Operation "Crusader"

Units at the 18.11.1941

RAF:

253.Wing : Squadrons No.208,237,451 all Hurricane

258.Wing : Squadrons No.1SAAF,94,238,274 all Hurricane

Squadrons No.2SAAF,3RAAF both Tomahawk

262.Wing : Squadrons No.4SAAF,112,250 all Tomahawk

Squadrons No.80 Hurricanes (bomber)

Squadrons No.229,260 both Hurricanes

269.Wing : Squadrons No.30,RNF Hurricanes and Marlets

and : No.33.Squadron Hurricanes,No.272 Beaufighters

all in all : 19 squadrons with 12-18 planes, 7 in reserve

Luftwaffe :

I./JG 27 : BF 109 F ( only one Staffel )

II./JG 27: BF 109 F 4,5 and 6 Staffel

Jabo - Staffel : BF 109 E

III/ZG 26 : BF 110 C 7,8 and 9 Staffel

2./NJG 2 : Ju 88

all in all : 9 Staffeln with 9-12 planes

Regia Aeronautica :

6.Gruppo : Mc 202 3 Squadriglias

9.Gruppo : Cr 42 & Mc 202 3 Squadriglias

17.Gruppo : Mc 202 3 Squadriglias

2.Gruppo : Fiat G-50 3 Squadriglias

153.Gruppo : Mc 200 3 Squadriglias

157.Gruppo : Mc 200 3 Squadriglias

374.Squadriglia : Mc 200 1 Squadriglia

Actions:

18.11.41 No 33 sqd strikes italian AFB and gets combat with 3 x CR 42 near El Eng ... all 3 CR 42 downed

12.00 No 272 Beaufighter shot 2x Ju 52.

14.15 6x No 272 strikes Timini AFB > combat with 5x Ju 52 ( short after take off) all Ju 52 downed < combat with 3 x CR 42 + 1 x BF 109 ..escaped

Afternoon : 1./JG 27 + some Fiat G50 attacked at Gazala 9x 24.SAAF Marylands ... 2 downed

No. 451 lost one Hurricane at an recon mission

No.14 sqd lost one Blenheim

Regia Aeronautica reporting two kills

19.11.41 9.00 No 272 sqd Beaufighter strikes Timini Afb again .... 5 planes destroyed on the ground

II/JG 27 strikes with few BF 109 LG 132 ....damaged 3 Hurricane of No 451 sqd > rtb combat with Tomahawk of 3.RAAF ....109 downed ...1 Tomahawk downed ...Bf 109 spotted then 6x Blenheim near Sidi Rezegh...1x Blenheim downed

Stab JG 27 on recon mission

20.11.41 Maintainly huge tank battles

06.20 20 x Tomahawks of No 112 & 3.RAAF combat with 5-6 BF 110 C4 near Al Adem ... min 1 x BF 110 lost ..others damaged

11.00 12x Tomahawks of No 250 sqd & 11x Hurricane RNF at Gambut - El Adem spotted 12x Ju 87 I./StG 1 + 15 BF 109 F4 1./JG27 ..... 1x Ju 87 lost ..2 Hurricane downed ... 1x Tomahawk downed

9x Maryland 21.SAAF followed this group ....bombed El Adem < combat with BF 109 F4 ( maybe MC 202 involved ) 3 Maryland downed by 1/JG27 ....

13.55 272 sqd Beaufighter strikes Timini again .... 4x Ju 87 and one Fi 156 downed during final .....14 Ju 87 and one 109 damaged or destroyed on the ground

No 250 cap mission at ship convoy > combat with Ju 88 & 109 ....2 x Ju 88 downed ...1x Tomahawk crash landed

No 80 sqd & 6 Hurricane of No 33 sqd + 12 x Hurricane of 1.SAAF ..all on strafe or strike missions at Via Balbia , Baheira, Marsa Lucch..... 3 planes lost

No 208 lost one plane ona recon mission

21.11.41 10.00 4x time the No 272 sqd Beaufighter attacked Timini

11.55 No 272 sqd Beaufighter attacked Martuba ... 3 planes destroyed on the ground

10.30 No 229 12x Hurricane vs one BF 109 ..without results

No 80 sqd lost one plane by AA fire

No 33 sqd lost one plane ..unkown case

No 112 sqd dogfight vs 2 Cr 42 ..one CR 42 lost

No 451 lost one plane during an recon mission

15.30 22x Tomahawk of 2 & 4 SAAF spotted 3 Mc 200 .... one MC 200 downed ...3 Tomahawk lost ...( maybe one from JG 27 )

