Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Duty
- Medium level bombing attack on gun area P 2295, 2292, 2592, 2595. Time. Height. Place
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT 101 "N"(Part A.)Sheet No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 293Date. 11 MAY 43Squadron. 21 SAAF.Type of Aircraft. 18 Baltimores.Aircraft No. See reverse.Aircraft Letter. "Leader of Formation:Captain Maj. Barnby D.F.C.Crew. Lt. Evans (Observer)See reverse.Time Up. 1309 hrs. (1st. A/C)Time Down. 1500 hrs. (Last A/C)Total Time. 30 hrs. 00 mins.Aerodrome or L.G. EL DJEM MAIN.Type of Cloud. ---Amount of Cloud. Nil.Base of Cloud. ---Visibility. Good.General Weather. Good.Map or Chart Reference. TUNISIA 1:500,000 Sheet NJ.32.SE. TUNIS.Task or Duty. Medium level bombing attack on gun area P 2295, 2292, 2592, 2595.Time. Height. Place. Narrative.1309 EL DJEM Airborne.1319 500 " S/C 295 deg. for TP 39111345 500 TP 3911 Picked up fighter escort (6 A/C of 7 SA Wing) S/C KAIROUAN. Climbing.1352 3000 KAIROUAN S/C AKOUDA 072 deg.1403 7300 AKOUDA S/C ENFIDAVILLE 335 deg.1413 10000 ENFIDA. Turning on to target. 350 deg. (No smoke visible)1416 8500 TARGET No smoke visible. Turned away to left to return over bombline. Climbing.1420 9000 Course 070 to re-attack position.1424 8500 TP 2490 Still no smoke visible. Turned away over ENFIDAVILLE.1435 8000 ENFIDA S/C 172 Base.1500 EL DJEM Last A/C landed.PART B (on reverse) to be completed according to relevant pro-forma in H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. Instruction 34./PMEJ - 200.000 - 3/42 P.T.O.
Transcriber's Notes
- Oprep. Ref. No
- Operational Report Reference Number.
- SAAF
- South African Air Force.
- Baltimores
- Martin Baltimore twin-engine light bombers, the primary aircraft type utilized by 21 Squadron for medium-level tactical interdiction.
- D.F.C
- Distinguished Flying Cross.
- A/C
- Aircraft.
- L.G
- Landing Ground.
- Base
- Refers to the squadron's home aerodrome, El Djem Main.
- S/C
- Set Course.
- TP
- Turning Point (referring to specific map coordinates).
- 7 SA Wing
- 7 South African Wing, providing fighter escort (typically Supermarine Spitfires) for the bomber formation.
R.A.F. Form 441 A.: Standard Royal Air Force form utilized for reporting narrative and technical details of a combat sortie.
deg.: Degrees (compass heading).