Australia’s War Diary

50 Years Ago…

October 1 — Australia

18 Liberators, seven from 24 Sqn, bomb Laha airstrip. The runway is cratered and barracks damaged. By now the RAAF has eight transport squadrons: Nos 33, 34, 35, 36 and 38, equipped with Dakotas, No 37 (Lodestars), No 40 (Sunderlands) and No 41 (Martin Mariners). All units are controlled by Air Force HQ Melbourne.

Burma

No 261 Squadron Thunderbolts fly 22 ground support sorties, F/Lt A Gibson and P/O T Cleary bombing and strafing targets around Pinlebu. Maintaining the air offensive during the monsoon has been expensive with more losses through bad weather than enemy action.

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