Donald Macrae mission August 21, 1943

August 21, 1943  Today we went on a raid to Cancello - an airfield near Naples. We led an element. K.P. let me fly a bit and I did poorly. Haven't done much flying for so long. Everything was OK till we approached the target and someone messed up. We missed the target and did 360 degree turn around Naples. Collected a lot of ack-ack and fighters. Only one plane was damaged in our group and it got to Malta safely. We now fly 12 #9 ship formations. We have lost so many ships and crews. The weather was good and we got back safely. Had supper. Read till around 11:00 pm and to bed. Was reading about the Crusades.