was KIA and has no known grave. He is commemorated on Column 245 at the Alamein Memorial located 130km west of Alexandria, Egypt; and , on Panel  98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT. He is remembered on the Concord RSL Memorial Court, Concord NSW.

Paul McGuiness 2026