German inspecting an knocked out Australian Matilda II somewhere in the North-African desert.

Knocked out Matilda II

Supermarine Walrus crews of C Flight, No. 624 Squadron RAF, in conference prior to a mine-reconnaissance flight from Leghorn, Italy, Spring 1945. The unit was supporting operations carried out by the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla for marking the boundaries of enemy minefields in the Gulf of Genoa (notice in the photo, center, a Royal Navy’s Lieutenant). Formed in North Africa, 20 June 1943, the No 624 Squadron carried ou special duties operations into Italy, Southern France, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia including supplies dropping and the insertion of agents to the resistance at first with Lockheed Ventura and Handley Page Halifax and later Short Stirling Mk.IV. As a result of the allied advances in France and Italy, the need for 624 squadron in this role had declined and it was therefore disbanded on 5 September 1944. However the No 624 Squadron however was reformed on 28 December 1944 at Grottaglie, Apulia, Southern Italy. Equipped with Walrus amphibians, it was now tasked with the role of mine-spotting along the Italian and Greek coasts with many detachment and bases in Italy. The No 624 Squadron finally disbanded on 30 November 1945. Victor Sierra

Mine-recce flight

68 years ago today, Winston Churchill crossed the River Rhine near Wesel. This photo shows Churchill in an American Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (or Higgins boat) with Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery, Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke and US General William Simpson (© IWM BU 2248, )