21 Squadron War Diary
0950 hrs Ben Hagen
SORTIE REPORT(Part A)R.A.F. Form 441 A.War Diary 15Sortie No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 324Date. 3 Jul 43Squadron. 21 S.A.A.F.Type of Aircraft. Baltimores (4 Mark IIIA / 8 Mark III)Aircraft No. ) See attached listAircraft Letter. )Time Up. 0940 L.T.Time Down. 1158 L.T.Total Time. 18 Hrs. 20 mins.Captain / Crew.Formation LeaderMajor Janse van Rensburg (Jandrell),Lt. ChristieF/Sgt. PearceF/Sgt. Le RouxAerodrome or L.G. BEN HAGENType of Cloud. CirrusAmount of Cloud. ScatteredBase of Cloud. 12,000’Visibility. Poor in hazeGeneral Weather. FairMap or Chart Reference. SICILIA 1/500,000 N 36/12 / Target Chart 2/103/NATask or Duty. Medium level Bombing attack on TRAPANI MILO aerodrome dispersal areas.| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 0940 | | BEN HAGEN | Formation Airborne || 0950 | 500 | BEN HAGEN | S/C RAS EL FORTASS || 1000 | 900 | RAS EL FORTASS | Picked up Bostons 12 Squadron || 1010 | 1000 | Ras el Fortass | S/C Rendezvous point || 1015 | 1000 | R.Pt. | Picked up fighters 324 Wing; S/C Target || 1045 | 9500 | SICILY | Turning on (Right hand turn) || 1051 | 7500 | Target | Bombed on course of 230 deg. || 1055 | 6700 | Target | S/C Rendezvous Point || 1115 | 1000 | R/V Pt. | Dropped fighters || 1158 | 1000 | Base | || | | Ben Hagen | Last aircraft landed. |PART B (on reverse) to be completed according to relevant pro-forma in H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. Instruction 34.P/PMEJ - 200,000 - 3/42 P.T.O.BA Dispersal areas TRAPANI MILO A/DBB 1051 Hrs. L.T.BC Medium level Bombing attack62 x 250 Rods (43 Det) G.P. (10 bombs not dropped as aircraft whit before all bombs were released)Height 7500 ft. Course 230 deg.BD The first box's bombs burst halfway down the Western boundarytowards the SW dispersal area. Near misses claimed on aircraftNo. 2 Box started its bombs at the NW corner of the aerodrometowards the NW dispersal area. No results observed.BE H.A.A. intense and accurate bursting in a box over target area,depth of box 3000 ft.Some L.A.A. (pink Balls) bursting above and below formation.H.A.A. guns were firing from Eastern slope of Mt. ERICE and fromport and A/D area.(See also Bomber Combat Attached)BF (1) 142 P Major Schravesande, Lt. Campbell, F/Sgt. Meyer, F/Sgt.StopforthMissing – Hit by H.A.A. over target before bombing(2) 345 E Capt. McBride, and Crew, Missing. Hit by H.A.A.after dropping two bombs.(3) 977 L Lt. Meredith and CrewShot down by fighters (Also likely hit by H.A.A.) missingover the Sea, S.W. FAVIGNANA Island.(4) 877 J Lt. Oakes and Crew hit by fighters missing over thesea, S.W. of FAVIGNANA Island.(5) Aircraft 291 U damaged by H.A.A. and fighters Cat. 11.Landed at MAQUARIA(6) Aircraft 352 D hit by H.A.A. and Enemy Fighters- Cat. 11(7) Remaining aircraft all sustained minor damage by H.A.A.and enemy fighters action.BG One vertical camera only. Bomb bursts (Other cameras in shot-downaircraft)BH Approximately 6 S.E. and T.E. aircraft seen in S.W. dispersal5 S.E. in Southern Area, 3 S.E. in top West corner, 2 S.E. inEastern Dispersal area and 1 large aircraft inside Westernperimeter.- For list of Aircraft and Crew List see attached -(Signature: J. S. Besson) .........................Senior Intelligence Officer,21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.