Sainsbury, Felix W. (Sergeant)

Two diaries and a typescript account (photocopy) kept by 29162 Sergeant (Sgt) Felix W. Sainsbury, Armament Section, No. 3 Squadron, RAAF, relating to his service in North Africa between October 1940 and July 1943. The handwritten pocket diaries are dated 28 October 1940 - 21 June 1943 with entries for almost every day. The typescript account (127 pages) is titled `Ground Crew Middle East Diary' and has been compiled in the last few years using the above diaries and recollections. It has been presented in diary form with photographs added. The items describe in detail Sgt Sainsbury's experiences as a member of the ground crew of a fighter bomber squadron of Desert Force as they serviced aircraft (Tomahawks and then Kittyhawks), fitted armaments, arranged transport, food and water to keep the squadron operational. He also details flying operations and the results of air raids as well as movements through Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.