The squadron arrived at their new aerodrome in Castel Benito on the 4th February 1943, and in the early afternoon of the same day, they received their first Mosquitos. These were flown to Castel Benito from N°107 MU in Kasfareet, by the OC Major Davies and Lt. Martin. The two NF Mk.II's, DD743 and DD744, were undergoing climatic trials in the hot and humid conditions of the Middle East, before they were diverted to N°60 sqdn. They were modified for photographic work at the maintenance unit in Kasfareet, which had included the mounting of a Williamson F8 Mk.II camera with a 10" lens, in the bomb-bay. The four .303 Brownings, and the four 20mm cannons in the nose, were retained in the aircraft. A group of men, led by F/Sgt. Schoeman, and who all happened to be SAAF personel, which were stationed at N°107 MU, were sent to Castel Benito to give the ground crews instruction on operating these new aircraft. Due to the squadron never before operating with cannons, the loading of these was completed with the assistance of armourers from N°40 sqdn (SAAF). They were operating from Castel Benito with Hurricane Mk.II's, and also supplied the ammunition for the Mosquitos cannons. The colour scheme was ocean grey and dark green over medium sea grey, with the standard type C1 fuselage roundel.
After four days of sorting out minor snags, the first operational Mosquito sorties were attempted on the 8th February. Major Davies in DD743, and Lt. Martin in DD744, took off at 11:00, on a photographic survey sortie to the Foum Tatahouine area. Problems were however experienced with the R/T and oxygen system in DD744, and the two aircraft returned to Castel Benito. It is interesting to note that the first three operations, were flown with the aircraft operating as a pair. One aircraft would do the actual photographic sortie, and the second aircraft would operate as a "weaver". The role of the "weaver" was to fly patterns to the rear of the first aircraft and be on the lookout for air-attacks. On the last operation that the "weaver" tactics were used, Capt Bell in DD744 was flying the photographic sortie, and Lt. Fletcher in DD743 was "weaving". Lt. Fletcher heard gunfire over the R/T and gave a "Bandit" warning before divng his aircraft. His R/T then packed up and the confusion was such that the two aircraft were unable to get together again, and the operation was abandoned.
The aircraft were operated almost continuously for the next three months, during which they flew 62 photographic sorties. On the 12th May 1943, they were flown back to N°107 MU at Kasfareet, for further modifications. They were now fitted with one Fairchild K17 camera with a 12" lens, and two Williamson F8 oblique cameras with 20" lenses. The latter being tilted at 10°, allowing coverage to port and starboard. These cameras were all fitted to a hinged cradle in the bomb-bay. The cannon were now also removed, but the four .303 Brownings in the nose were retained to keep the weight distribution correct. They were also re-sprayed during this modification period, and given type B roundels, as the squadron ORB for the 9th June records: "... they looked very smart in midnight blue camouflage, but unfortunately the RAF at Kasfareet have painted RAF roundels on the machine - this is an omission that will be repaired in the near future!".
