Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA. ARMD RECCE ROADS PELLARO PT. — LOCRI — BOVALINO — BAGNARABB. From 0041/0229 hrs LTBC. Medium Level bombing 2/6500 ft160 x 40 lb frag dropped plus 32 x 40 jettisoned by aircraft which subsequently crashed.BD. 1 MT seen WEST of MELITO DI PORTO SALVO.8 x 40 dropped at MELITO near burning fire.Bombs dropped between BOVALINO and BAGNARA across road at well dispersed points.8 x 40 dropped in BOVALINO MAR village, bursts seen among buildings8 x 40 in SINOPOLI village.NO results observed.BE. Slight HAA BAGNARA fairly accurateSlight LAA from SALINE — MELITO fairly accurate.BF. 2 aircraft slight damage from AA — Cat I1 aircraft crashed on approach to land after engine trouble.Lt. SIMPSON — Pilot )Lt. HANDLEY — Observer )F/Sgt. ROBERTS — W/T A/G ) all killed.F/Sgt. SHEPPERSON — A/G )BG. NIL.BH. A number of fires scattered along SOUTH coast road and track across mountains.Ships seen firing LAA between C. RASOCOLMO — TORRE DI FARO.2 aircraft seen, one on either side, unidentified, over MESSINA STRAITS — evaded by steep dive.Train seen burning WEST of BOVA MARLIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.176YY Major JANDRELL, Lt. CHRISTIE, 2/Lts. PEARCE & LE ROUX226 H Capt. ORD, Lt. HODGES, F/Sgt. WALKER, Sgt. DEVENISH221 Y Capt. STUART, Lt. PAWSON, F/Sgt. MORLEY, 2/Lt. SCHUMANN.291 U Lts. HARGRAVE & REES, F/Sgts. JENSEN (RCAF) & BEDFORD.344 X aircraft crashed.240 D Lts. DUGMORE & MASTERS, F/Sgts. MAASDORP & ROGERS.
Transcriber's Notes
- ARMD RECCE
- Armed Reconnaissance (searching for and attacking targets of opportunity).
- LT
- Local Time.
- MT
- Motor Transport.
- HAA
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery (Axis flak, typically 88mm).
- LAA
- Light Anti-Aircraft artillery (rapid-fire flak, typically 20mm or 37mm).
- W/T A/G
- Wireless Telegraphy operator / Air Gunner.
- A/G
- Air Gunner.
- C. RASOCOLMO
- Capo Rasocolmo (Sicily).
- RCAF
- Royal Canadian Air Force. Personnel and Operational Observations
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
ft: feet.
frag: Fragmentation (bombs designed for maximum anti-personnel/vehicle shrapnel).
AA — Cat I: Anti-Aircraft damage, Category I (repairable on site).