21 Squadron War Diary
2100 hrs Ben Hagen
R.A.F. Form 441 A.War Diary 431st OPERATION: NIGHT.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)Sheet No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 335Date. 11/12 JUL 43Squadron. 21 SAAFType of Aircraft. 4 BALTIMORES ( 2 Mk III, 2 Mk IIIA)Aircraft No. ) as per LISTAircraft Letter. )Captain Major CORMACK, Lt. LOMBARD.Crew. as per List.Other aircraft followed same course.Time Up. 2100 hrs LT.Time Down. 0015 hrs LT.Total Time. 11 hrs 46 mins.Aerodrome or L.G. BEN HAGEN LG.Type of Cloud. F/Cumulus.Amount of Cloud. Scattered.Base of Cloud. Tops 3000 ft.Visibility. Good.General Weather. Good.Map or Chart Reference.SICILIA: 1:500,000. NE 36/12.Task or Duty. MEDIUM LEVEL BOMBING ATTACK MT and BRIDGES RD AGRIGENTO-PALERMO and RECCO.| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 2100 | | Ben Hagen | Airborne. || 2106 | 2000 | Ras el Fortass | Set course RAS MOSTEFA. || 2115 | 3500 | Ras Mostefa | Circuiting - gaining height. || 2135 | 7000 | | Set course TARGET. || 2220 | 7000 | Agrigento | Cut coast and followed rd to PALERMO. || 2240 | 6000 | Target | Bombed. || 2255 | 7500 | Cape Bianco | Set course KELIBIA. || 2340 | 3000 | Korba | Set course BASE. || 2350 | 2500 | Ben Hagen | Landed. || 0015 | | | Last aircraft landed. |(Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.BA. MT and BRIDGES and RECCO of RD AGRIGENTO-PALERMO.BB. 2239 hrs to 2259 hrs LT.BC. Medium Level. 5/6000 ft. 2 aircraft attacked NORTH to SOUTH,2 aircraft attacked SOUTH to NORTH.16 x 500 lbs GP 43 Det (50% NDT) (2 bombs in rear bay of oneaircraft had 6" Rods).BD. There were numerous small fires (grass?) in the area near target.Two aircraft search the road which are very twisting and linedwith trees or woods; from 100' to 500' above ground level andfound little movement. Only four MT were seen, 3 miles NORTHof PRIZZI and 1 NORTH of PLATANI and attacked. NO results ob-served. Bombs were aimed at the road and at bridges in Sq 84010.Near misses claimed on one. One bomb was dropped in a defile atFILAGA. Near miss claimed.BE. Slight inaccurate HAA from PLATANI area (where the gun positionsflashed an unidentified code at aircraft before firing.)BF. NIL.BG. NIL.BH. Blinding flash seen in PRIZZI area at 2230 hrs. Explosion NW ofAGRIGENTO and glow at 2303 hrs.Own Naval Forces being attacked in GELA Gulf. Intense barrage;Bombs falling three miles away from A/A at 2225 hrs LT.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.903 B Major CORMACK, Lt. LOMBAARD, F/Sgts. FINBERG & VILJOEN.108 O Capt. STUART, Lt. PAWSON, F/Sgts. MORLEY & SCHUMANN.291 U Lt. HARGRAVE, Lt. REES, Sgt. JENSEN (RCAF) F/Sgt. BEDFORD.271 F Lt. GUARD, Sgt. SMALLMAN (RAF) F/Sgts. GREEN & DE VILLIERS.