THE INVASION OF THE ITALIAN MAINLAND, 4TH. SEPTEMEBER 1943

In the face of the impending Allied invasion the Italian Airforce had hurriedly abandoned the aerodrome at Reggio Calabria, leaving it cratered and mined, but it was soon cleared by the unit and made operational in time for the "first landing" on the Italian mainland- a Spitfire which had run out of fuel (as shown in the photograph taken by one of the commandos on this historic occasion!)

ITALY

• 4th September. The LST beached at Reggio Calabria at 0715 hours without opposition, and vehicles and personnel were disembarked on a dry beach and proceeded to the assembly area for de-waterproofing. The Unit then proceeded to the airfield, which was found to be cratered, and all buildings damaged in varying degree. The surface was very rough and extremely stony. The runway area had been mined with rows of 250lb. bombs, the majority of which had not been detonated. These were removed by the bomb disposal squad, and by the R.E.s who continued levelling a strip 1250 yards by 100 yards.
  
  A Spitfire which had forced landed through lack of fuel was refuelled, and took off at 1400 hrs. 12000 gallons of fuel, with oil and ammunition, was dispersed around the drome, telephone lines were laid, and emergency flair path laid in position. S.C.U. parties assisted in clearing the runway of stones etc. and by dusk the 'drome was considered fit for use by fighters, provided care was taken to avoid bomb craters etc. when taxying. The Unit's work was considerably impeded by bodies of Italian soldiers who wished to give themselves up.

• 5th September. Light A.A. Regiment arrived and dispersed at sites around the perimeter. General Montgomery of the 8th Army arrived by road for a Conference with General DeGargon, who arrived in two Fairchild aircraft escorted by 4 Spitfires. The aircraft left at 1130 hrs. Further supplies of fuel and ammunition were received and dispersed.

• 6th September. From 6th to 11th September about 60 aircraft, mainly Spitfires and Warhawks, were refuelled and serviced. An engine change was carried out on a Spitfire. A party of No. 1. A.A.A.U. landed to form an air evacuation service to Catania.

• 12th September. Half the Unit, consisting of C.O. Nos 9 and 10 Flights, and 9 vehicles, moved to Vibo Valentia, 90 miles north on the West Coast, which was found serviceable, but the runway allowed only a maximum run of 800 yards and it was decided that the 'drome should be used for emergency landings only. During the next 8 days only 2 Spitfires landed, one for fuel, and the other with engine trouble.

• 14th September. No. 1. A.A.A.U. established air evacuation centre.

• 17th September. Orders were received to transfer all petrol and ammunition, except for a very small stock, to Cotrone aerodrome. This was moved by Army M.T. and by No. 310 S. and T. Column. Meanwhile, the Reggio detachment had been extremely busy in refuelling and servicing Warhawks and Spitfires of USAAF. On 15th September, four squadrons were refuelled, as well as four DC3's. Repairs were commenced on a Cat. 2 Warhawk with collapsed undercarriage.
  
  From late September onwards the Unit was continually moved further eastwards, first to Crotone and then to Taranto and Lecce on the heel of Italy. Accomodation proved to be a particularly vexing problem as the Italian Airforce commanders were reluctant to evacuate their barracks and had to be "persuaded" by a show of force.

• 19th September. The Reggio detachment was ordered to rejoin the main party, leaving a party of 6 men to guard fuel stocks. The detachment left at 1100 hours, and arrived at 1230 hours.

• 22nd September. Orders were received for the Unit to move to L.G. Cassano (M.R. UO831) to assist No. 7 SAAF Wing. After a long journey Cassano was reached at 1700 hours on 23rd September, when it was found that No. 7 SAAF Wing has moved to Scanzana.

• 24th September. The Unit left at 0800 hours, and reached Scanzana at 1200 hours.

• 25th September. C.O. visited A.H.Q. D.A.F. and was instructed to proceed to a 'drome SSE of Lecce, in the heel of Italy, to form with No. 323O SCU. a Reserve A/c. Pool for D.A.F. The Unit left at 1500 hours, and after camping for the night near Taranto, arrived at Lecce at 1600 hours on 26th September. No. 3230 were found to be in residence, and some empty wooden huts were taken over as billets.
  
  The situation at Lecce was found to be extremely difficult owing to the fact that the Italian Air Force squadrons were still in possession of the hangars and barracks, and about 50 aircraft were still being flown by Italians. As S/L. Haggar of No. 3230 SCU. had been appointed to command the Pool, he interviewed the Italian Commandante of the Station, and informed him that he intended to requisition hangars, barracks, etc. The Commandante stated that A/Cdre. Foster of the British Military Mission had informed him that no Italian buildings, equipment or aircraft were to be requisitioned, and S/L. Haggar confirmed this with A/Cdre. Foster by telephone.
  
  The situation was further strained by the arrival of an advance party of No. 416 USAAF (Beaufighter) Sqdn., who were also attempting to obtain accommodation for their incoming Sqdn. O.C. visited A.H.Q. by Baltimore a/c, but could not obtain authority for requisitioning buildings, M.T. etc. until the B.M.M. has finished its conference with the Italian authorities. Meanwhile the two SCU's remained as lodgers on an occupied aerodrome, in unhygienic billets, while the Italian Sqdns. enjoyed the excellent aerodrome barrack facilities.

• 28th September. An advance party of No. 4 ADRU arrived with a detachment of four aircraft.

• 29th September. First batch of Spitfires and Kittyhawks was received and dispersed in such areas as were not obstructed by Italian aircraft. A regular flow of aircraft was received during the next few days, and a total of 93 aircraft was held on 4th October. A damaged Cat. 2 Mosquito of Malta Command which was found on the 'drome was salvaged, engines inhibited etc. and awaits repair by a Mosquito Repair Unit. One incoming Spitfire crashed 40 miles from the 'drome, and the engine and all serviceable components were retrieved. The a/c fuel situation was most unsatisfactory, as the nearest supply point was at Taranto, 69 miles away, and 4 lorries were wholly engaged in collecting fuel for the first seven days after arrival. The Italians state that they had no 100 Octane fuel, although there was reason to believe that they held dumps of fuel and equipment.

• 5th October. Severe heavy falls of rain were experienced, and the wooden huts in which personnel were accomodated, were found to have leaking roofs etc. O.C. Unit made a strong protest to the Italian Station Commandante, and under protest two stone barrack blocks were taken over to accomodate personnel. Signal communication with advanced H.Q. D.A.F. broke down completely on the move of the latter to the vicinity of Palazzo, and it was necessary to institute a daily courier service by Hurricane aircraft.

• 8th October. No. 82 Fighter Group and No. 315 Servicing Squadron (USAAF) arrived at the 'drome with about 90 Lightening fighters. With their arrival a total of almost 300 aircraft on the 'drome was reached, and the position was such that P.C. Unit informed Advanced H.Q. that even a minor enemy bombing attack would be extremely costly in aircraft, since dispersal area was very limited.

• 15th October. A/Cdre. Falconer of H.Q. D.A.F. visited that 'drome and agreed that the position was serious: Advanced H.Q. therefore restricted the number of reserve aircraft to 70, while arrangements were made for the transfer of the Aircraft Pool to Bari.
  
  A new establishment, LWE/NWA/4096 dated 15th October, 1943, was received, which reduced the total establishment to 124, and the M.T. from 15 to 12 3-Tonners. While the reduction in personnel strength was agreed to generally, it was considered impossible to move the Unit personnel and equipment in 12 vehicles, and a recommendation to this effect was forwarded to R.H.Q.D.A.F.

• 29th October. A Spitfire belonging to the Unit landed with an air system fault, overshot the runway and collided with a steamroller, killing an Italian civilian and seriously injuring two others. A court of Inquiry was held by 4 A.D.U.

• 30th October. Orders were received for the Unit to move to Bari, and in conjunction with 3201 SCU., to maintain R.A.P. machines, which were being transferred later. No. 3230 SCU. continued to maintain aircraft at Lecce until they were flown to Bari by 4 ADU. pilots.

• 1st November. Unit moved off by road from Lecce at 0800 hours and arrived without incident at Bari Airport at 1500 hrs. Personnel were accomodated in tents and some airmen in a farm building adjoining the aerodrome. Several rooms were also taken over for use as Sick Quarters; cookhouse etc.

• 2nd November. A larger and more suitable farm building was found vacant close to the aircraft dispersal area, and was requisitioned when authority had been obtained from D.A.F. The airmen were still accomodated in tents, and Dining Room, Sick Quarters and Offices were taken over in the billet. No hangars or facilities were available for the aircraft, and tents were set up to house R.A.P. office, flight dispersal equipment etc. During the next few days aircraft were received from Reserve A/c. Sub-Pool at Lecce until a total of 70 aircraft was held. These were serviced by personnel of Nos. 3232 and 3201 SCU's under the general direction of O.C. 3232 SCU. who was appointed O.C. R.A.P. by R.H.Q.D.A.F.
  
