Operation

P O S T A G R A M. W. Diary 29 To : HQ.RAF.ME. From : SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF. Serial No : 21 S/329. Date : 8 July 43. OPREP NO. 329 for period ending 1800 hrs 8 July 43. A. SCIACCA LG. B. 4 BALTIMORES (1 Mk 3 and 3 Mk 3A). C. (i) Level Bombing. (ii) 7600 ft to 13000 ft. (iii) 0402 hrs to 0415 hrs LT. D. (1) 24 x 250 GP (Rods) 43 Det. 90 x 4lb Incendiaries. 5 Flares x 4.5 Mk 5 (Capsules 3 No. 10, 2 No 6). (ii) Nil. (iii) The target was illuminated by the first aircraft off and straddled by three sticks. One aircraft bombed on ETA. NO results observed. E. Nil. F. Nil. G. Unknown. H. (i) 0220 LT (ii) 11 hrs 40 mins. J. Hazy. Visibility Fair. K. Slight inaccurate Hy and Lt. A/A. Comm: 45 mins. TOO 1800 hrs 8 JUL 43. (Signature: J. S. Besson) Captain. SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.

1943-07-08

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded: * HQ.RAF.ME.: Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * SAAF: South African Air Force. * OPREP: Operational Report. * LG: Landing Ground. * Mk: Mark (designating the version of the aircraft or equipment). * ft: feet. * hrs LT: hours Local Time. * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Det.: Detonator. * lb: pound (referring to the weight of the incendiaries). * ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival. * Hy and Lt. A/A: Heavy and Light Anti-Aircraft fire. * TOO: Time of Origin. * Observations about Individuals Mentioned: * Captain J. S. Besson: As the Senior Intelligence Officer (SIO), Captain Besson was responsible for certifying the tactical accuracy of these reports based on pilot debriefings. His signature appears on almost every operational report during this high-tempo period leading up to the invasion of Sicily. * Information about the Location: * Sciacca LG: A strategic Axis satellite airfield on the southwestern coast of Sicily. * Modern Name: Today, the historic airfield site is located near the modern coastal city of Sciacca, Italy, in the Province of Agrigento. * Navigational Context: The report mentions the target was illuminated by the first aircraft, a critical procedure for night or pre-dawn strikes when visual identification of desert or rural landing grounds was difficult. * Historical Theatre Context: * The Eve of Operation HUSKY: Flown on the night of July 7/8, 1943, this mission took place only 48 hours before the massive Allied invasion of Sicily began on July 10. The destruction of Axis aircraft on the ground at satellite bases like Sciacca was a primary objective to ensure Allied air superiority over the landing beaches. * Pre-Dawn Tactics: The takeoff time of 0220 LT allowed the four Baltimores to strike in total darkness/early dawn, a tactic utilized to avoid the deadly accurate daytime flak and fighter screens that had mauled the squadron earlier in the month. * Mixed Ordnance Load: This sortie utilized a sophisticated mix of 250 lb General Purpose bombs for structural damage, 4 lb incendiaries to ignite aircraft and fuel stores, and 4.5 Mk 5 flares for targeting. * The Martin Baltimore: 21 Squadron continued to operate both the Mk III and the upgraded Mk IIIA variants of the Baltimore light-medium bomber. 38 The date written in the 'Date' column of the sortie report is 7/8 July 43.