Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA. MILAZZO HARBOUR.BB. 1028 hrs LTBC. Medium level bombing.12200 ft Course 120/165°72 x 250 GP 47 Det 27 Pistol (Nose Fused)BD. The boxes attacked separately. No. 1 Box started their stick from SE of the Engine Sheds towards Railroad beyond the Olive Oil Refinery. One stick fell along the main road Eastwards. One hit on Railroad. No 2 Box attacked the Northern Mole but overshot.BE. (i) HAA from FALCONE. Moderate (6/8 guns) inaccurate.(ii) HAA from positions EAST of WAREHOUSES on either side of main road (12 guns) intense, too low, some bursts accurate.(iii) HAA fairly accurate moderate from HEADLAND.(iv) Two HAA positions in mouth of River Mela.BF. (i) Aircraft AH 108 "O" belly-landed on own LG. Hit by HAA over Target during bombing run.(ii) 2/Lt R.N. TOMS WOP/Gunner hit in right leg by AA Splinter.(iii) Five other aircraft sustained minor damage from HAABG. Obliques and Verticals of bomb-bursts 12200 ft Course 120/165° IAS 210.BH. (1) General increase in MT movement on main roads behind bombline.(2) Two trains in station at MILAZZO station. One with engine steam up.(3) 2 Sea Planes in bay.(4) 4 Tanks well dispersed NORTH of CATENANUOVA.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.176YY Major JANDRELL, Lt. CHRISTIE, 2/Lts. PEARCE & LE ROUX. (F/L)173P Capt. SAUNDERS, Lt. BOOYSE, F/Sgt. MOORE, Sgt. EARP-JONES.181T Lts. SIMPSON & HARLE, F/Sgts. ROBERTS & SHEPPERSON.108O Capt. SMIT, Lt. KAY, 2/Lts. TOMS & WRIGHT.344X Major COULL, F/Sgt. SMALLMAN (Rhod), 2/Lt. SHAW, F/Sgt. STRYDOM.291U Lts. SMYTH & MANNING, F/Sgt. DE PIESANIE, Sgt. LEISCHING.226H Capt. ORD, Lt. HODGES, F/Sgt.s WALKER & DEVENISH903B Lts. WILLNOTT & BORCHERDS, F/Sgt.s LOOTS & WALBRIDGE (RAF)951V Lts. ASKEW & LAMBERT, F/Sgt. GELDENHUYS, Sgt. CRAWHALL.136M Lts. DUGMORE & MASTERS, F/Sgt.s MAASDORP & ROGERS195G Lts. FROST & WHITE, F/Sgt. CARTER, Sgt. ALLAN.179A Lts. WOOD & NEL, F/Sgt. JAMES, Sgt. BUCHLER.
Transcriber's Notes
- LT
- Local Time.
- GP
- General Purpose (bombs).
- Det
- Detonator.
- LG
- Landing Ground.
- WOP/Gunner
- Wireless Operator and Air Gunner.
- IAS
- Indicated Air Speed.
- MT
- Motor Transport.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
ft: feet.
(F/L): Formation Leader.
(Rhod): Rhodesian (referring to the Southern Rhodesian Air Force).
(RAF): Royal Air Force. Personnel and Casualty Observations
Flown on July 27, 1943 (D+17), this raid supported the Allied attempt to trap the German 14th Panzer Corps.