Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA. Interrupt communications, bomb roads, MT, in area B8328, STEFANO - NICOSIA - LEONFORTE - CALTANISSETTA.BB. From 2250 to 2346 hrs LT.BC. Medium level, 2000/6000' above ground level.42 x 250 GP 43 Det., Rods.210 x 4lb incendiaries.11 x 4.5 Recce Flares No. 4500 x .30;800 x .5.28000 pamphlets (Mussolini 18 Nov 40).BD. The 2 aircraft allotted to bomb the Coastal Road saw NO movement but dropped their bombs and flares and incendiaries at CAMPO-FELICE and STEFANO, starting a grass fire.Numerous MT, parked in well-dispersed clumps, were found between CATERINA and X IRBI and in WADI running SW. These were attacked with bombs and incendiaries. One pilot made four runs and his top gunner sprayed the area with .5 fire (aircraft F); bombs, and incendiaries were dropped on the road from GANGI to ENNA to VILLAROSA on isolated MT, scoring near misses. One aircraft found 9 large MT nose to tail on secondary road, NORTH of RIBERA and some trenches. The MT and trenches were straffed and covered in dust, (aircraft U).BE. NIL.BF. MISSING Aircraft A.G. 930.Lt. E.P. Hamilton, 205678 V, Pilot.Lt. S.B. Whittle, 205789 V, Observer.2/lt. C.F. Hodgkinson, 207190 V, WOP/AG.f/Sgt. D. Phelan 205764 V, A/G.BG. NIL.BH. North Coastal Road (TERMINI-STEFANO) covered in shadows from mountains. Visibility poor.The pamphlets were scattered over villages and the entire target area.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.951 YY Major Jandrell, Lt. Christie, 2/Lts. Pearce & Le Roux.903 B Major Cormack, Lt. Lombaard, F/Sgt. Finberg, 2/Lt. Viljoen.167 S Capt. Smit, Lt. Kay, 2/Lts. Toms & Wright.271 F Lt. Guard, Lt. Webber, F/Sgt. Green, 2/Lt. de Villiers.957 W Lt. Wood, Lt. Gould, 2/Lts. Purdon & Groenewald.930 K Lt. Hamilton, Lt. Whittle, 2/Lt. Hodgkinson, F/Sgt. Phelan.291 U Lt. Hargrave, Lt. Rees, Sgt. Jensen (RCAF) F/Sgt. Bedford.195 G Lt. A’Bear, Lt. Owen-Hughes, 2/Lt. Harrison & Pickup.
Transcriber's Notes
- MT
- Motor Transport.
- LT
- Local Time.
- GP
- General Purpose (bombs).
- Det., Rods
- Detonators with standoff rods (typically 6-inch rods to ensure surface-level blasts).
- Recce
- Reconnaissance (flares).
- SW
- South-West.
- WOP/AG
- Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
- A/G
- Air Gunner.
- RCAF
- Royal Canadian Air Force.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:
Observations about Individuals Mentioned:
Sgt. Jensen (RCAF): Noted as a Canadian serving within the SAAF formation, highlighting the Allied integration of Commonwealth aircrews.
Location and Historical Context: