Michael Welchman Photographs

On this page is presented Michael's war photographs for this period.

Michael Joined 40 sqdn in August 1941 and was sent to No.70 OTU (Operational Training Unit , Reconnaissance) in Ismailia, Egypt. He was then sent on an artillery course for future army co-op training.

40 Squadron was initially stationed at Burg-El-Arab where they were equipped and staffed for operational service. Seven squadron members were seconded (Oct 41-Dec 41) to RAAF No. 451 reconnaissance squadron to gain experience. Two of them were killed.

In December 1942 Michael and some of his fellow 40 sqdn pilots were sent to West Africa to collect Hurricane aircraft to be ferried over to Egypt, but due to insufficient flying hours on Hurricane aircraft they were sent back to Egypt as passangers.

The sqdn had a long delay to be equipped with aircraft and became operational only in February 1942.

Going up north from South Africa: Mombasa railway station Kenia.

Going up North: From Kenia Michael flew to Egypt with Bombay transports.

Squadron arrives in Ismailia; day visit to Port Said

70 OTU Ismailia

Artillery co-op course

On a leasure trip to Palestine (Israel) L.t.R. Dudley Cobbledick, Johannes "Gamat" Gouws, Dennis Waugh

Lysander reconnaissance aircraft, briefly flown by Mike during training at No.70 OTU.

On a steamer in the Nile; Dennis Waugh, Kleynhans and Natie Flekser

Natie Flekser posing with a Lewis AA gun.

Jack Webb, Goldy Scott (army) and Barry Acutt Sailing on the Nile

Jack Webb, E Sturgeon and Barry Acutt

Barry Acutt, Goldy Scott and Michael

Dennis Waugh

Fellow class mates of the artillery army co-op course.

Artillery co-op course; Dennis Waugh with head set doing the spotting and target laying work.

According to Michael their Italian POW batman had absolutely no desire to escape! He made all the "furniture" displayed in the photo.

Flooding at Burg-El-Arab, 15 December 1942

Michael and Denis's tent being washed down at Bur-El-Arab. Italian POW/batman featuring in this pic.

Michael's friend and tent mate: Dennis Waugh, badly wounded near Tobruk in July 1942 but recovered and eventually killed in action during his second tour.

On this page is presented Michael's war photographs for this period.

The events of No.40 SAAF squadron while Michael was with them can be grouped in four phases:

1) Sept 1941-Jan 1942 Training, equipping and staffing, base camp at Burg-El-Arab in Egypt

2) Feb 1942- July 42 Campaign in Lybia, retreat to Alamein Line, stayed at various LG's

3) August 42 -October 42 Regroup in Egypt at Wadi Natrune, Al-Fridan and LG-201

4) October 42 - February 43 Advance from Alamein through Lybia into Cyrenaica, stayed at various LG's

In The first battle period the sqdn flew ancient Hurricanes Mk 1 and Tomahawks. In the second battle period they flew Hurricanes Mk 2 and Tomahawks. Just after Michael left the squadron was equipped with Spitfires.

Hurricane Mk 1 with the "WR" identification code for SAAF No. 40 squadron. Mike flew most sorties with the Hurricane but also did a few with the sluggish Tomahawk.

Michael's aircraft was hit by ack-ack and the tail wheel was completely shot away. Here the damaged aircraft is being towed away with a Jeep to the repair area.

Hurricane mk 1 with exhaust glare suppressor plates fixed .

Typical well dispersed squadron camp area in the WD. During June/July 1942 the forward detachment of 40 sqdn experienced regular bombing but with negligible damage effects mainly due to the vast dispersal of tents, equipment and aircraft. The reconnaissance units usually operated from LG's closest to the bomb line and were quite vulnerable to enemy activity.

El Fridan, regroup area

Michael sitting on his bedding pack.

a Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk of 40 squadron. The Tomahawk was not a preferred aircraft by squadron members.

Dennis Waugh shared this tent with Michael

40 Sqdn Hurricanes with the gremlin logo's painted on the engine cowls at El Fridan. Jack Orpen was the artist.

Jack Orpen, the creator and painter of the" gremlin" characters. "Gremlins" were the imaginary creatures that caused failures in the aircraft. Here Jack poses in a German flare parachute.

Michael took these pictures that were painted on their squadron aircraft.

Jannie Blaauw became 7 sqdn OC and also OC of 2 sqdn Korea 1951

A visitor Halifax bomber having a wheel repair.

Visitor Wellington bomber.

Hurricane.

Officer's mess tent: Barry Acutt on the right.

Officer's mess tent: Jack Webb reading, Barry Acutt standing looking left.

Gouws became a POW at Luft Stalag III and was murdered by the Gestapo when he was caught after " The "Great Escape" 1944

Martin Maryland bomber visitor as also used by the SAAF bomber squadrons.

Hurricanes taking off.

Hurricane

Their LG being bombed. According to Mike this bomb caused no damage to the truck except for a small dent at the back!

Chris in the bomb crater.

Going for a swim. In this little group: Nicol KIA,, Flekser POW, Waugh KIA, Heald KIFA

a Squadron member using the "desert lily"

Pic of the Tomahawk that Michael flew where the U/C collapsed while landing.

Tomahawk

Marble Arch built by the Italians in occupied Libya. No.40 squadron was stationed here for a quite a while at the end of 1942.

Somewhere near the Alamein line 1942.

Lockheed Loadstar, also used by the SAAF as a shuttle transport.

Jack Heald killed soon after this pic was taken, Barry Acutt family of the Acutt property group in Durban.

Hurricane

Pilots at an occupied German aerodrome waiting for the squadron transport to arrive.

Captured Italian tank.

Enemy bombs at captured aerodrome.

German teller mines.

German aircraft left intact at captured enemy LG's. Staff were warned to be careful for booby traps on captured enemy equipment.

Pulling stuck vehicle out with locomotive at Wadi Natrum.

Camp

Jack Webb very popular member of the sqdn, DFC recipient, 3 times walk back to sqdn, KIA when he force landed in a minefield

Abandoned German and Italian aircraft after retreat.

Murray Gardner made this accident upon his first flight in a Tomahawk. He swung from the strip and hit a truck killing the driver. Murray was the newly appointed squadron OC at that time.