Library Reference Number: 111
Last Major Air Operation:
Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean
1st to 3rd June 1944
Background
By mid-1944 the focus of Mediterranean activities had switched to Italy, leaving the eastern sector almost in limbo. The Allied H.Q. had decided not to attempt to regain Crete, or the other German occupied Greek islands (taken over from the Italians) as being too costly, and not of any strategic importance. However, there was still a large German Army presence in Crete, and the Germans had great difficulty in supplying their troops etc. With no naval presence and little Luftwaffe availability, the Germans had to try to supply Crete by convoy from mainland Greece. This is the story of the foiling of a German supply convoy by assorted SAAF and RAF Squadrons, all working together.
15th June 1944. Gambut, Eastern Desert: The Attack.
An air armada had been assembled at Gambut during the last few days of May 1944, and No.454 Squadron RAF had already been shadowing a convoy of German shipping which had set out from Salamis, sailing by night. During the day, the convoy hid under the jutting cliffs of various Aegean
Islands. Gambut Airfield was situated halfway between Bardia and Tobruk, and had been the H.Q. of No.24 Squadron SAAF, flying medium bomber B26
Glenn Martin Marauders.
At one stage the convoy returned to Greece after it had been spotted, but the time came when it had to "make a break for it." The object of the Allies was to let it come into fighter range so that the strike force could be escorted. Following a recce over Gambut during the night by a Ju88 and the early morning gong for an immediate stand-by, 24 Squadron crews were on tenderhooks as the morning of 1S` June went by without a take-off. At 1650 hours however, an air armada set out from Gambut, where it had finally assembled the previous day. The force, which was led by Lieut-Colonel Margo, DSO, of 24 Squadron, comprised:
24 Squadron, SAAF - 12 Marauders, in two boxes of six, each carrying six 500 lb.bombs & three 250 Ib.bombs
15 Squadron, SAAF - 15 Baltimores
454 Squadron, RAF - 3 Baltimores
252 Squadron, RAF - 16 Beaufighters
603 Squadron, RAF - 8 Beaufighters
16 Squadron, RAF - 4 Beaufighters
227 Squadron, RAF - 2 Beaufighters
Strike Force ... 60 aircraft
94 Squadron, RAF ... 13 Spitfires (escort)
213 Squadron, SAAF/RAF . . 4 Mustangs (escort)
Total . . 77 aircraft
The convoy was located in the Mandri Channel about 20 miles north of its destination, Candia harbour, at an approximate position of 35.50 N.
25.07 E. It consisted of four MVs plus an escort of one destroyer, one light cruiser, eight 'flak ships' and several Me109s and Arado196s.
(Note: Candia is now known as `Heraklion').
The Beaufighters went in to the attack at 'sea-level'; the medium bombers at their normal height of 10,OOOfeet. Unfortunately the enemy concentrated on making things difficult for the Beaufighters, of which four were lost. One Baltimore was also hit and lost. The results of the combined operations were:
One MV `Sabine' sunk.
Another MV `Gertrud' was badly damaged, caught fire and sank in the harbour of Candia. A Curtatene class destroyer was sunk.
Two small escort vessels destroyed.
One light cruiser and one MV damaged; also confirmed that MV `Girda Toft' was left burning and sank later. One Arado 196 destroyed, another probable and a further two damaged.
One Me aircraft destroyed.
After the attack on the convoy, there were still two of the MVs in Candia harbour meriting attention; one was the Gertrud which had been badly hit, the other the Tanais. 24 Squadron took off the next day under the leadership of Captain Liddell with an escort of nine Spitfires. A near miss was observed on the Gertrud, which was seen burning. Four Marauders were holed by ack-ack. Candia was a difficult target, having to be approached from the sea.
Twelve Marauders led by Johnny Davis, DFC, and six Baltimores of 15 Squadron with an escort of eight Spitfires from 94 Squadron again bombed Candia harbour on 3rd June. They missed the Tanais but scored direct hits on the installations and a few caiques. Nine Marauders were holed by ack-ack.
Personal Message from A.O.C. Mediterranean (received 4th June 1941)
"As various ships cannot be found I think we may now safely claim them as resting in the arms of Neptune and I wish to congratulate everybody
on their very great success in the last few days. The perfect recce of 454 Squadron, the excellent work on the part of the bombers and their
escorts, especially 15 and 24 S.A.A.F and the magnificent show of the Beaufighters may result in one of the greatest defeats the enemy has
suffered in the Aegean. Finally I would like to express my thanks to the ground crews and maintenance personnel whose efforts have enabled us to
put so many aircraft into the air."
Aftermath
For my Squadron (24 S.A.A.F.), it was a form of revenge for heavy losses suffered over targets in Crete during March and April of that year(1944); those losses being mentioned on page 27 of "Well - You Wanted to Fly!" "
Shortly afterwards my Squadron and some of the others, were re-assigned to Italy whilst Crete and the other Greek Islands had to wait for almost a year for liberation. It was unfortunate from a publicity point of view, that the action described gained little recognition due to the D-Day action occurring a few days later. Readers will no doubt have noted that No.603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron took part in the action. Any information on the RAF Squadron's input would be interesting to hear.
"Well - You Wanted to Fly!" Ed.Jack Burgess (2005), published by Woodfield Publications, price £15-00. Also details extracted from "History of 24 Squadron, S.A.A.F." and from personal Flying Log Book. <Webmaster Note: Details of how to order 'Well, You wanted to fly is available on the branch news of this web site.>