…... Finally the 109s exhausted their ammunition and broke off the assault. Flying Officer Cotton’s aircraft was feeling the strain, and the engine already spluttering and faltering, gave out and he forced landed only six miles from LG 134 causing little damage to the aircraft. He was able to get his valuable information back to 30 Corps Headquarters.”
By the 11th December Tobruk and El Adem had been cleared of the enemy and Acroma taken. The Squadron had moved forwards to Bir-el-Gubi (LG 170) where it continued with regular tactical reconnaissance flights of the forward battle area and flanks. 30 Corps now relinquished control of this area and on the 16th December the Squadron was allocated to 13 Corps operating from the Acroma area. However air opposition had reached such a pitch that active fighter protection was essential if the Squadron was to continue to fulfil its task.
In early January the enemy pulled out of Agedabia under cover of a dust storm and moved back to Agheila. With the retreat of the enemy the Squadron moved its headquarters to Tmimi deploying a flight to Antelat. Here it was called upon to make long range reconnaissance flights covering the dangerous areas behind the enemies forward aerodromes, landing grounds and refuelling bases about which little was known. This area could not be reached by fighter sweeps therefore the Squadron was allotted a number of long range Hurricanes. This increased the maximum limit of operation from base from 140 miles to 170 miles.
Webmaster’s note: It was in January 1942 that Flying Officer John Fortune was shot down and killed whilst on a reconnaissance mission. He was later awarded a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions whilst flying Lysanders and Hurricanes in the reconnaissance role. On Thursday 25 October 2001,
