Sortie Report (Form 541)
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)NIGHT OP.H101Sheet No.Oprep. Ref. No. 371Date. 9 Aug 43Squadron. 21 SQDN. SAAF ADVType of Aircraft. BALTIMORE MK 3Aircraft No. 903Aircraft Letter. BLeader of formation.Major CORMACK.Captain Lt. LOMBAARD.Lt. VILJOEN.Crew. F/Sgt FINBERG.Time Up. 2030 hrs L.T.Time Down. 2255 hrs L.T.Total Time. 2 hrs 25 minsAerodrome or L.G. HALFARType of Cloud. StratusAmount of Cloud. 2/10Base of Cloud. 7000 ftVisibility. HazyGeneral Weather.Map or Chart Reference.1:500,000 SICILIANE/36/12Task or Duty. BOMB ROADS AREA RANDAZZO-LINGUAGLOSSA- NOVARA| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 2030 | | Halfar | Airborne || 2039 | 1500 | Cape S Dimitri | S/c GELA || 2102 | 7000 | Gela | S/c NICOSIA || 2117 | 10000 | Nicosia | S/c RANDAZZO || 2125 | 9000 | Randazzo | S/c TARGET || 2132 | 8000 | | Bombed. Course 260° || 2133 | | Randazzo | S/c NICOSIA. || 2142 | 9000 | Nicosia | S/c GELA || 2152 | 6000 | Gela | S/c BASE || 2218 | 1500 | Base | || 2255 | | Luqa | Landed. |(Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- R.A.F
- Royal Air Force.
- NIGHT OP
- Night Operation.
- Oprep. Ref. No
- Operational Report Reference Number.
- SQDN. SAAF ADV
- Squadron, South African Air Force, Advanced (Headquarters).
- L.G
- Landing Ground.
- S/c
- Set course (navigation shorthand).
- Gela
- The site of the initial Allied landings in July. By August 9, it served as a secure waypoint for Allied aircraft transiting between Malta and the evolving front lines in northern Sicily. Historical Context: The Final Retreat
- Nicosia
- A major town in central Sicily used as a navigational waypoint. Reaching an altitude of 10,000 feet over Nicosia allowed the Baltimore to perform a high-altitude approach into the target area to avoid mountainous terrain and flak.
- SIO
- Squadron Intelligence Officer. Personnel and Command Observations
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
hrs L.T.: hours Local Time.
ft: feet.
Target Area (Randazzo-Linguaglossa-Novara): These three towns formed a critical triangle at the northeastern base of Mount Etna. By August 9, 1943, Randazzo (modern name unchanged) was the most vital escape hatch for Axis forces. Linguaglossa (modern name unchanged) and Novara di Sicilia (Novara) were key nodes on the mountain roads leading toward the final evacuation points at Messina.