JG 27 reports also 2 Wellington down at Sidi Omar

24.SAAF lost one Boston

Fairy Fulmar of FAA in combat with 6 x He 111 ...without results

Landing accident of 5./JG 27 - one pilot killed

22.11.41 12 x of 3.RAAF Tomahawk escorting Blenheim of No 45 sqd to Aroma - El Adem < combat vs 1./JG 27 ... 4 Blenheims and 3Tomahawk downed

No 112 with 13 Tomahawk strafing at Via Balbia ....one lost by AA fire

13.00 6 x Hurricane No.33 sqd alert scramble vs 9 x Ju 88 ..2 Ju 88 downed ..one damaged .

No.33 sqd downed two SM 79

No. 238 lost two Hurricane by AA

No 229 escorting bomber south of Tobruk ...vs 2 x BF 110 ...one BF 110 damaged

Wellington bombers No 149 sqd ..followed from Blenheim No 11 sqd attacked by 9x BF 109 II./JG 27 near Bir Hacheim : one Wellington, two Blenheim, two Tomahawk downed.

15.40 23x Tomahawk of No. 112 sqd & 3.RAAF attacked of 20 x BF 109 1./JG 27 & II./JG 27 at Bir Hacheim.... 7 Tomahawk downed

One 109 downed one Blenheim at Gazala

Regia Aeronautia & Luftwaffe reporting 25 kills -own losses 8 planes

One Ju 87 II/StG 2 lost at Bir el Gobi

23.11.41 23 x Hurricane of No 229 & 238 covered british ground forces at El Adem > spotted 20-30 Ju 87 covered by 20 BF 109 & Fiat G 50 .... 8 Ju 87 I/StG 1 & II/StG 2 & II/StG 3

+ G 50 downed ..lost of 7 Hurricane

2 x Hurricane No 33 sqd spotted singele BF 110 ...110 downed

20 x Hurricane of No 260 sqd & No 94 at Sidi Rezegh combat with 2 x BF 109 ..one 109 damaged

11.30 10 x Tomahawks of No 250 & 11 Hurricane of RNFS near Sidi Rezegh combat vs 6 x Ju 88 + 12 Fiat G50 + 12 BF 109 E+F.....3 planes lost .....RAF reports a lot of BF 109 E ( maybe it was Mc 202 ) Luftwaffe don t report missing BF 109 E

8 x Tomahawk of 4.SAAF vs BF 109 ...one Tomahawk lost ...two BF 109 reported

272 sqd Beaufighter strikes AFB Barce ... 4 SM79 destroyed on the ground

15.30 18 Hurricanes of RNFS,No 229,No238 sqd + 5 Tomahawk of 250 sqd escorting 9x Blenheim No 45 sqd....on the hole was they were attacked byBf 109 ...3 Hurricane and one Tomahawk were missed

16.05 2x SM 79 attacked british ships ....ships were covered by Marlets ....one SM79 downed

No 33 sqd missed one plane during an evening raid

Luftwaffe reporting 9 fighter and one Boston at the 23.11.41 .... all to discribe is difficult ...cause some documents are lost ....2 109 reported lost

Regia Aeronautica reports 14 kills this day

Ju 88 I/NJG 2 reports combat vs Hurricane ....two Ju 88 damaged

Also on the ground ..the british offensive Crusader was more or less stoped.....brits lost many tanks by 8,8 cm Flak guns

24.11.41 Jg 27 alert scramble at Gazala ....downed on Boston 24.SAAF

No 33 sqd on cap mission at Gialo : spotted 2 x Cr 42 escorting one SM 79 ...the 79 was downed

No 237 lost one plane at an recon mission by AA fire at Gambut - El Adem

No 80 sqd Hurricane and Tomahawk of 4.SAAFon strafing mission at Sidi Rezegh : attacked by 12 x BF 110 of III/ZG 26 ... four 110 were lost ....two RAF were lost

No 94 sqd strafed vehicles at El Adem ....attacked by 3 x Fiat G 50 ..one Fiat down

Regia Aeronautica reports 8 kills this day

Rommels tanks attacked in the night AFB at LG 122 near Fort Maddalena ....they missed the oppertunity to capture 175 british planes

25.11.41 Main task for the RAF this day : strafing and strike missions on the german frontline units.

No 272 sqd Beaufighter attacked at 6.30 AFB Jedabia ...3 planes damaged

08.15 12 x Tomahawk of No 112 sqd striked ground forces

08.25 12 x Tomahawks of 3.RAAF skiked the same ground targets ... 3 planes lost by AA fire

III/ZG 26 & 2(H)/14 combat with Hurricanes of 1.SAAF ....two 110 lost

One plane of RNFS was lost on an recon mission

Main event of this day : 19 x Tomahawk of 112 sqd & 3.RAAF at Sidi Rezegh ... they spotted 70 planes of axis.

