Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 3 JUL 43
P O S T A G R A M.To : HQ. RAF. ME.From : SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.Serial No : 21 Sqdn/324.Date : 3 JUL 43.OPREP NO. 324 for the period ending 1800 hrs 3 JUL 43.A. Western Dispersal area TRAPANI/MILO LG. SICILY.B. 4 Mk IIIA, 8 Mk III BALTIMORES.C. (i) Medium level: (ii) 7500: (iii) 1051 LT.D. (i) 62 x 250 Rods (43 Det) GP : (ii) 300 x .30, 250 x .303, 250 x .50 : (iii) The first box's bombs burst halfway down the Western boundary towards the SW dispersal area. Near misses claimed on aircraft. No. 2 Box started its bombs at the NW corner of the aerodrome towards the NW dispersal area. No results observed.E. Missing – Baltimore AG 142 Pdo. FA 345 Edo. AH 977 Ldo. AH 877 JDamaged ) do. FA 291 UCat II: ) do. FA 352 DRemaining aircraft all sustained minor damage by HAA and enemy fighter action.F. Missing – 102635V Major L.J. Schravesande, 206198V Lt. D.B. Campbell, 206936V F/Sgt. V.V.C. Meyer, 206501V F/Sgt. K.J. Stopforth.102859V Capt. G.L. McBride, 27827V Lt. J.H.M. Pickerill, 61135V F/Sgt. W.O. Daniels, 206939 APC F/Sgt A.M. White.100407V Lt. J.F.G. Meredith, 207072 Lt. E.F. Herring, 236300V F/Sgt. S.C. Smith, RAF1311870 F/Sgt. Prout M.C.103547V Lt. A.S. Oakes, 205640V Lt. T. Sachs, CAN72066 Sgt. C. Clelland, CAN80309 Sgt. J.E. Morrison.G. Destroyed – 1 Me202, 2 Me109F or G.Damaged – 2 Me109F or G.H. (i) 0940 LT. (ii) 1820 hours.J. Fair.K. HAA intense and accurate bursting in a box over target area, depth of box 3000 ft.Some LAA (pink balls) bursting above and below formation.HAA guns were firing from Eastern slope of Mt. ERICE and from Port and A/D area.Comm: 2.30 hours (6 a/c flying replacement from RSU).TOO 1800 hours 3 JUL 43.(Signature: J. S. Besson) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- 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 (aircraft version).
- LT
- Local Time.
- GP
- General Purpose (bombs).
- Cat II
- Category II Damage (serious damage requiring repair at a specialized unit).
- Major L.J. Schravesande
- The formation leader whose aircraft (AG 142 P) was hit by flak and fell in a spinning dive. Interrogation reports later confirmed he died from his wounds and was buried in Trapani.
Abbreviations Expanded:
Observations about Individuals:
Lieutenants Pickerill, Herring, and Sachs: Listed here as missing, these three were the sole survivors of the four lost crews. Their detailed interrogation after being liberated provided the squadron with vital safety data on baling out of the Baltimore.
Information about the Location:
Historical Theatre Context: