Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA. SHIPPING AND HARBOUR INSTALLATIONS TERMINI IMERESE.BB. 0345 to 0405 hrs LT. Courses 160° to 195°.BC. MEDIUM LEVEL 10/10500 ft.15 x 250 GP 43 Det. (3 x 250 GP 43 Det and 180 x 4 lb Incendiaries hung up and brought back to base).16 Flares 4.5 Recce No. 10 (6 flares did not ignite).180 x 4lb Incendiaries.BD. On arriving 3 fires were seen in Harbour close to quay. Identifi-cation of target greatly assisted by flares. One stick of bombsburst across the base of mole; one stick in Central Dock area andin town WEST of Northern Section of Docks. NO results observed.BE. Slight inaccurate LAA, one S/L flashed on for one moment.BF. NIL.BG. NIL.BH. Flares seen to burn for about one minute only.Fires in Harbour seemed like burning vessel.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.951 V Lt. Col. Coppen DFC, Capt. Farrant, F/Sgts. Lyne & Bradfield.176 YY Major Jandrell, Lt. Christie, F/Sgts. Pearce & Le Roux.136 M Lt. Dugmore, Lt. Masters, F/Sgts. Maasdorp & Rogers.221 X Lt. Eaton, Lt. Gould, F/Sgts. Freestone (NZAF) & Van Rooyen.21 Squadron S.A.A.F.Middle East CommandDAILY CASUALTY RETURNDate 13th July 194351i. S.A.A.F. PERSONNEL| | On Strength | Casualties | Total on Duty ||---|---|---|---|| Officers. | 57 | 2 | 55 || W.O.'s | 6 | - | 6 || F/Sgts. | 43 | 1 | 42 || S/Sgts. | 30 | - | 30 || Cpls. | 45 | 2 | 43 || L.A.M.'s | 6 | - | 6 || Airmen | 142 | 13 | 129 || TOTAL. | 329 | 18 | 311 |ii. ATTACHED PERSONNEL i. S.A.| | On Strength | Casualties | Total on Duty ||---|---|---|---|| Officers. | 2 | - | 2 || Sgts. | 5 | - | 5 || Others. | 4 | - | 4 || TOTALS | 11 | - | 11 |ii. R.A.F. : R.A.A.F. ETC.| | On Strength | Casualties | Total on Duty ||---|---|---|---|| Officers. | - | - | - || Sgts. | 7 | - | 7 || Others. | 3 | - | 3 || TOTALS | 10 | - | 10 |iii. ATTACHED CAPE CORPS| | On Strength | Casualties | Total on Duty ||---|---|---|---|| Sgts. | 9 | - | 9 || Cpls. & L/Cpls | 30 | - | 30 || Ptes | 109 | 4 | 105 || TOTALS | 148 | 4 | 144 |MESSING STRENGTH| Officers' Mess. | Sergeants' Mess. | Mechanics' Mess. | N.E.A.S. Mess. ||---|---|---|---|| Strength........ | Strength........ | Strength........ | Strength........ || S.A........... | Att.S.A......... | Att.S.A......... | || ............. | Ors............. | Ors............. | || S. 57 | 58 | 125 | 144 |TOTAL 506Csn. 22.484.HOSPITAL103872V Lieut Clutterbuck N.E. 1 C.C.S. 8/7/43113377V " Van der Heever D.W. " "29056 A/Cpl Van Tonder P.J. 25 M.R.S. 6/5/43211934 A/M Tait W.H. do 27/5/43327248 " Peters A.E. do 23/5/43102030 " Bester J.P. 97 C.C. 1/7/43288756 Pte Smith R. 97 C.C. 2/7/43LEAVE121557 A/M Smith W.R. Cairo (28 days) 28/3/43DETACHED208131V A/M Armstrong D.C. Salvage J.U.'s 15/5/43573597 " Pettigher O.J. do "211427V " Fold B. de C. do "205511V F/Sgt Smith L.G. 3 (S.A.) Wing. 11/5/4399217V A/Cpl Bothe C.J. do 11/7/43313561V A/M Roper J.T. do "212351V " Dollard R.S.P. do "326525V " Hastie R. do "326958V " Erasmus R. do "326560V " Armstrong S. do "212071V " Sutherland R.N. do "0288119 Pte Prior F. Salvage J.U.'s 15/5/430303577 " Jones J. do "0301436 " Van Wyk I. do "
Transcriber's Notes
- LT
- Local Time.
- GP
- General Purpose (bombs).
- Det
- Detonator.
- Recce
- Reconnaissance (flares).
- LAA
- Light Anti-Aircraft artillery.
- S/L
- Searchlight.
- DFC
- Distinguished Flying Cross.
- F/Sgts
- Flight Sergeants.
- F/Sgts
- Flight Sergeants.
- NZAF
- New Zealand Air Force (though more accurately RNZAF for Royal New Zealand Air Force).
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:
ft: feet.
lb: pound (weight of incendiaries).
Route and Timing Analysis:
Ordnance and Tactical Observations:
Observations about Individuals Mentioned:
Historical and Location Context:
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:
Observations about Personnel and Casualties:
Location and Historical Context:
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:
do: ditto (referring to the entry above).
Observations about Individuals Mentioned:
Lieutenant N.E. Clutterbuck and D.W. Van der Heever: Both officers were admitted to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station on July 8, 1943, just two days prior to the invasion of Sicily.
Information about Locations:
Historical Context and Theatre Events: