17th July. Unit disembarked with M.T. on the quay at Syracuse at 1100 hours, and O.C. reported to No. 75 E.U. In order to relieve the congestion in Syracuse, the Unit moved with M.T. to a camp site near Priolla, about 11 miles northwards on the Catania road. Contact was made with No. 32 Wing Advance Party, which were located in the vicinity.

18th July. At 1730 hours, orders were received via 322 Wing for the Unit to move to the site of a proposed new landing-ground at the S.W. corner of Lake Lentini. Unit moved off at 1850 hours, and after slow progress owing to congestion on the roads, the aerodrome site was reached at 2300 hours. O.C. contacted No. 15 A.C.G. and was informed of the dispersal areas. The four Flights were then dispersed in the dispersal areas.

Reports for the period immediately after disembarkation provide some sense of the air of urgency and confusion as runways were hurriedly made serviceable under enemy artillery fire.

19th July. At dawn the aerodrome was inspected, and it was found that the R.E.'s had levelled the centre portion of one runway, which in the finished state would measure 1200 yards by 80 yards, running ENE. by WSW. Unit technical and refuelling equipment was unloaded and prepared for use in the dispersal areas. No. 1396 General Transport Company arrived with 20000 gallons aero-engine oil, which was dispersed in small dumps around the dispersal areas. Unit M.T. vehicles were dispatched to No. 121 M.U. and returned with 20mm. .303 and .5 aircraft ammunition which was dumped in various deep, dry ditches surrounding the aerodrome. A/Cdr. Atcherley landed in a Stinson aircraft to inspect the aerodrome, and it was decided that the runway would be useable as from dawn on 20.7.

20th July. At 1030 hrs. two Spitfires, piloted by G/C. Hugo and F/O. McIntyre made successful landings, and the pilots reported that the surface, although loose on top and very dusty, was suitable for operations. 32 Spitfires of No. 81, and 154 Squadrons landed from 1705 hrs. onwards and were dispersed, refuelled and serviced where necessary. One aircraft with a damaged tail oleo strut was repaired the following day. Overload fuel tanks were removed from the machines. No. 322 Wing A.C.P. took over flying control.

During the evening the SNCO's of 81 and 154 Sqdns. and 322 Wing Equipment and Engineer officers were shown the layout of the dispersal areas and the position of petrol and ammunition dumps. A DC.3 landed with two Jeeps and squadron personnel. This machine was unloaded in 11 minutes, and loaded with 12 seriously injured Army personnel for evacuation to Malta. At 1930 hrs. a second DC.3 arrived with Squadron pilots, mail etc. and returned to Malta after unloading.

21st July. A standing patrol of 4 machines was maintained over the 'drome until 0800 hours, when 154 Sqdn came to 'Readiness'. As the bulk of the squadron personnel and equipment were now available, it was decided that in order to avoid congestion, the Unit should move from the 'drome. At 1500 hrs Unit M.T. and personnel moved to a camp site about 3/4 mile east of the aerodrome.

22nd July. About half the technical personnel of the Unit were conveyed to the 'drome by M.T. to assist in aircraft maintenance. During the afternoon , a recce. was made of Gerbibi satellite No. 7 which was at that time under shell fire from the German guns. The L.G. was found to have a very rough surface, and was badly cratered at the eastern end. A small quantity of enemy aircraft equipment, including an air compressor and petrol electric generating set, was found and after inspection was removed for Unit use. It is suggested that on further operations, a field telephone system comprising three field telephones and about a mile of wire, is carried, in order to connect dispersal areas and Unit H.Q.

23rd July. Orders were received from S/L. Belcher, AHQ. D.A.F. to transport petrol from 121 M.U. to a new landing ground being constructed at Agnone. The vehicles were unloaded, and when ready to move off, these instructions were cancelled. At 2100 hrs. instructions were received by signal for the Unit to move immediately to Agnone to service Spitfire squadrons which would be arriving at first light on 24th July. Unit moved off at 2200 hrs. and after a very difficult journey the aerodrome was reached at 0100 hrs. next day.

24th July. The four Flights were located at the main dispersal area, and equipment was unloaded and prepared for use. The promised petrol supplies had not arrived by 0630 hrs. and preparations were made for Unit M.T. to collect same from No. 121 M.U. However, the Army petrol convoy arrived at 0700 hrs. with 13000 petrol and 700 gallons oil, and a small amount of 20mm ammunition. During the afternoon, squadron commanders of No. 1 SAAF. and 417 Squadrons landed and inspected the 'drome. G/C. Commanding No. 244 Wing also arrived by air to inspect the L.G. The squadron aircraft did not arrive as expected, and at 1800 hrs. orders were received for the Unit to move to a new L.G. known as Lentini West, and to be in position by 1200 hrs. the next day.

The Lentini West bridgehead on the Agnone river was the first major obstacle for the commandos. British Airborne troops had attempted glider landings but many of the gliders had gone off course or been accidentally destroyed by naval gunfire. Although the Germans had withdrawn, 3232 S.C.U. was pinned down for several hours by fortified emplacements on the far side of the Agnone held by Italian infantry. They eventually succeeded in crossing the river at night and proceeded on to Catania, heavily hit by bombing, where a fighter base had been established. Two or three days earlier American Rangers had been dropped to take the town and most of the local population had fled. British troops occupied Catania and the inland town of Paterno on 5th August, then moved on to Adrana, Bronte and Acireale. The emphasis in reports is primarily on routine aircraft and runway maintenance, the summaries for July and August showing little change in Unit numbers apart from a reduction in "personnel wastage".

