Syrian Campaign - 260/450 Sqdn - Straffing Mission over Talia

[Steve49]

Jerome,

All the ORB says is that the aircraft were Hurricane I's.

As for the pilots my understanding is that with the exception of its Commanding Officer (F/Lt G.H. Steege DFC), at the time of the fighting over Syrian and Lebanon 450 Sqn RAAF didn't have any pilots, and with 260 Sqn not having any ground personnel the decision was taken to use the ground personnel of 450 Sqn to service the 260 Sqn aircraft. With the combined 260/450 Sqn being commanded by S/Ldr C.J. Mount, A Flt lead by F/Lt H. Bandinel and B Flt by F/Lt B.H. Bowring (all 260 Sqn pilots) I guess this appears to be the case. A look through the 450 Sqn ORB appears to confirm this, with the merger taking place on the 23rd June.

The attack on the 208 Sqn Hurricane is mentioned in 'Dust clouds over the Middle East' but I've got no more information on that.

Regards

Steve Pegge