21 Squadron War Diary
0220 hrs Ben Hagen
R.A.F. Form 441 A.War Diary 50SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)Sheet No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 338Date. 12/13 JUL 43Squadron. 21 SAAF.Type of Aircraft. 4 BALTIMORES (2 Mk III, 2 Mk IIIA)Aircraft No. )Aircraft Letter. ) AS PER LIST.Captain Pathfinders.Lt. Col. COPPEN.Crew. Capt. FARRANT.Other aircraft followed similar course.Time Up. 0220 hrs LTTime Down. 0550 hrs LT.Total Time. 12 hours.Aerodrome or L.G. BEN HAGEN LG.Type of Cloud. S Cumulus.Amount of Cloud. 2/10 Scattered.Base of Cloud. Tops 2/5000’Visibility. FairGeneral Weather. Good but hazy.Map or Chart Reference.SICILIA1:500,000NE 36/12.Task or Duty. BOMBING ATTACK SHIPPING OR HARBOUR INSTALLATIONS TERMINI IMERESE.| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 0220 | | Ben Hagen | Airborne. Set course 060°M for RAS EL FORTASS. || 0227 | 2500 | Ras el Fortass | Set course for KELIBIA 095°M. || 0236 | 4000 | Kelibia | Followed coast to HAMMAMET and back. || 0311 | 8000 | | Set course for MARINELLA 060°M. || 0324 | 10000 | Marinella | Followed coast to C. S. MARCO. || 0327 | | C. S. Marco | Set course for ZAFFARANO. || 0342 | 11000 | C. Zaffarano | Set course for 130°M for 2 min. || 0344 | 10300 | Termini | Dropped 3 flares on course 160°M. || 0355 | 10000 | | Dropped 2 flares, 2 containers incendiaries, 3 x 250 bombs. || | | | Off target. Set course 210°M for C. S. MARCO. || 0403 | 8000 | | Set course for KELIBIA 255°M. || 0443 | 7000 | C. S. Marco | Followed coast to HAMMAMET. Losing time. || 0448 | 4000 | Kelibia | Over Base. || 0525 | | Ben Hagen | || 0550 | | | Last aircraft landed. |(Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.