Also Danny, in response to your post #2607, page 131
QUOTE
I arrived back In the last week in April, and Stew and I flew a few more training exercises. In May, he vanishes. Where ? Could he have got malaria ? Quite possibly. I should remember, but I don't. From the 8th, my regular crewman was a P/O Robertson (nav), and it was with him that I went to war on the 12th. Stew does not appear again until 5th July, when we'd pulled back to Bengal from the Arakan for the Monsoon, and after that "we were not divided".
While I'd been away, 110 (maybe just one flight) went on a week's detachment to Dohazari - in Arakan a bit south of Chittagong - and flown one or two sorties (I only found this out from Wiki - I don't remember anyone telling me about it at the time - Odd ?) And again, what was the point of sending them across there just for a week ? (it might have enabled them to say that 110 was the first VV Squadron to go into action - which it was - but little else).
END QUOTE
From my book "Remember Me: No. 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron"
Sources: Reg Duncan, Elwyn D. Bell and author Peter C. Smith:
In March the Squadron is ordered into action on the Arakan front. On the afternoon of the 17th, six aircraft lift off from Madhaiganj for the trip to the advanced landing ground at Dohazari. Pilots on this detachment, codenamed Dog Group, are Flight Lieutenant Ritchie, Pilot Officer Rule, Flying Officer Topley, Flying Officer Brooks, Flight Sergeant Davies and Flight Sergeant Duncan. “The Army sent a detachment of six of us down to the front,” explains Reg. “I was on the first mission and we hit her pretty good. We did five missions to see how they worked out.” Their attack on March 19, 1943 escorted by six Mohawks of No. 5 Squadron, against a Japanese Headquarters in the village of Htizwe, Burma, launched from the traditional dive out of the sun, comes as a complete surprise.
This is the first time that Vengeances have been used in operations on this front and each of the five missions is a total success with 100% hits nearly every time. Messages of congratulations begin to stream in. From Command Headquarters comes the message, “Very glad indeed to see that Vengeances of 110 Squadron have joined in offensive against enemy on this front. Congratulations on highly successful bombing during first attack.” Group Headquarters signals, “Congratulations to all ranks of detachment on grand work carried out. Aircrew put up splendid show and high serviceability reflected great credit on maintenance personnel.” (36) The Army has been shown the true grit and accuracy they can expect from Vengeance crews.
(36) Bell, Flight Lieutenant Elwyn D. The Story of No 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron Royal Air Force. Stone Cottage, Great Sampford, Saffron Walden, Essex, Air-Britain, 1971.
Sara V. Mosher