21 Squadron War Diary
1800 hrs Hal Far, Malta
War Diary 68To : AHQ. MALTA.HQ. RAF. ME.HQ. NAAF (attention 23rd SCORU).N.A.T.A.F. (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SIO. TBF.From : SIO. 21 SQUADRON ADV. SAAF.Ref : 21Sdqn/347OPREP NO. 347 for 24hrs ending 1800 hrs LT on 22 JULY 43OPERATION NO. 14A. Formation off at 1432 hrs attacked PATERNO VILLAGE at 1623 hrs from 12000 ft, landed back at base at 1727 hrs. Bombs straddled isolated buildings NE and EAST of village, across road and Railway.Slight inaccurate HAA from SE of village.Weather good. Visibility hazy.B. 12 Baltimores (3 Mk III and 9 Mk IIIA)C. NIL.D. 32 hours.E. (1) (3 Mk III) 9600 x .30, 6900 x .303;(9 Mk IIIA) 28800 x .30, 6300 x .5, 2700 x .303.(ii) (iii) NIL.F. (1) (3 Mk III) 12 x 500, (4 Mk IIIA) 24 x 250 (5 Mk IIIA) 20 x 500.All tail-fused 49 Det.(ii) (3 Mk III) 12 x 500 (4 Mk IIIA) 24 x 250 (5 Mk IIIA) 17 x 500.(3 x 500 hungup and shaken off over sea).(iii) (iv) NIL.G. H. J. V. W. X. Z. NIL.(Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.