Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 9 MAY 43
P O S T A G R A M"I": H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.: S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/290Date : 9 MAY 43OPREP No. 290 for period ending 1800 hrs. 9 MAY 43.A Dispersed A/C on PANTELLERIA L.G.B 18 Baltimores.C (1) Medium level bombing.(11) 8500/9000 ft.(111) 0758 hrs. L.T.D (1) 108 x 250 lb. GP 43 Det. with 6" rods.(11) Nil.(111) Bombs fell in three sticks as follows: from undergroundshelters and across NE boundary: from pp. 7 (SOUTH) (Ref:Target Map P/6) along EASTERN edge of L.G.: from pp. 13towards NE. One building at pp. 13 received a direct hit.Heavy explosions accompanied bomb-bursts in squares Q 21and Q 23, and one column of smoke rose to 4000 ft. Somenear misses on A/C were observed. Not more than 20 smalland large A/C were seen.E Nil.F Nil.G Nil.H (1) 0604 hrs. L.T.(11) 49 hrs. 30 mins.J General weather and visibility good. 8/10 Cu. base 15000 ftK A box of intense HAA, bursting between 6000 and 12000 ft.was put up over the L.G. The barrage was behind the format-ion. Some HAA bursts gave off very large black smoke puffs.COMM. Nil.T.O.O. 1800 hrs. 9 MAY 43.[Handwritten Signature]........................Capt.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
- S.A.A.F
- South African Air Force.
- OPREP
- Operational Report.
- A/C
- Aircraft.
- PANTELLERIA L.G
- Pantelleria Landing Ground, the volcanic island's airfield situated between Tunisia and Sicily.
- Baltimores
- Martin Baltimore light bombers.
- L.T
- Local Time.
- NE
- North East.
- Cu
- Cumulus (cloud type).
GP 43 Det. with 6" rods: General Purpose 250 lb bombs utilizing 1943 Rod-type detonators. The 6-inch rods ensured instantaneous surface detonation to maximize the fragmentation effect against soft targets such as parked aircraft.