Operation

BA. SHIPPING OR HARBOUR AT TERMINI. BB. From 2307 to 2315 hrs LT. BC. Medium Level 11000', attacked NORTH-SOUTH. 3 x 250 GP 43 Det. 2 x 90 x 4lb Incendiaries. 3 Flares Recce 4.5 No. 10. BD. Target identified in own flares, 2 dropped 2307 hrs 1600/1700. One dropped SOUTH border of town, other ¾ mile SE of town. One flare dropped at 2311 on NE course. Bombed in stick 160°/170° from 11000' at 2315. Incendiaries seen to burn. Explosion and black smoke followed first bomb. Bombs fell Northern part of docks — seen to explode. BE. Very slight LAA. Flashes HAA SOUTH of town, also 6 S/Ls. Inaccurate and for short while only. BF. NIL. BG. NIL. BH. Slight HAA seen CASTEL VETRANO area ± 2250 hrs.

1943-07-13

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded: * LT: Local Time. * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Det: Detonator. * Recce: Reconnaissance (flares). * SE: South-East. * NE: North-East. * LAA: Light Anti-Aircraft. * HAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft. * S/Ls: Searchlights. * Route and Timing Analysis: * Attack Timing: The aircraft was over the target area from 2307 to 2315 hrs LT. * Approach and Strike Profile: The bombing run was conducted at 11,000 feet on a North-to-South track. The final bomb stick was released on a heading of 160°/170°. * Navigational Sighting: During the approach at approximately 2250 hrs, the crew observed anti-aircraft fire from the Castelvetrano area, indicating that neighboring Axis airbases remained active and alert during the Allied advance. * Ordnance and Strike Observations: * Mixed Payload: The Baltimore carried 3 x 250 lb General Purpose bombs and 2 containers of 4 lb incendiaries (approximately 180 individual bombs). * Flare Pattern: The crew acted as their own pathfinders, dropping two flares initially (one at the southern border of the town and one to the southeast) followed by a third flare on a North-East course to finalize target identification. * Strike Results: The mission was remarkably successful. The crew confirmed that the incendiaries were "seen to burn," and the first high-explosive bomb triggered a secondary explosion accompanied by "black smoke" in the Northern dock area. * Observations about Individuals: * Captain Saunders: The pilot of aircraft 167 S. His leadership during this night strike, particularly the successful execution of the self-pathfinding flare pattern, resulted in confirmed hits on the harbor infrastructure. * Lieutenant Booyse: The Observer (Navigator/Bomb Aimer) whose precision in placing the flares and the subsequent bomb stick at 11,000 feet in the dark was central to the mission's success. * Historical and Location Context: * Termini Imerese, Sicily: A significant port on the northern coast. Its modern name remains Termini Imerese (Province of Palermo). This port was a critical logistical node for Axis forces attempting to resupply their troops in central Sicily from Palermo. * Theatre Context (Operation HUSKY): Flown on the night of July 12/13, 1943 (D+3), this sortie supported the Allied goal of severing Axis coastal supply routes. While defenses at Termini were described as "very slight" compared to other major ports, the presence of six searchlights and Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire indicates the Axis were still attempting to protect these secondary hubs. * The Martin Baltimore: 21 Squadron operated the Martin Baltimore Mk IIIA, an American-built medium bomber. Its speed and altitude capabilities made it an excellent platform for these specialized night interdiction missions. 67 The date written in the header of target file 276-1__67.jpg is 13 JULY 43.