, ▁in ▁mid - August ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁he ▁joined ▁No . ▁ 3 3 ▁Squadron ▁R AF ▁in ▁the ▁Western ▁Des ert ▁flying ▁the ▁Haw ker ▁H urr icane ▁from ▁Am ri y ah ▁in ▁Egypt . ▁During ▁his ▁initial ▁oper ational ▁service ▁he ▁was ▁once ▁st raf ed ▁while ▁taking ▁off ▁and ▁once ▁had ▁to ▁crash ▁land ▁after ▁being ▁shot ▁up ▁by ▁Mess ersch mitt ▁B f ▁ 1 0 9 s ▁but ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁he ▁dam aged ▁two ▁Luft wa ffe ▁J unk ers ▁Ju ▁ 8 8 ▁medium ▁bom bers ▁and ▁in ▁early ▁December ▁shot ▁up ▁an ▁Italian ▁Army ▁transport ▁column . ▁On ▁ 2 0 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁K ier ath ▁and ▁a ▁squad ron ▁mate ▁shot ▁down ▁an ▁Italian ▁Air ▁Force ▁tro op ▁car rier ▁aircraft . ▁On ▁ 8 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁he ▁was ▁posted ▁to ▁No . ▁ 4 5 0 ▁Squadron ▁RA AF , ▁commission ed ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁he ▁completed ▁his ▁first ▁tour ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁and ▁trained ▁as ▁a ▁f ighter ▁pilot ▁instruct or ▁at ▁Bel ved ere ▁flying ▁school ▁before ▁doing ▁a ▁five - month ▁instruct ing ▁tour ▁in ▁Rh odes ia ▁and ▁being ▁promoted ▁to ▁flying ▁officer . ▁ ▁K ier ath ▁requested ▁a ▁return ▁to ▁oper ational ▁flying ▁and ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁returned ▁to ▁No