On 19th May after a period of inactivity three pilots were detached for operational duties with 112(F) Squadron at Amman ground strafing enemy aircraft on Damascus aerodrome. Three Hurricanes of 80 Squadron were collected and flown to Amman. The following day at dawn two aircraft took off with a pair of 112 Squadron aircraft to attack Damascus aerodrome. Poor visibility at this early hour caused the section to overshoot Damascus, however on returning the aerodrome was sighted from 10,000 feet. As the section peeled off from 5,000 feet intense though inaccurate anti-aircraft and ground fire came up to meet them. The pilots attacked individually a Me 110 and a Ju 52 parked on the aerodrome; however, as ball and armour piercing ammunition only was used, damage was difficult to assess. This detachment was not to last though, for it was decided that the pilots could not be detailed for fighter patrols over Haifa as none of them had any fighter experience, a deficiency which was not to last for long.
The three pilots returned to Gaza where, on 25th May, the Squadron received four Hurricanes and one Lysander. By the end of the month MT vehicles, aircraft tools and spares were arriving on the Squadron and it was at this point that the Squadron Commander was notified that the Squadron was to be re-equipped with two flights of Hurricanes and one of Lysanders. The detachment of Habbaniya meanwhile had been carrying out artillery shoots and tactical reconnaissance flights over Falliya. The training squadron there had loaned them two Audax aircraft to carry out this task and it was unfortunate that on one such sortie an Audax with Gladiator escort was intercepted by three Italian CR 42s and forced down, being damaged on landing.
By the beginning of June the invasion of Syria was imminent, and the role of the Army in the first stages of the campaign were revealed. The invasion was to be undertaken by 7th Australian Division supported by Divisional cavalry and artillery. The intention was to enter Syria on a two Brigade front, the right Brigade advancing northeast from Metulla in three columns and the left Brigade moving north to Beirut along the main coastal road. In the event of this latter approach being rendered impossible, the left Brigade was to join the right as far as Merdjayan and then branch off for the coast. Therefore the first objective for the left Brigade was Saida, and for the right, Merdjayan. One flight was therefore detached to Haifa to operate under 7th Australian Division, its role being to keep the two advanced Brigades in touch.
