Category Archives: Habbaniya Campaign, Iraq 1941

The pilot was captured, an Italian who had flown from Rhodes only the day before. He said the Wops had relieved the Germans in this country, so that’s why no Messerschmidts (JDW: spelled Messersmiths by my father) had been about … Continue reading →

Yesterday “Kingcol” advanced on Baghdad. A canal had been dug across the road at Khan Nuqta, and the road flooded further down beyond that. We stand by all day to support them, but only one flight required, to attack some … Continue reading →

I go and bomb empty palm groves at Ramadi on the evening of the 25th and go off for a second trip. But the plane splutters during take off, so I throttle back, and long flames shoot out of the … Continue reading →

Two doses of ME110s yesterday and the first finds us all in the tent and we all get hurt jumping into the same trench. Today a lackadaisical blitz on Ramadi, but I don’t go up and haven’t done so for … Continue reading →

I do two more trips over Falluja. One to bomb lorries at Khan Nukta police post, where I put a stick bang on the road, and the other to attack 100-200 troops who had come up to Falluja by the … Continue reading →

No flying yesterday. Two ME110s come over and shoot up a Douglas on the ground belonging to Dudley Withers and Dickie Bird, who are here. I take them to the Club last night, and I find Dudley is engaged. This … Continue reading →

Rachid is blasted at dawn this morning. Cremin arrives late and we take off in the dark and get lost. I never find the squadron so go straight there myself, reckoning on being safe as there are Gladiators about. Bombing … Continue reading →

Another ME110 damaged at Rachid. A new AOC arrives, Air Vice Marshal D’Albiac, who evacuated from Greece and so knows his stuff. Old Smart had a slight car crash and packed it in with shock. (JDW: the original AOC, AVM … Continue reading →

Saw Reggie Wall, who has alot of “superficial” holes in him. He was testing a plane and doing a wide circuit when six ME110s caught him over Dhibban. He did a crash landing somewhere, got out and ran for shelter … Continue reading →