…... more than unpleasant and succeeded in forcing one Lysander to crash land, fortunately just outside the defences. By the second day hordes of prisoners were being marched away outside the Western defences; the signs were that the Italian defences had collapsed and by early afternoon it was reported that Tobruk’s resistance was at an end.
Thus the Squadron was moved yet again, this time to Tmimi as alarming reports had come through of large enemy concentrations on the northwest side of Mechili fort. Photographs were taken by Hurricane to confirm this as it was suspected that a defended position was being prepared. However two days later the Squadron reported that the Italians were withdrawing and that their column was spread over five miles along the track to the northwest of Mechili. A message was dropped on a force of our own tanks and vehicles a few miles northwest of this concentration; however yet another reconnaissance was ordered to confirm this report. By the time confirmation was received the force had got well into the hills and no immediate action could be taken. It was thought at the time in well informed circles that the escape of the enemy from Mechili could prolong the campaign by at least one month. However General Creagh made a lightning dash south of the hill country and cut-off the Tripoli-Benghazi road and caught the tank forces retreating from Benghazi. These were successfully beaten up and that was the conclusion of the Italian resistance.
During the first week in February the Squadron was at Tmimi operating under 13 Corps. On 4th February a composite detached flight made up of Hurricanes and Lysanders went to Mechili to operate with the 7th Armoured Division. This flight moved forward to Mount Zeus and when Benghazi fell on 6th February went to Agedabia where it carried out reconnaissance work in the Agheila area. Early on our pilots encountered German fighter aircraft and the landing ground at Agedabia was subject to several vicious raids which did not however inflict any casualties on our personnel. Meanwhile the remainder of the Squadron moved forward to Marawa where extremely bad weather hampered progress. By 12th February the Squadron was located at Barce where it remained until 28th when a welcome recall to Egypt was received and the trek back to Cairo began. It is of interest to note here that the reports of the detached flight during the period at Agedabia indicated in no uncertain terms the presence in the not too distant forward area of German transport and fighting vehicles. When the Squadron finally left Cyrenaica it handed over to No. 6 AC Squadron.