Low BF 110 , at 1800 m Ju 87, some BF 110 in 3000m, above Ju 88 , high cover Cr42, BF 109 E, Fiat G 50... 8 axis planes were lost ....2 Fi 156 Storch of JG 27

11.45 23 x Hurricane of 229 sqd & 238 sqd vs 12 BF 109 I&II/JG 27 ...4 Hurricane were downed

No 109 Sqd was dismissed ..only one flyable Wellington

I./StG 3 lost one Ju 87 over Tobruk by AA fire

26.11.41 German tanks captured Barida ...Garnison troops of Tobruk reached El Duda.

12.15 6x Beaufighter stikes again AFB Jedabia ...downed an Ca 311 ..damaged 4 Cr 42 on the ground ...one Beaufighter lost due to AA fire

15.30 20 Tomahawks of No 112 sqd & 3.RAAF mission to Sidi Rezegh : combat with 6 x BF 109 ...one Tomahawk downed

No 33 sqd flying in pairs over Gialo : spotted enemy bomber ...attacked by Cr 42 ..one Hurricane downed

Regia Aeronautica reported 13 kills this day ...7 at Bir el Gobi

One BF 110 of 2(H)/14 reported lost

British war ships fired the hole night at Gazala AFB

27.11.41 No 238 sqd escorting Blenheims No 45 to El Adem : one Blenheim lost by AA fire

No 94 sqd strafing missions ..two planes destroyed ...one SM 79 and one BF 109 F ( on an vehicle road El Adem )

No 260 lost one plane on free hunting mission ( combat vs Mc 200 ? )

No 2.SAAF lost one plane

JG 27 reporting 3 kills : one Maryland, two Hurricane, Regia Aeronautica reporting 3 kills ( one by AA fire )

28.11.41 24 x Hurricane of No 274 & 1.SAAF escorting No 11 sqd Blenheims to Sidi Rezegh. 2 Blenheim lost due to heavy AA fire ...one Hurricane lost ...some combat with single BF 110 ....

Rotte BF 109 shot single Blenheim of french unit "Lorraine"

3.RAAF escorting also Blenheim ..tgt: german ground units

14.50 12 x Hurricane of No 94 sqd in combat with BF 109 F4 of II/JG 27 & and some Bf 110 .... 3 Hurricane down ..lost 1 x BF 110

29.11.41 18 x Hurricanes of No 229 & 238 over Tobruk : combat with 5 x Fiat G 50 ..2 Fiat G 50 downed

9x Maryland escorted by RFNS & No 250 sqd ..spotted Ju 87 & BF 109 .... without results

Maryland escorted by No 260 sqd .. combat with BF 109 & MC 202 ..one 109 damaged

No 208 sqd on recon mission ...combat vs one Rotte of 109 II/JG 27...crash landed 25 km infront of base

30.11.41 No 112 & 3.RAAF crossed huge enemy unit ..50 planes : ju 87 II/StG 2 , BF 109 F4, Fiat G 50, and Mc 200 > 15 planes downed ( 2 x Ju 87 ) ...15 damaged ...3 RAF planes lost.

II/KLG1 lost on Ju 88 near Sidi Barrani

4 x Beaufighter 272 sqd strike AFB Martuba - 8 planes damaged

No 238 sqd damaged one BF 110

I/JG 27 reporting one Hurricane

01.12.41 12 Tomahawk of No 250 sqd & 8 x Hurricane of RNFS on free hunting at El Duda : spotted 9 x Ju 88 & 6x Fiat G 50 & Mc 202 + BF 109 at high alt

3 confirmed kills 1 x Ju 88 2 x Fiat G 50 ...one RAF plane lost

10.25 alert scramble of two Tomahawk on one Ju 88 2(F)/123...Ju 88 downed

El Duda : Blenheim of Lorraine sqd escorted by 24 Hurricane of 1.SAAF & No 274 ecpected by 20 BF 109 & Fiat G 50 .... 4 kills reported ...RAF kills unconfirmed

