Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 11 JUL 43
P O S T A G R A M.40To : HQ.RAF.ME.From : SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.Serial No : 21S/334.Date : 11 JUL 43.OPREP NO. 334 for period ending 1800 hrs 11 JUL 43.A. TRAPANI-MILO A/D (REF MAP SICILIA 1:500,000 NE 36/12)B. 3 BALTIMORES IIIA.C. (i) Level Bombing (ii) 6500' over FAVIGNANA IS., 9200/11000' over target. (iii) 0402 hrs over FAVIGNANA IS., 0403/0409 hrs LT.D. (i) 11 x 500 GP (6 x 11secs, 2 x 39 Det. 6 hrs, 3 x 37 Pistol 12hrs) tail fused. 200 Crowsfeet.(ii) NIL.(iii) One aircraft jettisoned 1 bomb in sea due to inability to gain height, then dropped 3 bombs over FAVIGNANA IS. and returned to base.Fire on slope of Mt. S. GUILIANO made raid target visible to one aircraft, other bombed on ETA. Crowsfeet dropped after last bomb. 2 bombs seen to explode. NO results observed. One Bomb NOT dropped.E.F.G. NIL.H. (i) 0255 hrs LT. (ii) 7 hrs 45 mins.J. Cumulus 4/10 scattered. Top 3000'. Hazy on route. Fair visibility over target.K. 3/4 HAA near target inaccurate. 6 S/Ls over LG for few minutes, 15/20 S/Ls and intense HAA over TRAPANI HARBOUR.Comm: 15 mins.TOO 1800 hrs 11JUL 43.(Signature: G.W. Thompson) Lt. for Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- HQ.RAF.ME
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
- SIO
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
- SAAF
- South African Air Force.
- OPREP
- Operational Report.
- A/D
- Aerodrome.
- FAVIGNANA IS
- Favignana Island.
- GP
- General Purpose (bombs).
- Det
- Detonator.
- ETA
- Estimated Time of Arrival.
- HAA
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:
hrs LT: hours Local Time.
Route and Navigational Observations:
Ordnance and Strike Analysis:
Location Information and Historical Context: