13 March 1941

Marada is taken under control by a German-Italian detachment under German command.

The command staff of the Afrikakorps (Commander, Chief of Staff, Ia, Ic, and IIa with aide de camps, support officers and office personel moves to Sirt. The Commander flies with the Chief of Staff and 2nd Lt. v.Goerne at 14.00 hours with an Italian Ghibli[1] from Melaha. Because of a sand storm the flight turns around and force lands in Melaha. From there continuation of the journey in a car put at his disposition.. Arrival in Sirt only at midnight due to sand storm.

Major Ehlert (Ia) and Lt. von Hoesslin (O1) with the office personnel cannot take off and remain in Tripoli during the night, to fly to Sirt the next morning.

[1]Caproni Ca.309, a multi-role twin-engined plane built specifically for and used heavily by the Italian air force in North Africa, for armed reconnaissance and liaison duties.

Ca.309 Ghibli pre-war. Image from Wikipedia.