CUTICCHI

R.A.F. Form 441 A. SORTIE REPORT (Part A.) Sheet No. I Oprep. Ref. No. 395 Date. 3 Sept 43 Squadron. 2I SAAF Type of Aircraft. Baltimore Mk.3, Mk.3A, Mk.4 Aircraft No. See over for list. Aircraft Letter. do. Leader of Formation. Captain MAJOR JANDRELL Crew. LT. CHRISTIE Other aircraft followed similar Courses Time Up. I400 Hrs LT Ist Aircraft Time Down. I658 Hrs LT Last Aircraft Total Time. 33 Hours Aerodrome or L.G. CUTICCHI Type of Cloud. Cu Inland. Clear over target Amount of Cloud. 8/IO Base of Cloud. 7/8000 feet Visibility. I0/I5 miles General Weather. Good — Slight haze Map or Chart Reference. SICILIA I/500000 NE36/I2 MESSINA I/500000 NE38/I4 Task or Duty. CROTONE MAIN L/G (Z6847) — alternative Rd Junc. MARINA DI CATANZARO (Z2628) | Time | Height. | Place. | Narrative. | |---|---|---|---| | I400 | — | BASE | Airborne | | I405 | 4000 | LENTINI | R. Fighters | | I409 | 4I00 | LENTINI | S/c SPARTIVENTO | | I450 | 9200 | SPARTIVENTO | S/c Target | | I5II | I3000 | TARGET | Crossed Coast | | I5I2 | II000 | TARGET | Bombed | | I5I3 | I0500 | TARGET | S/c SPARTIVENTO | | I538 | 8200 | SPARTIVENTO | S/c Base | | I604 | 2400 | S.CATANIA 5 miles) | Crossed Coast | | I628 | 2000 | BASE | Over Base | | I655 | — | BASE | Landed | (Signature: Thompson) Capt. SIO 2I Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1943-09-03 CUTICCHI

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded * R.A.F.: Royal Air Force. * SAAF / S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * Oprep. Ref. No.: Operational Report Reference Number. * Mk.: Mark (designating the specific version of the Baltimore medium bomber). * Hrs LT: Hours Local Time. * L.G.: Landing Ground. * Cu: Cumulus cloud formation. * R. Fighters: Rendezvoused with Fighters. * S/c: Set Course. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. Personnel and Command Observations * Major A.C. Jandrell and Lieutenant Christie: This veteran lead crew commanded the squadron's second mission of "Invasion Day". Major Jandrell was a premier tactical lead for No. 21 Squadron, often entrusted with complex multi-unit strikes during the Sicilian and early Italian campaigns. * The "Other Aircraft": The note "Other aircraft followed similar Courses" indicates that while Jandrell led the formation, individual pilots maintained tactical flexibility within their respective "boxes" to maximize the bombing pattern over the target. Location and Tactical Reality * Cuticchi (Base/L.G.): Located in central-eastern Sicily, near Enna. By September 3, 1943, this landing ground had become the critical springboard for SAAF operations striking deep into the Italian mainland. Modern name: Cuticchi. * Crotone Main L/G (Target): A major Axis airfield on the "sole" of the Italian boot. Neutralizing Crotone was vital to preventing the Luftwaffe from launching counter-strikes against the Allied beachheads across the Strait of Messina. Modern name: Crotone-Sant'Anna Airport. * Marina di Catanzaro (Alternative Target): A critical road junction on the Ionian coast. Modern name: Catanzaro Lido. * Capo Spartivento (SPARTIVENTO): The southernmost tip of mainland Italy, used as a primary navigational "gate" for Allied aircraft entering and exiting the Calabrian airspace. Historical Context: D-Day Italy (Operation BAYTOWN) * September 3, 1943: This mission was the afternoon strike on the first day of the Allied invasion of the Italian mainland. While the morning mission focused on interdicting transport links, this sortie was aimed at establishing air superiority by suppressing a "Main L.G.". * Tactical Profile: The high altitude of 11,000 feet for the bombing run was a calculated necessity to avoid the intense light anti-aircraft (L.A.A.) fire that typically defended Axis airfields. The transition from 13,000 feet at the coast to 11,000 feet over the target suggests a shallow dive to increase speed and accuracy. * Logistical Effort: The total flight time of 33 hours for the formation highlights the massive effort required to keep the pressure on the Axis during the critical first hours of the invasion. This was the squadron's second 12-aircraft strike in less than 12 hours, a realistic testament to the endurance of both the Martin Baltimore aircraft and the ground crews at Cuticchi. 192 The date written in the 'Date' column of the associated Sortie Report (Part A) found in Target File 276-1__191.jpg is 3 Sept 43.