  Reports from early November onwards emphasise routine maintenance and repair work for the Reserve Aircraft Pool, as the battle lines moved up the Italian Peninsula. Arrangements were being made to disband the unit early in the new year as the nature of the ground campaign changed and advanced air bases were no longer required. The unit's move to open a Reserve Aircraft Pool at Bari is briefly recorded in a report from 3230 SCU. [cf. AIR 2932/440/630].

• 2nd November. From the 2nd to 15th November, maintenance work continued on R.A.P. aircraft, the demands on which fluctuated considerably. Towards the end of this period, demands for Kittyhawk replacements increased rapidly, as the result of losses incurred in the Sangro River battle: however, all commitments were met and replacements made available to Squadrons.

• 15th November. Instructions were received informing O.C. that No. 117 M.U. were to take over the R.A.P. equipment from the Unit, as and when their personnel and technical equipment arrived from North Africa. An advance party moved in, and was accomodated by Nos. 3232 and 3201 SCU's. During the next fortnight the remainder of personnel and equipment arrived: meanwhile, the Unit continued to maintain the aircraft. Towards the end of the month the demands for aircraft exceeded the supply coming in from North Africa, and some difficulty was experienced in providing replacements for Squadrons at short notice, particularly of Spitfire VIII aircraft.
  
  Many Kittyhawks received about this time were found to be severely corroded around the undercarriage, and generally unsuitable for issue to Squadrons, as the result of poor maintenance during the long periods most of them had spent on L.G.'s in Africa. The condition of the machines was reported to Rear H.Q. D.A.F. Since all airmen were still in possession of the light scale of personal kit with which they had landed in Italy, steps were taken to provide extra clothing during the cold weather. Underclothing, extra boots and greatcoats were issued, the latter of Army type as no R.A.F. items were available. The Malcolm Club in Bari, opened on the 28th November, and proved very popular, as beer and a meal could be obtained there, in pleasant surroundings. The Unit football team continued a series of matches with varying success, their ambition being to defeat the local Italian Air Force team, which had a great reputation locally.

• 1st December. From 1st December to 10th December the Unit, in company with 3201 SCU. continued to maintain R.A.P. aircraft, and to assist No. 117 M.U. in establishing themselves at their camp site near the dispersal area. The aircraft which had been accomodated at Lecce Sub-Pool were flown to Bari, prior to the closing of the Sub-Pool maintained by 3230 SCU.

• 10th December. No. 117 M.U. took over technical control of the aircraft, assisted by the two SCU's, which retained their admin. control. This arrangement, although difficult, worked much better than anticipated, and aircraft requirements of squadrons were filled without difficulty. During this period many Soccer and Rugger matches were arranged. The Unit Football team also entered for the D.A.F. Italy Football Cup. The general health of the airmen improved at this time, although cases of jaundice became more frequent.

• 17th December. Very heavy rain and wind made conditions very difficult. Many aircraft were bogged, and tents flooded, and all ranks were consequently depressed.

• 24th December. Orders were received transferring technical and admin. control of the Unit to H.Q. 214 Group, and placing the Unit under the immediate control of No. 117 M.U. Provision was however made for the Unit to retain its identity, and personnel were screened. This news caused despondency among the airmen, as they had hopes of taking part in operations in forward areas, which were rumoured to be imminent.

• 25th December. Today, Christmas Day, the weather was fortunately fine, and the customary Dinner was greatly enjoyed by all ranks. Turkey, Xmas pudding etc. was supplied through the N.A.A.F.I. and beer was issued for the first time in many weeks. A Concert was given by members of the Unit personnel, in a barn beneath the billets, the players having a very enthusiastic audience.

• 26th December. The long-awaited gum-boots and macintoshes were received, and taken into use forthwith.

• 27th December. The camp was inspected by A/Cdre. Coleman, A.O.C. 214 Grp. There had been an increase in casualties from tropical ailments, such as malaria and the new year brought more bad news: confirmation of the final disbanding of the unit. LAC Roberts had by this time contracted malaria and been shipped out to Naples for repatriation.

• 1st January, 1944. From 1st January to 25th January, the Unit, together with No. 3204 S.C.U., assisted No. 117 M.U. in maintaining aircraft of the Reserve Aircraft Pool. During this period, the number of cases of jaundice increased: all members of the unit were also innoculated against Typhus Fever.

• 26th January. Instructions were received from 214 Group that the Unit was to be disbanded: all technical and domestic equipment, together with M.T. was to be handed over to No. 117 M.U. pending disposal. All personnel; with the exception of Armourers, F.M.T.'s and Cooks and Clerks GG.D. were instructed to stand by with kit packed, pending transfer to the U.K.,