Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA. ROAD LINGUAGLOSSA — D0048 or NOVARA VILLAGEBB. 2400 — 0052 hrs LTBC. MEDIUM LEVEL BOMBING ATTACKHEIGHT 8/10000 ft NORTHERLY. (1 aircraft 1750)128 x 40 lbs6 RECCO FLARES NO. 4BD. Aircraft located target area and searched for road movement and bombs were dropped at the following points:—32 x 40 lbs and 2 flares at D0048 across road on light.8 x 40 lbs and 1 flare at NAVARO Village, where explosion was seen and fire started. Died down.8 x 40 lbs at C 9741 across road near river.8 x 40 in MAZZARA VILLAGE.1 Flare EAST of RANDAZZO.BE. (i) Desultory HAA bursts from D0048 and NAVARO inaccurate.(ii) One aircraft reports twin fin, twin engine aircraft following near NICOSIA, After bombing at 0045 hrs, height 8000 ft. Aircraft seen three times in all, below and to port nearest approach 1000 yards. Did NOT fire. Evasive tactics. Diving and turning away from moon. Aircraft lost in area 20 miles NORTH of GELA. Height 3000 ft.BF. NIL.BG. NIL.BH. Own MT moving forward in NICOSIA area with blazing headlights.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.341L Lts. WILLMOTT & BORCHERDS, F/Sgts. LOOTS & WALBRIDGE (RAF)356Z Capt. STUART, Lt. PAWSON, F/Sgt. MORLEY, 2/Lt. SCHUMANN.344X Capt. SAUNDERS, Lt. BOOYSE, F/Sgt. MOORE, Sgt. EARP-JONES.221Y Capt. SMIT, Lt. KAY, 2/Lt. PURDON & WRIGHT.
Transcriber's Notes
- LT
- Local Time.
- RECCO FLARES
- Reconnaissance Flares.
- HAA
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery.
- MT
- Motor Transport (vehicles).
- RAF
- Royal Air Force. Personnel and Operational Observations
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
ft: feet.
lbs: pounds (referring to 40 lb anti-personnel/fragmentation bombs).
Linguaglossa and Novara di Sicilia (NAVARO): Strategic mountain towns situated on the northeastern slopes of Mount Etna. Modern names unchanged. By August 13, these were critical waypoints for the Axis rearguard attempting to reach the coast.