One Ju 88 lost by RAF night fighter

Regia Aeronautica reporting 11 kills this day

02.12.41 Bad weather the hole day

2.SAAF lost two planes in an sandstorm

Same to 2.PRU ..new recon sqd ....one plane lost in sandstorm

No 237 sqd lost one Hurricane AA fire

5 x No 272 sqd Beaufighter attacked AFB Barce .. 7 Br 20 damaged on the ground...one Beaufighter lost in AA fire

No 33 sqd strikes Adegabia AFB ..damaged 4 planes

No 33 sqd strikes Adegabia AFB ..damaged 6 planes in the afternoon

No 80 reports one BF 109 downed

No 238 sqd reports one BF 110 damaged

03.12.41 Rommel strikes to Egypt - all RAF units flying strike and strafing missions

only combat action this day : 2 x No 229 sqd damaged an SM 81 recon plane

German Luftwaffe in heavy fuel problems

04.12.41 09.20 21 x Hurricane of No 274 & 1.SAAF free hunting mission at El Adem : attacked by BF 109 & Mc202 ... one Hurricane shot down by I/JG 27 ..twoMC 202 lost

No 274 & on recon mission at El Adem reporting an Ju87 unit with escort fighter. 2.SAAF was send , also No 250 sqd & No 112 ....heavy combat action:

12 kill reported by RAF ( some Ju 87 of Regia Aeronautica ) ... 2 Tomahawk downed by JG 27

12x Hurricane No 274 sqd escorting 9 x Maryland to Trigh Capuzzo > rtb in combat with some BF 110 ...one 110 downed

Tragic accident on RAF : 2 x 3 Blenheim did opposite take off : No 45 & Lorraine sqd> 3 bombers crashed

05.12.41 25 x Tomahawk of No 250 sqd & No 112 sqd meet south of El Adem 40 Stuka + escort of 30 fighter

No 112 fights the escort fighter ....No 250 engaged the Ju 87 .... 18 Stuka reported down ..5 Tomahawk shot by JG 27

14.25 20 Hurricane of No 274 sqd & 1.SAAF attacked by 3/JG 27 ...2 Hurricane downed ..one crash landed..one 109 damaged

No 33 sqd Hurricane strikes Agedabia AFB ... 3planes destroyed ..5 damaged ... 2 Hurricane damaged ..crash landed in the desert

No 94 sqd geta 18 brand new Hurricane II

06.12.41 III/JG 53 "PikAs" landed with 21 BF 109 F4 at Tmimi

09.50 No 272 sqd Beaufighter attack Tmimi AFB ..lost one Beaufighter vs 4./JG 27

10.00 24 x Hurricane of No 238 & No 229 sqd on cap mission at Bir el Gobi : spotted 9 x JU 87 + BF 109 E+ 3 x Fiat G 50 and some Mc 200

Hurricane of No 274 was ordered to Bir el Gobi ( escorting Blenheim of Lorraine sqd) .... 2 axis palnes were shot ... but 5 Hurricane were lost

Regia Aeronautica reporting on 5 & 6 december 14 kills.

JG 27 claims one of the Lorraine Blenheims

Regia Aeronautica reporting one Beaufighter shot down.

07.12.41 Bostons on recon mission ( low ) combat vs BF 109 F4 .... both lost ...BF 109 by AA fire

No 237 sqd lost on recon missions ..by AA fire

10.00 1.SAAF from Tobruk spotted 9x Ju 87 , 15 x Mc 202, 10 x BF 109 and some Mc 200 & Fiat G50

3 italian planes lost ... 3 Tomahawk lost

No 274 sqd alert scramble from Tobruk ( 4 planes in the air reported ) : 15 Ju 87 II/StG 2 + 6 x BF 109 + 12 italian fighter ( all types )

RAF reports 6 kills ( one Ju 87 & 5 italian fighter ) ...3 Hurricane lost by Bf 109 of 3./JG 27

Parts of III/JG 27 arrived

08.12.41 No 33 sqd strike AFB at Agedabia - 5 planes on the ground damaged -one Hurricane damaged crash landed

10.00 24 x No 94 & 260 sqd Hurricane free hunting at El Adem ..short combat vs 4 x BF 109 ..without results ....

No 274 sqd & 1.SAAF covered 18 Blenheim at El Adem .... No 274 sqd spotted 10 km west 30 enemy fighters BF 109, Mc 200, Mc 202 : 3 Hurricane lost

12.30 21 x Tomahawk No 112 sqd & 3.RAAF at frontline - surprised by 6 x BF 109 & 2 x BF 110

BF 109 & BF 110 on ground action near Via Balbia ...... combat with No 73 sqd .... 3x BF 110 of III/ZG 26 lost ....

Bostons first combat as bomber ( without escort ) at Bardia

One BF 109 claimed one Boston

10 x No 80 sqd strikes Via Balbia > 12 x BF 109 & Mc 202 attacked ..no losses of Hurricanes ..3 planes reported down by RAF : 2x BF 109 + 1 Mc 202

15.10 6 x BF 109 short combat with No 94 & No 260 ... 2 BF 109 4./JG 27 crash landed

Japans war entry gets public

09.12.41 Rommel decided to take the frontline backwards.

07.20 Tomahawks No 250 sqd and Hurricane No RNFS : combat vs 5 x BF 110 & 10 x BF 109 at El Adem ... one BF 110 downed.

09.00 Sqd No 274 & No 73 flying cap mission over own AFB : one Ju 88 2(F)/123 was shot down.

10.35 19 x Tomahawk of No 112 sqd & 3.RAAF free huntig at Tobruk - El Adem : combat with I./JG 27 from high alt : 4 Tomahawk downed

15: 45 10 x Hurricane of No 238 sqd south west of El Adem : spotted 5 x BF 109 lower ... 3 Hurricane downed

No 250 sqd escorting Blenheim to Derna : 6 x BF 109 & 12 MC 202 ... RAF reports 2 planes downed

2.SAAF patrol at Bir el Gobi : lonley Ju 88 2/(F)/123 was shot down

Marylands of 21.SAAF were engaged by 3 x BF 109 + 2 x Fiat G 50 ... one Fiat was lost

Strange story at Tmimi AFB : 2 JU 52 at final < italian fighter shot both JU 52 from 6 ....both crashed burning ... OLt Schulz was in the air : he shot the italian fighter down

10.12.41 2. & 4.SAAF cap mission at Tobruk : combat vs I/JG 27 ..12 Bf 109 from high alt ..2 Tomahawk downed

2./JG 27 ..6 BF 109 escorting Ju 87 meets 6 Boston bomber of 24. SAAF without escort fighter : 5 Boston downed ..one crash landed

One Marlet of Sq 805 FAA dogfight vs single BF 110 III/ZG 26

I/StG 1 lost one JU 87 at and ship attack near Derna

2 BF 109 crash landed during strike mission ... II/JG 27

11.12.41 6 x Tomahawk 250 sqd and RNFS Hurricane spotted an huge german air unit : 24 Ju 88 of I/LG 1 , 24 x BF 109 , 3 x BF 110 III/ZG 26 ... 1 x 109 & 1 x Ju 88 downed ....1 RAF plane downed

No 94 sqd flying "Rhubarb" missions ... pair on free hunting ( all 30 min a pair of Hurricane ) .... 4 Hurricane lost vs III/JG 53

1./JG 27 Rotte attacked Blenheim of 11.Sqd near Derna ...one bomber lost

10 x Tomahawk 2&3.SAAF escorting General Ritchies plane ..... attacked by II/JG 27 ..one Tomahawk lost

Marylands of No 12 & 21.SAAF long range interceptors vs Ju 52 ...3 x JU 52 lost ..one Maryland lost

12.12.41 Marylands again on Ju 52 hunting .... but without luck today ...intercepted by BF 110 III/ZG 26 & Ju 88 of I/NJG 2 ...also 272 sqd Beaufighter involved ... one Beaufighter lost

At the same time 30 x Tomahawks and Hurricanes of No 250,RNFS,and No 80 sqd attacked german vehicles and tanks at Martuba area .... attacked by BF 109 & Mc 202 ..3 RAF planes reported lost.

One hour later 11 x Hurricane of 1.SAAF vs 6 x BF 109 at Gazala ...one Hurricane lost

15.15 2.&4.SAAF escorting bomber near Derna ....also BF 109 attacked .... 3 Tomahawk lost ...one by AA fire

No 112 sqd & 3.RAAF free hunting at Derna : spotted huge german units ... 1 x BF 110 & 1 x 109 was downed : but the losses of the Thomahawks were heavy :

