Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA. ROADS IN ST MARIE DI LICODIA.BB. TO BG. NIL.BH. Due to unfavourable cloud conditions leader of formation decided to jettison bombs and all bombs were fused and jettisoned at 1600 hrs. Height 3800 over the sea 175° POZZALLO VILLAGE 7 miles.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.903B Major CORMACK, Lt. LOMBAARD, F/Sgt. FINBERG, 2/Lt. VILJOEN271F Lts. GUARD & WEBBER, F/Sgt. GREEN, 2/Lt. DE VILLIERS.290U Lts. BLIEDEN & ROSE, F/Sgts. JARVIS & PERKINS.136M Lts. A'BEAR & OWEN-HUGHES, 2/Lts. HARRISON & PICKUP.916K Lts. FROST & WHITE, F/Sgt. CARTER, Sgt. ALLAN.341L Lts. WILLMOTT & BORCHERDS, F/Sgts. LOOTS & WALBRIDGE (RAF)167S Capt. SMIT, Lt. KAY, 2/Lts. PURDON & WRIGHT.291U Lts. HARGRAVE & REES, F/Sgts. JENSEN (RCAF) & BEDFORD356Z Lts. SIMPSON & HANDLEY, F/Sgts. ROBERTS & SHEPPERSON.221Y Lts. EATON & McDERMOTT, F/Sgts. FREESTONE (NZAF) & VAN ROOYEN344X Capt. SAUNDERS, Lt. BOOYSE, F/Sgt. MOORE, Sgt. EARP-JONES.383W Lts. SMYTH & HANNING, F/Sgt. de PIESANIE, Sgt. LEISCHING.GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUMMARY,for period1-7-43 to 31-7-43.Days in Operation. — 29No. of Sorties, — 221Total Operational Hours, — 567Fuel expended (Gals). — 65,000S.A.A. expended — 12,000Bombs Dropped — 1292 X 250 lbs.120 X 500 lbs.2173 X 4 lbs.Aircraft:Average available — 19.Lowest No. available — 16.Serviceability, percentage on available Aircraft. — 90%Wrecked by Enemy action — 6" " other causes — 1Enemy Aircraft.Destroyed. — 3Probables — 2Personnel.Killed. — 1Wounded, (Admitted to Hospital) — 3Missing, (P.O.W). — 1Missing, — 19Missing, (Believed killed). — -Casualties.No. 102635 Major Schraveande, L. — Missing.No. 102859 Capt. McBride, G.L. — Missing.No. 103872 Lieut. Clutterbuck, M.S. — Injured.No. 205678 " Hamilton, E.V. — Missing.No. 100407 " Meredith, J.E.A. — Missing.No. 100354 " Oakes, A.G. — Missing.No. 207072 " Herring, E.F. — Missing.No. 27827 " Pickerill, J.H.M. — Missing.No. 205640 " Sachs, P. — Missing.No. 113377 " v.d. Meulen, D.W. — Injured.No. 205789 " Whittle, G.B. — Wounded.No. 206098 " Campbell, T.P. — Missing.No. 207190 2/Lt. Hodgkinson, G.F. — Missing.No. 205667 F/Sgt. Carbarns, A. — Killed.No. 61135 " Daniels, W.C. — Missing.No. 205764 " Phelan, V. — Missing.No. 236300 " Smith, S.G. — Missing.No. 206501 " Stopforth, K.J. — Missing.No. 72066 Sgt. Cleland, C. — Missing.No. 80309 Sgt. Morrison, J.E. — Missing.No. 1311870 F/Sgt. Prout, M.O. — Missing.No. 206936 F/Sgt. Meyer, V. v G. — Missing.No. 206939 F/Sgt. White, A.W. — Missing.
Transcriber's Notes
- Bombs Dropped
- The use of 2,173 X 4 lb bombs indicates a heavy reliance on incendiary or cluster-style munitions for area suppression, likely targeting Axis personnel and soft-skinned vehicles in the rugged interior of Sicily. Historical Context: The Price of Sicily
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
hrs: hours.
(RAF): Royal Air Force.
(RCAF): Royal Canadian Air Force.
(NZAF): New Zealand Air Force (properly RNZAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force).
Santa Maria di Licodia (ST MARIE DI LICODIA): A strategically located town on the southwestern slopes of Mount Etna. In July 1943, Santa Maria di Licodia (modern name unchanged) was a vital nodal point for the Axis defense of the "Etna Line".