Although the situation had stabilised with both sides bringing up reinforcements and consolidating, an additional hazard presented itself to the Squadron. A state of affairs had arisen where our own forward troops were firing on friendly aircraft. On the third occasion that a Squadron aircraft was hit the result was fatal to the pilot. As a result the troops were instructed not to fire on single aircraft unless enemy markings were identified or it performed a hostile act. On the 16th February the detached flight was moved from Acroma to Bir el Regal where it quickly received a dive bombing attack by Messerschmitt 109s and ground strafing by Macchi 202s. Four aircraft were rendered unserviceable and another damaged so, on the instruction of 13 Corps, the flight left Bir el Regal for El Adem.
At the beginning of March an advanced party of six pilots from No. 40 Squadron SAAF arrived at El Adem with three aircraft to gain operational experience before the latter relieved 208 Squadron at the end of the month. Additional personnel arrived at El Adem throughout the month while the Squadron continued to provide information on the enemy’s movements and disposition. Finally on the 20th March the Squadron advanced party left by road from Sidi Azeiz for a well earned rest at Moascar Camp, Ismalia prior to re-equipment.
During the Squadron’s rest period information was received from Headquarters Royal Air Force Middle East that the Squadron was to be re-armed with one flight of Tomahawks and two flights of Hurricane Is. There appeared to be some urgency to get the Squadron to the Western Desert again and a warning order placing the Squadron at 72 hours notice with effect from 1st May was received. The allotment of two obsolescent types of aircraft was poorly received by the Squadron Commander who had previously been assured that combat squadrons must have the best available aircraft so as to compete alone with the enemy’s superior fighters. The restrictions placed on the Squadron using inferior aircraft would inevitably raise the burning question of fighter escorts, the continued use of which was hardly likely to be popular.
