21 Squadron War Diary
1030 hrs La Coulette
No. 21 SQUADRON, SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE.5th AUGUST, 1943.LA GOULETTE5th Cont.dropped anchor, just outside the harbour, waiting for the rest of the convoy barges to be loaded."A" Party proceeded to the Docks from the staging area and they started to load their vehicles. They were also stopped before all the Vehicles were loaded and consequently all the "A" party vehicles could not go on the same barge. This most unsatisfactory arrangement resulted in the Squadron going overseas in four different parties. Although this Squadron has probably the best M.T. Officer, in the Middle East, an enormous amount of trouble was experienced with the old and 'clapped' out Transport. This Squadron has to move from place to place. Repeated attempts were made to get new Transport, but all this was in vain.6thAt 1030 hours the convoy of 13 barges, escorted by 6 sub-chasers sailed for Sicily. It was a real picturesque sight, to see the 13 barges sail in three rows and one tracking behind and the whole convoy led by a sub-chaser. The sea was very calm and consequently it was very smooth sailing. It was not until the night that the sea became slightly rough and the barges were rocked quite a bit.LICATA, SICILY.7thThe convoy arrived safely at Licata on the Sicilian Coast at about 10.30 hours, where the barges were pulled in two by two, to offload. Everybody was off at nightfall and the Squadron proceeded to a staging area, four miles out of town, where the night was spent.8thThe Squadron moved off at 0730 hours, to Gela, where it arrived