The third attack came just after 0900 hours when two aircraft again attacked the airfield. The first one dropped two fairly ineffective bombs near the hangar and then was chased south by Flying Officers McElhaw and Hully; the former shot it down. The second aircraft dropped one bomb on the Dakotas on the airfield and succeeded in destroying one. This Spitfire was then bounced by Flying Officer McElhaw who shot it down two miles east of the airfield where it disappeared into the ground with a loud explosion. Thus the day went to 208.
Much excitement was caused in Nicosia with all these happenings and the same afternoon reinforcements arrived to assist in maintaining the patrols. The AOC arrived from Haifa and congratulated all personnel on the day’s work and explained that the Egyptian authorities said it was all a navigational error. The weather was subsequently blamed the visibility at the time being 50 nautical miles
Sure enough at 0830 hours three more Spitfires appeared and proceeded to bomb one of the hangars obtaining one direct hit and three near misses. The enemy aircraft, which by then had been identified as Egyptian, were strafing the airfield when they were attacked by the 208 patrol. Flying Officer Cooper opened up on the first one, then Flying Officer Bowie got a strike on the same aircraft sending it down in flames west of the airfield. The second aircraft, on being attacked, dived away south followed by the Squadron’s section in close line astern. As soon as it was identified as hostile Flying Officer Cooper opened fire scoring hits on it. Pieces fell from it as it dived to ground level; continuing with his attack Flying Officer Cooper saw the aircraft crash into the ground at full speed. The third bandit strafed the airfield at low level and was hit by the RAF Regiment bren-gunners. It disappeared south losing height and glycol and was subsequently confirmed as destroyed. Thus in the second round the Squadron acquitted itself well and no aircraft on the ground was damaged.
