Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 12 JUL 43
P O S T A G R A M.42To : HQ. RAF. ME.HQ. NAAF (attention 23rd SCORU).N.A.T.A.F. (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU).SIO. TBF.From : SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.Ref : 21 S/335.Date : 12 JUL 43.OPREP NO. 335 for 24 hrs ending 0130 hrs LT on 12 JUL 43.OPERATION NO. -A. Off at 2100 hrs. Over target from 2239 hrs to 2259 hrs LT. Landed base 0015 hrs LT. The Baltimores were briefed to recco and bomb MT and Bridges along the AGRIGENTO-PALERMO RD and dropped their bombs from 5/6000 feet across defiles, four MT and a number of Bridges. Near misses claimed. Slight inaccurate HAA from PLATANI area. RDS quiet. Weather and visibility good.B. 4 Baltimores (2 Mk III and 2 Mk IIIA).E. Nil.H. 11 hrs 46 mins.L. (i) 6400 x .30, 4600 x .303 (Mk III) 6400 x .30, 1400 x .5, 600 x .303 (Mk IIIA) (ii) (iii) NIL.M. (i) 16 x 500 GP 43 Det (50% NDT) 2 with 6" Rods, four bombs per aircraft.(ii) 16 x 500 GP 43 Det (50% NDT) 2 with 6" Rods, four bombs per aircraft.(iii) (iv) NIL.N. (i) (ii) (iii) NIL.O. NIL.P. NIL.Q. (i) NIL (ii) FA 143 (Mk 3A).R. (i) NIL (ii) Mk IIIA - 1 hr 50 min.S. NIL.T. NIL.(Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- HQ. RAF. ME
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
- NAAF
- Northwest African Air Forces.
- SCORU
- Section Control and Operational Research Unit.
- N.A.T.A.F
- Northwest African Tactical Air Force.
- SIO
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
- TBF
- Tactical Bomber Force.
- SAAF
- South African Air Force.
- OPREP
- Operational Report.
- LT
- Local Time.
- MT
- Motor Transport.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:
recco: Reconnaissance.
Route and Navigational Observations:
Ordnance and Strike Analysis:
Location and Historical Context: