Operation

To: SCOR OFFICER AHQ MALTA. HQ.RAF ME (Ops Records) HQ. NAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) N.A.T.A.F. (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SIO TBF From: SIO 21 SQUADRON ADV SAAF. Ref: 21 Sqdn/355 OPREP NO. 355 for 24hrs ending 1800 hrs on 28 JULY 43. REF MAP SICILIA 1:500,000 NE 36/12. A. Formation took off at 0833 hrs to bomb REGALBUTO but attacked CENTURIPE VILLAGE at 0941 hrs from 10000 ft on course 345°. Landed at 1102 hrs. The village was hit on the Eastern side. One stick through centre. NO AA or fighters. Visibility 6 miles in haze. B. 8 MK 3A and 3 MK 3 BALTIMORES. C. NIL. D. 25 hrs 40 mins. E. (i) 8 MK 3A: 25600 x .30, 5600 x .50, 2400 x .303 3 MK 3 : 9600 x .30, 6900 x .303 (ii) (iii) NIL. F. (i) 8 MK 3A: 48 x 250 GP 47 Det 27 Pistol Nose Fused. 3 MK 3 : 18 x 250 GP 47 Det 27 Pistol Nose Fused. (ii) as in (i) (iii)(iv) NIL. G to V. NIL. W. (i) 1 MK 3A and 2 MK 3 BALTIMORES (ii) NIL. X. (i) 1 MK 3A 1 hr 50 mins; 2 MK 3, 3 hrs 40 mins. (ii) NIL. Y. Z. NIL. (Signature: J.S. Bester) Capt. SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.

1943-07-28

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded * SCOR Officer: Section Control and Operational Research Officer. * AHQ: Air Headquarters. * RAF ME (Ops Records): Royal Air Force Middle East (Operations Records). * NAAF: Northwest African Air Forces. * SCORU: Section Control and Operational Research Unit. * N.A.T.A.F.: Northwest African Tactical Air Force. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * TBF: Tactical Bomber Force. * ADV: Advanced (Headquarters). * SAAF: South African Air Force. * OPREP: Operational Report. * hrs: hours. * ft: feet. * AA: Anti-Aircraft. * MK: Mark (referring to aircraft version). * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Det: Detonator. Personnel and Tactical Reality * Captain J.S. Bester: Certified the report as the SIO. His debriefing notes document a significant tactical shift: the formation was sent to bomb Regalbuto but diverted to strike Centuripe. * Target Alternation: Diverting from the primary target (Regalbuto) to the secondary (Centuripe) was often necessitated by visibility issues—noted here as "6 miles in haze"—or changing requirements from ground commanders during the heat of the "Etna Line" battles. * Formation Strength: The squadron launched 11 Baltimores. This represents a slight reduction from the standard 12-aircraft "box" formations seen in previous days, likely due to the cumulative maintenance burden and flak damage sustained during the intensive Milazzo raids on July 27. Location and Historical Context * Centuripe (Centuripe Village): A medieval hilltop town known as "The Multi-legged Star" due to its unique shape. In late July 1943, Centuripe (modern name unchanged) was one of the most formidable defensive positions on the Axis line. * The Battle for Centuripe: This mission occurred on July 28, 1943 (D+18), just days before the British 78th "Battleaxe" Division launched their legendary assault on the town. Allied intelligence identified Centuripe as the "Gateway to the Simeto," and its capture was essential to unhinge the German defenses around Mount Etna. * High-Altitude Guesswork: The formation bombed from 10,000 feet. While the report claims the "Eastern side" and "centre" of the village were hit, the "6 miles in haze" visibility implies that precision was highly compromised. At this stage of the war, "village hits" often meant collateral damage to civilian structures while attempting to strike fortified stone houses used by the German 1st Parachute Division. Ordnance and Strike Analysis * Nose Fusing Strategy: The formation utilized 66 x 250 lb General Purpose bombs with nose-fusing. As with the strikes on Regalbuto and Milazzo, this was a deliberate choice for urban targets. Nose fuses ensured the bombs detonated the instant they touched rooftops or streets, maximizing structural collapse and fragmentation rather than allowing the bombs to bury themselves in the hillside. * Lack of Opposition: The note "NO AA or fighters" is remarkable for such a strategic target. It suggests that either the Axis batteries had been displaced by the rapid Allied ground advance or that Allied fighter sweeps from Malta had temporarily cleared the sector. 119 The date written in the 'Date' column of target file 276-1__119.jpg is 28 Jul 43.