Operation

P O S T A G R A M. 42 To : 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.

1943-07-12

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded: * 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. * recco: Reconnaissance. * MT: Motor Transport. * RD: Road. * HAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft. * RDS: Roads. * Mk: Mark (designating aircraft version). * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Det: Detonator. * NDT: Nose Detonator. * FA: Likely refers to a specific aircraft serial prefix (e.g., FA143). * Route and Navigational Observations: * Operational Window: The mission was conducted under cover of darkness, taking off at 2100 hrs LT on July 11 and landing back at base shortly after midnight at 0015 hrs LT on July 12. * Tactical Focus: Unlike previous strikes on stationary airfields, this mission was a "recco and bomb" sortie targeting mobile assets (Motor Transport) and critical infrastructure (Bridges and defiles) along the Agrigento-Palermo Road. * Altitudes: The strike was carried out at a relatively low altitude for medium bombers (5,000 to 6,000 feet) to ensure accuracy against narrow road targets like bridges and defiles. * Ordnance and Strike Analysis: * Ammunition Expenditure: The report lists a significant amount of machine gun ammunition expended (Section L), including .30, .303, and .5 (likely .50 caliber) rounds, indicating that the Baltimores engaged in low-level strafing of motor transport in addition to bombing. * Bomb Configuration: Each of the 4 aircraft carried four 500 lb GP bombs. Notably, 50% of the detonators utilized 6-inch rods. These rods were designed to trigger the bomb slightly above the ground, increasing the lateral blast effect—ideal for damaging thin-skinned vehicles on a roadway or the superstructure of a bridge. * Results: While the crews claimed "near misses" on bridge targets, they successfully dropped ordnance across defiles and identified motor transport targets. * Location and Historical Context: * Agrigento-Palermo Road: This remains a major north-south arterial route in Sicily (modern SS189 and SS121). In 1943, this road was a primary lifeline for Axis reinforcements moving from the north of the island to oppose the Allied landings in the south. * Platani Area: Refers to the region around the Platani River, which the Agrigento-Palermo road crosses. The presence of "slight inaccurate HAA" here suggests the Axis had positioned mobile anti-aircraft batteries to protect these vital river crossings. * Theatre Context (Operation HUSKY): Flown on the night of July 11/12, 1943, this mission occurred during the critical expansion of the Allied beachheads. 21 Squadron's shift from airfield suppression to "armed reconnaissance" along main supply routes was intended to paralyze Axis mobility and prevent coordinated counter-attacks against the invading forces. * Captain J. S. Bester: The SIO who certified this report, capturing the technical details of the transition to tactical support of ground forces. 57 The date written in the 'Date' column of the sortie report is 11/12 JUL 43.