Observations
ROYAL AIR FORCE. RECONNAISSANCE REPORT. R.A.F. Form No. 401.
Date 29.9.41 Ref. No. 45 Sheet No. [blank]
Unit: 21 Squadron S. A. A. F.
Aircraft Type: Maryland No. L.1668
Orders or nature of duty:— Photographic Reconnaissance of Bardia Harbour
Map or Chart Reference:— Target Map of Bardia Harbour
Pilot: Capt. Thackwray
Observer: 2/Lt. Kiley
Crew: Sgts. Earnshaw and G. E. Jones
Time up 0750
Time down 1200
Total time 4 Hours 10 min
Visibility [blank] Weather Fair
Cloud 4/10ths Cloud
| Place | Serial No. | Time (Hrs.) | Height (Feet) | Report | Track (True) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASE | | 0750 | Climbing | A/B S/C Fuka Point | 304 |
| | 0805 | 10000 | Returning to base for Air Gunners parachute. | 124 | |
| | 0824 | Descending | Landed | | |
| | 0830 | climbing | A/B a/c Fuka Point | | |
| | 0842 | 6000' | Position Fuka Point S/C position B 125 miles bearing 295 degrees | 295 | |
| | 0854 | 15000 | Mersa Matruh 20 miles on port beam - visibility decreasing to 5 - 10 miles average owing to haze and clouds 3/10ths | 295 | |
| | 0925 | 21000 | Turning on to Bardia Harbour - over cloud 10/10ths | 284 | |
| | 0940 | 20000 | Through Gap in clouds saw Bardia. N/C to 250 degrees for Photography. | | |
| | 0944 | 19500 | Over Bardia Harbour taking photographs. Ship at position H 25 | 250 | |
| | 0948 | descending | through clouds - passed over Fort Capuzzo - no activity seen | 200 | |
| | 0951 | do | A/C for base | | |
| | 1032 | do | Received W/T message to land at H.Q. Ma'aten Baguish N/C to 304 degrees | | |
| Ma'aten Baguish | | 1042 | do | Landed Maaten Baguish | |
| | 1143 | Climbing | A/B S/C for base | 110 | |
| | 1201 | do | Landed at base. | | |
Signed A. E. Kiley 2/Lt.
63
TWENTY-ONE GOLDEN RULES FOR 21 SQUADRON : SERGEANT’S MESS
24th September 1941.
* You are a member of this Mess. Therefore, abuse every privilege you
receive - it helps to make you extremely popular among your fellow
members and helps the Mess itself no end.
* Your committee are a lot of twerps. They couldn’nt have been elected
for any purpose anyway, so don’t trouble to approach them with any
suggestions. Besides, they’re able to guess what you want done.
* Make a point of never attending Mess Meetings, or if you do, be sure
to start loud and prolonged conversations with your nearest
neighbours. This assists in the betterment of conditions in the
Mess and helps everyone generally. If you are unable to talk to
someone near you, and it happens to be near Mess time, get stuck
into the grub first, as this is far more important than anything else.
* Always complain as bitterly as you can about everything; but, of
course, never to the committee. (See Para. 2)
* Never consider anybody else in the Mess. Grab four or five helpings
of everything within sight at grub-time and fill things such as
water-bottles at least four or five times with tea. This ensures
that the chap who comes a bit late won’t get any, and makes for
general contentment all round.
* Always eat off the tablecloth. Apart from being a sign of excellent
manners, it mean that you can eat off a dirty cloth (or at least
other members of the Mess will do so) at the next meal. This is
usually appreciated by all and sundry.
* Never carry your liquor well. The more things you can break and
destroy and the more people you want to fight with and succeed in
insulting when you are intoxicated, the more popular you are going
to be.
* Don’t ever try and cultivate friendships among your fellows. Always
quarrel and argue about a point, particularly when you know the
other chap is right. Make yourself as disagreeable as possible to
everyone who comes near you, and particularly, don’t forget to sulk
when you happen to be overlooked. This will all help to maintain
the correct cheery atmosphere.
* As soon as you can, forget that we are going into battle in a common
cause and that the only man that really matters is YOU. So always
talk about yourself, what you are going to do and run down everybody
else. You’ll be surprised what a popular person you will become.
* Don’t by any means consider the so-called “pen-pushers”, who work
a darn sight longer hours than many of you. Always worry them at
mealtimes, particularly in regard to matters concerning their daily
work, and the fiercer the argument you can start with them as soon as
they enter the Mess, the better. They appreciate being stopped and
interfered with in their leisure moments.
* The Bar Attendant does’nt like being spoken to in reasonably loud
tones. Always shout at him and if it can be arranged for ten or more
of you to shout together, he’ll get his job of work done a lot
quicker and more efficiently.
* As soon as you have finished reading your copy (or rather the Mess’
copy) of the newspaper, throw it on the ground and walk on it. No
one else wants to read it anyway.
* Pick the Cook out on every available opportunity and always argue
with him in regard to anything he may happen to mention - such as
drawing your attention to the fact you have left the tap on the tea
urn running, or that cooking water is not meant for washing your
feet.
Sergeant's Mess - Golden Rules (Contd)
2.
* Always borrow as much money as you can from your comrades and swear
at them when they won't lend you any - or better still, talk about
them in undertones as soon as they move away. Of course, it is essen-
tial that you never return any money you borrow.
* Whenever there are visitors or guests present from other units, do
your best to show them what a rotten Mess this really is. If you
can insult them, or their Units, you are doing a real job of work.
* Another point in regard to visitors. Never try and make them feel
perfectly at home. Otherwise they might do the same for you when
returning the compliment.
* Always show your good breeding. To do this, push yourself in at the
nearest table, grab all the food within sight and never by any means
excuse yourself when you leave.
* It is good etiquette to shout across the Mess when you want to
speak to someone at the other end. For goodness sake, don't think
of coming over to him and talking to him so that you won't disturb
others.
* Take all equipment, particularly that essential for the running of
the Mess, for your own personal use. Everyone appreciates efforts
like this.
* Always inspect what stocks are held in the canteen and then ask for
something that isn't there. Oh yes, and don't forget to run the
canteen, the Committee and everyone responsible down, because the
article you happen to want is not there.
* The rules drafted here are for your benefit, so don't take note of
anything they may point out in regard to your own shortcomings. You
are a Senior N.C.O. and the sooner you forgot this and behave like
a two-year-old and do nothing towards helping yourself or your
fellow men, the better it will be for you.
N.B. Any reference in the foregoing to any persons, alive or dead,
* from the neck upwards - in this Mess is pure coincidence.)