5 Tomahawks were lost ..two in an air accident

No 250 sqd in combat vs Ju 87 ..4 Ju 87 reported lost by RAF

No 11 sqd reported one Blenheim lost over Derna

III/JG 53 reported 7 kills

9./JG 27 reported two kills : one Hurricane & one Curtiss

13.12.41 Sqd Leader of No 260 sqd & No 94 fly to El Adem ( recive new orders ) vs 2 BF 109 .... one 109 reported down

No 260 sqd & No 94 escort Blenheim to Martuba ...11.30 vs BF 109

II/JG 27 reporting one Blenheim No 55 sqd down near Tmimi

4.SAAF escort for Blenheim No 84 El Adem - Derna .... combat vs some BF 109 from high alt ...one Tomahawk down ..one damage

No 272 sqd Beaufighter combat over sea ..vs Do 24 escorted by BF 110 ..I/NJG 2 reported one Beaufighter down south of Crete

3.RAAF on free hunting mission : spotted 8 x bomber and 8 x BF 109 ..3 BF 109 reported down .....later one Ju 88

No 274 & 1.SAAF fly pair fighter sweeps ..some combat action ..one Ju 87 ...one 109 ...two Mc 202 reported down ....3 Hurricane lost

No 237 sqd lost one Hurricane at a battlefield recon mission

Single Hurricane of No 237 combat vs 3 x Cr 42 ......2 CR 42 damaged

German fighter of JG 27 reporting 5 RAF fighter downed

III/JG 53 reported one Bristol Beaufort

1 BF 109 reported damaged and one lost ( Ofw Espenlaub)

2 Ju 87 reported lost ..I/StG 3 by AA fire ....I/StG 1 at Derna

6&17 Stormo reported 10 Kills ..own losses 3

14.12.41 3.RAAF with 6 x Tomahawk free hunting at Martuba : spotted 7 x Ju 87 .....then 8 BF 109 appear ....1 Ju 87 shot ....2 x Tomahawk down

No 260 sqd 10 Hurricane operating at Gazala : one Ju 88 I/KLG 1 down ....one Hurricane down....

No 14 sqd lost one Blenheim at El Adem in combat action

2 Hurricane shot one SM 79

No 229 & No 238 & 250 ...pair flights over german area : one 109 reported ....one He 111 damaged

8 x Tomahawk No 112 sqd combat vs 12 x Ju 88 + 2 x Bf 109 near Gazala ....one reported down ...one damaged

III/JG 53 reported 3 kills ( No 14 Blenheim ? )

JG 27 reported one 109 lost

15.12.41 II/JG 27 reported one Tomahawk at Gezireg (No 250 sqd ?)

No 272 Beaufighter over sea near Malta ..one Ju 52 damaged

16.12.41 17 x 2 & 4 SAAF covered british tanks over Gazala ..attacked by single BF 110 ....one Tomahawk down .....then rest down BF 110

5 x Maryland No 21.SAAF strikes Benina AFB ....some planes damage

No 33 sqd strafing vehicles ..one plane lost ....collided with vehicles

III/JG 53 lost 2 BF 109 during strafing action ( at 12.30 order back to Catania AFB )

17.12.41 No 80 sqd & No 94 sqd & No 260 sqd strafing action north east of Martuba ...one Hurricane lost

1.SAAF 8 x Hurricane escorting Blenheims of No 14 & 84 sqd combat vs 12 x BF 109 I/JG 27 .... 5 Hurricane and Blenheim lost

No 80 sqd escorted from No 229 & No 238 ..strafing on vehicles at Mechili ..combat with BF 109 I/JG 27 and MC 202 ... 3 Hurricane lost or damaged

3.RAAF gets as first unit : Kittyhawk .... they had already one for testing

18.12.41 2.SAAF Tomahawk escorting Bostons and Blenheim .... strike action .... combat with III/JG 27 ....one Tomahawk down

No 229 sqd vs I/JG 27 .... one Hurricane down

19.12.41 12.SAAF & 21.SAAF Marylands bombing Benina ..rtb .... combat with I/JG 27 ... one down ..2 damaged

272 Sqd Beaufighter maudering german area ..one Beaufighter lost by AA fire

II/JG 27 lost one 109 ..Ofw Schulz ..downed by an italian fighter ...unhurt ( OFw Schulz downed days before the italian fighter which shot the Ju 52 > rumors )

No 203 lost one Blenheim over sea

At night No 70 lost two Wellington at Benina

20.12.41 14 x Blenheim of Lorraine sqd & No 45 ordered to attack german tanks near Benghasi ..escorted by No 112 & No 250 Tomahawk vs 12 BF 109

