22 September 1918 – German Air Force destroyed

The rapid advance in Palestine by British Forces since the offensive opened on 19 September has seen the Turkish Forces retreat in disarray. On 20 September, El Affule and the German aerodrome there, which had been 40 miles behind the lines was captured. From there the RAF set up an advanced base to harass the retreating armies and destroy the remains of the German Air Force in the area.

Yesterday, intensive bombing by 1 Squadron AFC had forced the destruction of two Turkish Armies and today the RAF set about the remaining air forces.

This morning a flight of Bristol F2b’s flew to an Arab encampment under the control of TE Lawrence at Um Es Surab. From there they planned to fly on to bomb Der’a aerodrome. Before they could set off a group of enemy aeroplanes were spotted. Lieutenant Eustace Slade Headlam and Lieutenant William Harold Lilly (B1286) Captain Ross Macpherson Smith and Lieutenant Ernest Andrew Mustard (B1229) took off to chase them off, downing a DFW two seater in the process. 45 minutes later another group appeared and the same two took off again, this time claiming two Pfalzes.

In the afternoon, the flight bombed Der’a successfully. Another two seater appeared over Us Es Surab and dropped bombs. This time, Lieutenant Edward Samuel Peters and Lieutenant James Hamilton Traill (B1278) chased it and shot in down 5 miles from Der’a.

4 May 1918 – Final retreat

The Australian Forces in Palestine completed their retreat from Es Salt today. Every available machine was sent up to harass the Turkish forces.

Ross McPherson Smith and Ernest Andrew Mustard in their Bristol F2b

At dawn Lieutenants Edward Patrick Kenny and Garfield Findlay and Lieutenants Ross McPherson Smith and Ernest Andrew Mustard carried out strategic reconnaissance around Amman and took the opportunity to bomb the station there which was crowded with tents, transport, and stores.

At around 1150, Lieutenants Edgar Leslie Spragg and Oswald Charles Dawson and Lieutenants Stanislaus Acton Nunan and Charles James Vyner attacked a group of enemy cavalry with their machine guns.

In the afternoon around 1420 patrols by Francis William Lukis and Edward Balfour Somerset Beaton and Colin Campbell Cameron and Wilmot Hudson Fysh, attacked enemy cavalry with bombs and machine gun fire near Ain es Sir.

Arthur William Murphy and Harold Alexander Letch got into a bit of trouble when a stray bullet ignited a smoke ball in the cockpit. However Letch put the fire out with a fire extinguished carried in the cockpit and only minor damage was caused in the end.

In all 1 Squadron AFC put in 27 Hours 25 minutes of flying time, more than any other day during the operation. Australian forces were able to escape in relatively good order.

The enemy forces did not get the same assistance. German aircraft stayed mostly on the ground. Two German machines that did attack British infantry withdrawing west of Shunet Ninirin, but were both shot down by ground fire and seen to crash.