Tuesday, 10 November 1942 — War Diary

21 Squadron War Diary

November 10 L.G. 98

No flying today: Oprep. No. 138No. 27827 2/Lt. J.H.M. PICKERILL (Observer) non-effective, posted to S.A.A.F. Depot w.e.f. 29.10.42. No. 778762 Sgt. KERR A.R. injured on 2.11.42, posted non-effective to S.A.A.F. Depot w. e. f. that date. One other rank posted S.A.A.F. Depot for evacuation to Union by Hospital Ship, w.e.f. 19.10.42. A search party was despatched to the vicinity of SIDI EL RAHMAN to endeavour to ascertain further information regarding the crew and Captain RHODES' aircraft which was shot down on 27.10.42. Unfortunately the wreckage was not located.

Transcriber's Notes

2/Lt: Second Lieutenant.
L.T: Local Time.
S.A.A.F: South African Air Force.
Sgt: Sergeant.

* Operation Torch (The "First Army and Americans"): The entry for November 8th (continued from the previous page) reflects the squadron's jubilation at the news of Operation Torch. The landings in Morocco and Algeria by US and British forces ("First Army") meant the Axis forces were now fighting a two-front war in North Africa, effectively sealing their fate.

Italian Collapse ("Five Divisions Stranded"): The diary vividly describes the disintegration of the Italian X Corps and XX Motorized Corps. Lacking transport (which the Germans prioritized for their own retreat), thousands of Italian soldiers were left stranded in the desert. The phrase "waiting to be put in the bag" is military slang for being captured.

w.e.f.: With effect from.