CUTICCHI

R.A.F. Form 441 A. SORTIE REPORT (Part A.) Sheet No. 1 Oprep. Ref. No. 408 Date. 15/9/43 Squadron. 21 SAAF Type of Aircraft. 12 Baltimores: (2 Mk.3, 8 Mk.5, 2 Mk.4) Aircraft No. As per list. Aircraft Letter. Leader of Formation. Captain Leader of Formation Crew. Capt. ORD, D. Lt. HODGES. Other A/C followed similar courses. Time Up. 1516 Hrs LT 1st aircraft. Time Down. 1813 Hrs LT Last aircraft. Total Time. 32 Hours. Aerodrome or L.G. CUTICCHI Type of Cloud. Cu Amount of Cloud. 1/10 Base of Cloud. 10,000 ft. Visibility. 10 miles General Weather. Haze Map or Chart Reference. CAMPAGNA 1/100,000 Sheet No. 198 Task or Duty. Medium Level Bombing Attack Troops in area :) N.9715, 9969, O.0318, N.9917 | Time | Height. | Place. | Narrative. | |---|---|---|---| | 1516 | — | CUTICCHI | Airborne | | 1535 | 2000 | CUTICCHI | S/c RANDAZZO | | 1603 | 6000 | RANDAZZO | S/c MILAZZO | | 1608 | 6000 | MILAZZO | Made one circuit to 12 Warhawks (fighter escort) | | 1625 | 6000 | MILAZZO | S/o STROMBOLI | | 1645 | 10000 | STROMBOLI | S/o LICOSA POINT | | 1713 | 13000 | LICOSA PT. | S/o ROCCADASPIDE | | 1715 | 13000 | ROCCADASPIDE | Turned on to Target | | 1718 | 11500 | TARGET | On bombing run Co 335ºM | | 1719 | 11500 | TARGET | S/o LICOSA POINT. | | 1723 | 9000 | LICOSA PT. | S/o STROMBOLI | | 1748 | 6000 | STROMBOLI | S/o C. TINDAL | | 1805 | 7500 | C. TINDAL | S/o CUTICCHI | | 1810 | 2000 | CUTICCHI | Over Base | | 1812 | — | BASE | Landed | | 1813 | — | — | Last aircraft landed | (Signature: illegible) Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, SAAF

1943-09-15 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: South African Air Force. * Oprep. Ref. No.: Operational Report Reference Number. * Mk.: Mark (designating the specific model of the Martin Baltimore medium bomber). * Hrs LT: Hours Local Time. * L.G.: Landing Ground. * Cu: Cumulus clouds. * ft.: feet. * S/c / S/o: Set Course. * Co: Course. * M: Magnetic (referring to navigational degrees). * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. Personnel and Operational Observations * Captain D. Ord and Lieutenant Hodges: Serving as the lead crew, Captain Ord was a prominent flight commander within No. 21 Squadron SAAF. He led the twelve-aircraft formation through a complex rendezvous with their fighter escort. * Fighter Escort Coordination: The report notes a precise maneuver over Milazzo at 16:08 where the formation "Made one circuit to 12 Warhawks". These Curtiss P-40 Warhawks provided critical top-cover against Luftwaffe interception during the vulnerable trans-Mediterranean flight to the Italian mainland. * Formation Strength: The mission utilized twelve Baltimores, representing a standard "box" formation designed for maximum defensive firepower and concentrated bombing effect. Location and Tactical Intelligence * Cuticchi (Base/L.G.): The forward operating base in central-eastern Sicily, near Enna. Modern name: Cuticchi. * Navigational Waypoints: * Randazzo and Milazzo: Towns in northeastern Sicily used as assembly points for Allied air formations before crossing to Italy. * Stromboli: The active volcanic island in the Aeolian chain, which served as a constant visual navigational fix. * Licosa Point (LICOSA PT.): A prominent headland marking the southern limit of the Gulf of Salerno. Modern name: Punta Licosa. * Roccadaspide: A town inland from the Salerno coast used as the final navigational "gate" for the bombing run. Modern name: Roccadaspide. * Capo Tindari (C. TINDAL): A headland on the northern coast of Sicily used for the return flight path. Modern name: Capo Tindari. * Target Area: The mission targeted Axis troop concentrations near Campagna, Italy, indicated by the specific grid references provided (N.9715, 9969, O.0318, N.9917). Historical Context: The Salerno Crisis (D+6) * September 15, 1943: This daylight mission occurred during the absolute turning point of Operation AVALANCHE, the Allied invasion of Salerno. By this date, the German 10th Army counter-attacks were failing, and the Allied forces were preparing for a major breakout. * Direct Air Support: The task of attacking "Troops in area" from 11,500 feet was a critical tactical effort to shatter German defensive lines in the rugged mountains surrounding the beachhead. By bombing these concentrations, No. 21 Squadron supported the British X Corps and U.S. VI Corps in their struggle to maintain the bridgehead against the German 16th Panzer Division. * Intense Operational Tempo: The cumulative mission time of 32 hours for the formation highlights the relentless demand placed on both the SAAF aircrews and the ground technicians at Cuticchi during the first week of the Italian campaign. 214 The date written in the 'Date' column of the associated Sortie Report (Part A) found in file 276-1__213.jpg is 15/9/43.