Operation

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 P do. FA 345 E do. AH 977 L do. AH 877 J Damaged ) do. FA 291 U Cat II: ) do. FA 352 D Remaining 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.

1943-07-03

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations 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 (aircraft version). * LT: Local Time. * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * SW / NW: South-West / North-West. * Cat II: Category II Damage (serious damage requiring repair at a specialized unit). * HAA / LAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft / Light Anti-Aircraft. * Me202: Likely referring to the Italian Macchi C.202 Folgore fighter. * Me109: Messerschmitt Bf 109. * RSU: Repair and Salvage Unit. * TOO: Time of Origin. * Observations about Individuals: * 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. * 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. * Captain J.S. Besson: The SIO who compiled this grim report. Recording the loss of 1/3 of the squadron's participating aircraft in a single day was a significant administrative and morale burden. * Information about the Location: * Trapani/Milo LG, Sicily: The target was a vital Axis airbase on the western tip of Sicily. * Modern Name: The site is now located within the urban sprawl of modern Trapani, Italy. * Mt. ERICE: Erice is a historic town on the mountain overlooking Trapani; the report notes heavy anti-aircraft guns were positioned on its slopes to fire down on the Allied formations. * Historical Theatre Context: * Disastrous Pre-Invasion Strike: This mission on July 3, 1943, was intended to neutralize Axis fighters before Operation Husky (the invasion of Sicily). Instead, it resulted in one of the most lopsided losses in the squadron's history, with four Martin Baltimores lost and every other aircraft damaged. * Defensive Intensity: The mention of "pink balls" (LAA tracer fire) and "intense and accurate" HAA fire indicates the fierce resistance of the Sicilian "fortress". The presence of Macchi 202s and Messerschmitt 109s shows that the Axis still held significant fighter strength in the sector just days before the landings. * The Martin Baltimore: The squadron was operating both the Baltimore Mk III and the improved Mk IIIA. 18 The date written in the 'Date' line of the report is 3rd July, 1943.