Saturday, 17 July 1943

123456789101112 2100 hrs

21 Squadron War Diary

2100 hrs Ben Hagen
R.A.F. Form 441 A.War Diary 59NIGHT OPERATION.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)Sheet No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 342Date. 16/17 JUL 43Squadron. 21 SAAFType of Aircraft. 1 Mk III, 2 Mk IIIA BALTIMORES.Aircraft No. )Aircraft Letter. ) See backCaptain Captain Stuart, Lt. Pawson,Crew. & Crew.Other aircraft followed same route.Time Up. 2100 hrs Lt.Time Down. 0045 hrs Lt.Total Time. 8 hours 35 mins.Aerodrome or L.G. Ben Hagen LG.Type of Cloud. Cumulus.Amount of Cloud. 3/10 – 4/10 early KELIBIA – PANTELLERIA3/10 SICILY – PANTELLERIA, 7/10 overBase of Cloud. C. BON on return. Base 2/3000’Visibility. GoodGeneral Weather. Over target Good – slight hazeMap or Chart Reference.SICILIA1:500,000NE 36/12.Task or Duty. Offensive Recce roads area B8228 – S. STEFANO – NICOSIA – ENNA – CALTANISSETTA along bombline to South Coast – B8228.| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 2100 | | Ben Hagen | Airborne. || 2101 | 2000 | | Set course RAS el FORTASS. || 2106 | 4000 | Ras el Fortass | Set course KELIBIA || 2115 | 6000 | Kelibia | Set course CAPE BIANCO || 2152 | 7000 | Cape Bianco | Set course TARGET area || 2210 | | Leonforte | Bombed || 2325 | 6000 | Cape Bianco | Set course KELIBIA || 2303 | | Kelibia | Set course BEN HAGEN || 2315 | 4000 | Ben Hagen | Landed || 0045 | | | Last aircraft landed |(Signature: G.W. Thompson) Lt. for Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.

Transcriber's Notes

R.A.F
Royal Air Force.
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force.
L.T
Local Time.
Time Up
13:48 A (Local).
Total Time
22.00 hours represents the aggregate flight time for all 12 aircraft (approx. 1 hour 50 mins each).
L.G
Landing Ground.
Ben Hagen
The location of the Rear Party (Soliman, Tunisia).
N.E
North East.

Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:

Mission Profile and Tactics:

Ordnance and Strike Analysis:

Observations about Individuals:

Location and Historical Context:

AIR 27/276 · The National Archives