21 Squadron War Diary
2100 hrs Ben Hagen
SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)R.A.F. Form 441 A.War Diary 34Sheet No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 331Date. 9/10 Jul 43Squadron. 21 SAAF.Type of Aircraft. 3 Mk III and 1 Mk IIIA BALTIMORE.Aircraft No. )Aircraft Letter. ) See Back.Captain Major Cormack, Lt. LombardCrew. & CrewOther aircraft followed same course.Time Up. 2100 hrs. LT.Time Down. 2348 hrs. LT.Total Time. 9 hrs 55 mins.Aerodrome or L.G. BEN HAGEN LG.Type of Cloud. St. Cumulus and Cumulus.Amount of Cloud. 2/10Base of Cloud. 2/3000 ft.Visibility. Good.General Weather. Clear over target – building up CAP BON Peninsula.Map or Chart Reference.SICILIA 1:500,000 SHEET NE 36/12.Task or Duty. MEDIUM LEVEL BOMBING ATTACK CANICATTI TOWN.| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 2100 | | Ben Hagen | Airborne. || 2105 | 1000 | Ras el Fortass | Set course KELIBIA. || 2124 | 3000 | Kelibia | Did two circuits gaining height. || | | | Set course target. || 2212 | 9400 | Target | Bombed on course 360° Mag. || 2219 | 8000 | | Set course KELIBIA. || 2305 | 4000 | Kelibia | Followed coast to MENZEL TEMIME. || 2308 | 4000 | Menzel Temime | Set course BASE. || 2319 | 3000 | Ben Hagen | Over BASE. || 2348 | | Ben Hagen | Landed. |(Signature: G.W. Thompson) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.BA. CANICATTI TOWN.BB. FROM 2209 to 2232 HRS.BC. MEDIUM LEVEL 8000/94000'. Courses 340°/360°.24 x 250 GP (Rods) 43 Det.BD. Target identified by hill NE of Town, road LICATA-CANICATTI andrivers EAST and WEST of approach to target. Last aircraft sawreddish fire glow at target. One stick of bombs seen explodingNW-SE well to SOUTH of target by one aircraft on approach. Bombsdropped in long sticks on target and NW and SOUTH portion oftarget.BE. NO AA over target. NO S/Ls. 10/15 HAA from PORTO EMPEDOCLEstretching to AGRIGENTO. LAA from LICATA accurate at 9000'.10 flashes HAA seen NORTH of target.BF. Nil.BG. Nil.BH. Fires and bomb bursts seen at PORTO EMPEDOCLE-AGRIGENTO areaand LICATA, fire 20 miles EAST of target and flashes fromCASTEL VETRANO or MARSALA areas.LIST OF AIRCRAFT and CREWS 9/10 JUL 43.903 B. Major Cormack, Lt. Lombard, F/Sgts. Pearce & Le Roux.108 O. Capt. Stuart, Lt. Pawson, F/Sgts. Morley & Schumann.221 Y. Lt. Eaton, Lt. McDermott, Sgt. Freestone (NZ) & F/Sgt. Van Rooyen.143 G. Lt. A'Bear, Lt. Owen-Hughes, F/Sgts. Harrison & Pickup.