5 Curtiss down ...5 Blenheim down .... RAF reported 5 BF 109 down .... but for sure also some MC 202 in combat

No 33 sqd ...pair free hunting at Agedabia area ..combat with Mc 200 ....second pair shot one SM 79

Escort mission of No 112 sqd and No 250 sqd one Ju 88 of II/KLG 1 downed

Germans in serious fuel problems again ....RAF count 460 planes on the ground .... but low air activity

21.12.41 Also this day low Luftwaffeair activity

II/JG 27 reports one Blenheim at El Agheila

No 274 down at Boma Bay one Ju 88 II/KLG 1

1./(F)121 lost one Ju 88 at Msus by AA fire

22.12.41 Hole das RAF strikes and bomb AFB Magrun

24 german planes shot in the air and on the ground ..only 1 x BF 109 flyable ...4.SAAF lost one plane

Then 16 x Ju 52 with lot of fuel landed ..escorted by BF 110

One BF 109 lost without combat action .. JG 27

24.SAAF Maryland bombed AFB again

272 sqd lost one Beaufighter at Agedabia

BF 110 III/ZG 26 shot one floatplane Sunderland No 230 sqd

II/KG 26 lost one He 111 over Mechili

RAF ordered all fighter closer to the front .... No 260 sqd Tmimi ....1.SAAF toMechili

23.12.41 RAF forces again El Agheila Agedabia

No 272 sqd Beaufighter in combat with I/JG 27 .....2 Beaufighter lost

6 x Maryland of 12 & 21.SAAF combat vs 2 x BF 109 .... 2 x Marylands lost

24.12.41 Germans again in serious fuel problems ..only 6 sorties could be flown

No 112sqd, No 250 sqd, 2.SAAF & 4.SAAF low level attacks on the road of Adedabia - El Algheila

20 x Hurricane flying free hunting at Agedabia ..combat with 6 BF 109 ....2 109 damaged ...von Krageneck wounded ..and died at 12.01.42

III/ZG 26 lost two BF 110 to Crete - unknown case

2 x 272 sqd flew strafe mission at Agedabia ..... III/JG 27 reported two Beaufighter

RAF bombed german AFB in the night

25.12.41 No 250 sqd strafe mission at Agedabia - Beda ....one plane lost

No 94 & 260 sqd on strafe mission at Fomm - Antelat ....one Hurricane lost

26.12.41 No 208 sqd lost one Hurricane on an recon mission ... attacked by II/JG 27

No 39 sqd lost one Maryland

No 238 sqd combat with He 111 ..He 111 damaged

12.SAAF dismissed to Egypt ... new planes& pilots

27.12.41 No 112 sqd again strike missions to Agedabia - Beda ...one Tomahawk lost by AA fire

III/KLG 1 lost Ju 88 after bombrun at Gazala by No 229 plane

Single Bf 109 was set on recon Hurricane No 228 sqd at Agedabia .....Hurricane was shot down

3.RAAF arrived Msus with the new Kittyhawk

28.12.41 3.RAAF first sortie with the new Kittyhawk , escorted by Tomahawk of No 250 & No 112 sqd.

No 260 & No 274 sqd free hunting at Agedabia .... one Ju 88 downed

FAA 805 combat with SM 79 ...one downed ..one damaged ..one Marlet killed

FAA 806 Hurricane combat vs He 111 .....one He 111 damaged

Combat between Fairy Fulmar and one Ju 88 .... one Fulmar down

No 30 Hurricane flew night stragfing mission ...one Hurricane lost

I/JG 27 reported one Hurricane at 08.55 Hasseiat

30.12.41 6 x Tomahawkspotted during takeoff one Ju 88 2(F)/123 .....Ju 88 downed

No 112 back to Egypt ....recive new Kittyhawk ..

No 33 at Msus

31.12.41 11 x Hurricane of No 229 escorting No 14 sqd Blenheim to Agedabia : combat vs III/JG 27 ... 3 Hurricane downed ( possible that Tomahawks were involved)

No 274 sqd downed one Ju 88

01.01.42 Free hunting of No 229 & 238 sqd ...combat of II/JG 27 ....one Hurricane down

9 x Kittyhawk at Agedabia 3.RAAF vs 6 x BF 109 & 16 x Ju 87 ..australians repots 5 kills ..one Kittyhawk lost

No 11 & No 14 sqd Blenheim bombed Msus AFB ....one lost by AA fire

Regia Aeronautica reporting two Beaufighter at Tripolis .... and two kills by AA fire