25th July. Unit moved from Agnone at 0930 hrs. and arrived at new location at 1100 hrs. Squadron A. and B. parties were found to be in position, and Unit Commmander was informed that the assistance of Unit personnel was not required. After discussion with 244 Wing S.L.A. and Engineer Officer, it was decided that Unit technical personnel should be divided among 417, 92, 601 and 145 Sqdns. to assist with aircraft maintenance.

26th July. A repair party of Unit personnel was employed in removing a wrecked aircraft of 417 Sqdn. and inhibiting the engine and preparing it for major repair by R.S.U.

27th July. As three other Spitfires had been damaged in taxying accidents, work was commenced on replacing serviceable mainplanes, airscrews etc. in order to render two of the four aircraft serviceable. During the evening contact was made with O.C. 11 F.S.U. who arranged to supply Coles Cranes and other equipment for this purpose. First private mail was received in the afternoon, and distributed.

28th July. No. 11 F.S.U. commenced removing a Hudson aircraft which had suffered a collapsed undercarriage, and which was obstructing the runway. During the late afternoon desultory sniping of the 'drome occured from the hills to the west, and a detachment of R.A.F. Regiment personnel was sent out to abate the nuisance.

29th July. Work continued on the 'Drome, but little flying was carried out.

1st August 1943. Unit assisted Squadron of No. 244 Wing in daily maintenance inspection, repairs etc.

6th August. An Imprest Account was opened, the Imprest holder being F/O Fallon. Two abandoned enemy vehicles, a SPA. 3-ton lorry and a Fiat 10hp saloon were brought to camp and made serviceable from salvaged components, these vehicles were taken on charge and retention certificates obtained.

The Luftwaffe was far from defeated, mounting a devastating and costly night bombing raid to destroy the captured aerodromes which left many casualties, although 3232 S.C.U. which was deployed between the two airfields emerged comparatively unscathed. This was not the only incident of retaliatory raiding by the Luftwaffe. On another occasion remembered as particularly harrowing, German patratroopers dropped onto a captured airfield and destroyed 15 Wireless Unit leaving 3232 SCU out of radio contact with base for several days. 15 Wireless Unit was in the Pachino area from 1st August, Noto on 5th, Lentini on 8th. Official suggestions were made to disband the unit as "it had seen more active service than any other unit in the Middle East." [cf. AIR 29/159].

11th August. At about 2300 hrs a concentrated attack was made by enemy bombers on Lentini East, Lentini West, Francisco and Agnone aerodromes. The attack was made by 30 plus JU.88's and other types, and lasted for 75 min., the very effective AA barrage played a very large part in the defence of the 'dromes and it is believed that 5 attackers were shot down. Total casualties were 29 airmen killed, and 40 to 50 injured. Aircraft damage was considerable, between 45 and 50 aircraft suffering damage: about 40 of these being classified in cat. 2 and 8 in cat. 3. Although situated between Lentini East and West, the Unit suffered no casualties or damage to equipment. Immediately after the raid, relief parties with medical personnel were sent to the two aerodromes to assist in extinguishing fires, rendering first aid; and shifting aircraft from dangerous areas.

12th August. In conjunction with 244 Wing, it was decided that the SCU should repair, or prepare for flying-out, a total of 11 aircraft. This work included 2 engine changes, and a large amount of minor work; patching bullet holes, shrapnel damage etc. After test the aircraft still held on squadron charge were transferred, the remainder being either handed to the R.S.U. or flown to the mainland for subsequent repair.

As Corporal Ron Roberts recalls, living conditions for the Unit were extremely spartan. At night they slept on boards on the ground under or alongside their trucks in camps strung along the river banks. As in North Africa, they made good use of abandoned enemy equipment, including uniforms and Italian 20mm Breda guns mounted on the trucks. Some carried poultry in their lorries to provide a supply of fresh eggs, while others hired local seamstresses to make silk shirts from discarded parachutes. Around this time the Unit was given four hours Leave to Nicolosi at the base of Mount Etna, where the local population were as he recalls neither particularly helpful nor friendly.

The Sicilian campaign developed into a desperate race to trap the retreating Germans, with American amphibious landings at Sant Agata and British operations off Cape Orlando. General Patton's entry into Messina on 17th August, a few hours before the British, marked the end of the Sicilian campaign but the Germans had managed to withdraw considerable forces across to the Italian mainland, including an estimated 40,000 troops, fifty tanks and a hundred field guns. Urgent preparations had to be made for the next task, the invasion of the Italian mainland, despite a dearth of information as regards the invasion timetable.

30th August. On completion of waterproofing, Unit moved to post waterproofing area. Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining any information regarding details of embarkation since neither 5th Division nor 1st Canadian Division had received instructions regarding R.A.F. units. For the next 3 days the Unit awaited instructions and efforts to obtain information from Army authorities proved fruitless.

In the days leading up to the invasion across to the Italian mainland Fieldmarshal Montgomery visited Messina with a plan for the British 8th Army to establish bridgeheads at Reggio Calabria and Salerno. As part of "Combined Operations" task forces, the servicing commando units were to capture airfields ahead of the main forces, particularly the vital airfields around Reggio Calabria.

2nd September. The sealed orders received from Advanced HQ Desert Air Force were opened, and these outlined the part the Unit was to play in the invasion of Italy. The Unit's object was the Airfield at Reggio Calabria. The Unit left the VMP for embarkation at St Theresa, a small village 10 miles south of Messina. After a difficult journey St Theresa was reached at 1300 hrs and on 3rd September the vehicles were dispersed in a broad stone wadi, and at 1930 hours the Unit moved off to embark at the beach. All vehicles and personnel were embarked in LST. 416, and at 0430 hrs the LST moved out in company with other LST's and LCT's.