one enemy aircraft who had closed to about 20 yards. When I had made my landing the aircraft was well ablaze, but the three enemy pilots came down and strafed the burning plane. I waited until they had completed their abortive and (unsporting!!) attacks and got out. I was uninjured barring bruises and a cut in the arm.”
One week later Pilot Officer P.M. Bezencenet submitted the following combat report:
“While flying Hurricane ABG 862 on a tactical reconnaissance 3 miles east of El Duda at 0755 hours, at 5000 feet, and diving slightly at 240 mph I saw a shadow pass over my plane. I took immediate evasive action in a steep left hand diving turn and saw tracer pass above my starboard wing. I then saw 3 aircraft coming out of the sun. As my guns were not firing, owing to insufficient pressure I decided to make our own lines some 15 miles southeast, in the Gasr El Arid area. I accordingly took evasive action chiefly by executing steep slipping or skidding turns into whichever aircraft happened to be attacking me.
I reached zero feet without being hit. I then used rich mixture fine pitch and emergency boost cut-out and was disappointed to see that the ASI did not at any time exceed 220 mph. Shortly afterwards my starboard aileron was put out of commission rendering violent evasive action difficult, and the starboard wing started to burn. A few cannon shells entered the cockpit from a starboard quarter attack, smashing most of the instrument panel. One or more shells appeared to enter my parachute and shrapnel from these entered my right leg making it useless. After further attacks my oil and glycol tanks were holed simultaneously, partially blinding me. My evasive measures from then on were of a haphazard nature. My starboard wing was now burning well and I could see the fuel tanks and guns through the ribs. Nevertheless the plane still responded laterally and the engine functioned well. The attacks now seemed to be taking place at less frequent intervals, possibly because one or two of the enemy aircraft had run out of ammunition. I was still skimming over enemy tanks and vehicles so decided to carry on.
