Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA. SCIACCA LG SICILY.BB. 0402/0415 hrs LT.BC. Medium Level. 7600ft to 13000 ft.24 x 250 GP Rods 43 Det.90 x 4 lb incendiaries.5 flares 4.5 Mk 5 Capsules. 3 No. 10 and 2 No. 6.BD. Three aircraft identified the target and straddled the LG withtheir bombs and incendiaries. One aircraft bombed on ETA. Anexplosion giving off orange flash was seen SW of LG, but no firedeveloped. There was a small fire burning between SCIACCA Townand the LG.Many bomb bursts were observed mostly West of target.BE. Slight inaccurate HAA and LAA from target area. Flashes seen Northof SCIACCA Town and MENFI village.NO searchlights.BF. Nil.BG. Nil.BH. (i) Steady light at Cape S. MARCO.(ii) This Squadron's Pathfinder dropped flares from 0349 hrsto 0411 hrs, and himself bombed at 0415 hrs. The flares lastedfrom 2 to 3 minutes and the target was not very well illuminated.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST ATTACHED TO OP.REF. NO. 329.21 SQUADRON, SAAF. dated 7/8 JULY 43.951 V Lt.Col. Coppen DFC, Capt. Farrant, F/Sgts. Lyne & Bradfield903 B Major Cormack, Lt.Lombard, F/Sgts. Finberg & Viljoen.108 O Capt. Stuart, Lt. Pawson, F/Sgts. Morley & Schumann.221 Y Lt. Eaton, Lt. McDermott, Sgt. Freestone & F/Sgt. van Rooyen
Transcriber's Notes
- LG
- Landing Ground.
- GP
- General Purpose (bombs).
- Det
- Detonator.
- Mk
- Mark (version of equipment).
- ETA
- Estimated Time of Arrival.
- SW
- South-West.
- SAAF
- South African Air Force.
- Lt.Col
- Lieutenant Colonel.
- DFC
- Distinguished Flying Cross.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:
hrs LT: hours Local Time.
ft: feet.
lb: pound (weight of incendiaries).
Observations about Individuals:
Information about the Location:
Historical Theatre Context: