21 Squadron War Diary
Ben Hagen
War Diary 17BOMBER COMBAT REPORT attached to Sortie Report No. 324, dated the 3rd July, 1943 - 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.AH 12 Baltimores, flying in two boxes of 6 aircraft each.AJ 48 P-40's from 324 Wing.AK 8/10, M.E.109's and Macchi 202's were recognised. A M.E.110 and 1 F.W.190 are reported. Height 7000 ft.AL The attack in each case was made by one or two enemy aircraft attacking from astern and below. The engagement lasted 9/10 minutes.AM The enemy aircraft attacked from below and from astern in an upward direction. As soon as the nose of the enemy aircraft showed above the tail of the Baltimores, the enemy aircraft dived down and away and returned to the attack - again from below and astern. Both top and bottom gunners attacked the enemy fighters attacking their aircraft and fired at such other Enemy Aircraft attacking other aircraft of the formation as were within range. At the same time pilots on instructions from the gunners who saw enemy aircraft about to attack them, evaded them by weaving, violently at times. The enemy broke off the engagement 4/5 minutes out to sea when our own fighter escort came in to engage them.AN See Para, BF in attached sortie Report. Enemy dived down and away in each case.AO (i) 300 x .30 (ii) 250 x .303 (iii) 250 x .50