02.01.42 No 84 Blenheim dismissed to PTO

16 x Hurricane flew free hunting at Agedabia No 94 & No 260 sqd...combat with 6 x BF 109 from high alt ...one Hurricane downed

03.01.42 No 229 & No 238 sqd Hurricane free hunting at Agedabia ...combat with BF 109 ...no results

No 208 recon Hurricane escorted by Kittyhawk of 3.RAAF at Agedabia - Antelat ....combat with some BF 109 ..Hurricane was shot

24.SAAF to Egypt ..new plane ..new pilots ...two planes on the way to Egypt lost

No 30 sqd recived first new Hurricane II

04.01.42 II/JG 27 combat with one single Hurricane south east of Agedabia ...Hurricane downed

German fighter took back from Agedabia to El Algheila

1.SAAF took forward to Msus

No 30 sqd reported one Hurricane lost on a recon mission

Regia Aeronautica repoting 2 kills

05.01.42 Germans recived huge ship convoy at Tripolis

No 274 and No 33 sqd cap mission over Benghasi harbour .... one Ju 88 downed ..BF 110 damaged

5 x Ju 88 & 3 He 111 bombed british camp at Bu Amed

07.01.42 No 33 sqd on recon mission over El Algheila ....2 & 4.SAAF with 20 Tomahwak as escort : 6 x BF 109 engaged 4.SAAF : germans reported 5 Tomahwaks down ... RAF confirmed 7 Tomahawks lost

Regia Aeronautica reports 2 kills of Hurricane over Benghasi

BF 110 dissmissed with 6 flyable planes back to Antelat

3.RAAF 10 Kittyhawk combat with italian Jabos : 35 planes : Mc 200, Fiat G 50 , Cr 42 ...bombing 13.corps of 8th army > 7 kills reported by RAF

Then 8 x BF 109 appeared .... one Kittyhawk lost .... RAF pilots were sure after this dogfight : Mc 200 outturned new Kittyhawk

09.01.42 7 x Maryland escorted by 19 x Kittyhawk of 112 sqd & 3.RAAF ....Marsa el Brega > combat with single BF 109 3./JG 27 .... two Kittyhawk lost

No 229 10 Hurricane escorting bomber to Agedabia > attacked by 6 x BF 109 of I/JG 27 ... 4 Hurricane lost

7x Blenheim + 8 x Kittyhawk No 112 sqd + 6 x Tomahawk of No 250 .....single BF 109 attacked on the way back .... 1 plane lost

10.01.42 Free hunting of No 94 & No 260 area El Agheila ..combat with single BF 110 ...110 damaged

11.01.42 Free hunting of No 94 & No 260 area El Agheila ..combat with 2 x BF 109 ...one 109 down ..other damaged III./JG 27

Blenheim No 14 sqd escorted by 20 x Kittyhawk of No 112 sqd & 3.RAAF ...attacked by 3 x BF 109 and some Fiat G50 ... 3 Kittyhawk lost ... 1 Fiat G 50 and one 109 downed

12.01.42 No 30 2 x Hurricane at Halfaya pass ..hunting Ju 52 ....one Hurricane was lost

Rommel established front line at Marada - Giofer - Marsa el Brega

13.01.42 3.RAAF with 7 x Kittyhawk on free hunting mission ..attacked bs 4 x BF 109 ... 1 Kittyhawk EM landed

30 x Kittyhawk & Tomahawks of No 250,No 112 and 3.RAAF covered one Hurricane on a recon mission near El Algheila ... spotted two Fiat G 50 ..one down

13.corps on a test flight ..attacked by 4 x BF 109 .... plane lost

JG 27 reporting one plane lost

14.01.42 05.00 No 30 sqd over Tobruk ..one Ju 88 lost

No 94 sqd & No 260 sqd cap mission over Agedabia ... No 94 sqd high cover .....attacked by 2 x BF 109 II/JG 27 ... 7 x RAF Hurricanes downed ... then without result attacked by other BF 109

No 208 sqd lost plane at recon mission Bir Suera

15.01.42 4.SAAF cap mission at Benghasi ....one Cant 1007 downed

16.01.42 One Ju 88 of I/KLG 1 lost by 4.SAAF

RAF 97 flyable fighter planes - Luftwaffe 26 clear BF 109 F + E

17.01.42 10.00 No 30 gets one Ju 88 over sea

German defenders surrenders at Halfaya pass

18.01.42 No 252 sqd cap mission over ship convoy ....single Ju 88 appeared ... downed ..also two unknown planes