Sortie Report (Form 541)
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)2nd OP OF DAY92Sheet No.Oprep. Ref. No. 359Date. 31 Jul 43Squadron. 21 SAAF ADVType of Aircraft. 12 BALTIMORES (2 Mk 3, 9 Mk 3A, 1 Mk 4)Aircraft No. ) as per listAircraft Letter. )Leader of Formation.Captain MAJOR CORMACKCrew. LT. LOMBAARDTime Up. 1427 hrs LT 1st aircraftTime Down. 1641 hrs LT last aircraftTotal Time. 25 hrsAerodrome or L.G. HALFARType of Cloud. S/Cu and CuAmount of Cloud. 6/10 - 8/10Base of Cloud. 7000 ft Tops 13500 ft varyingVisibility. Fair through breaksGeneral Weather. HazyMap or Chart Reference.1: 500,000 SICILIANE 36/12.Task or Duty. ROADS IN ST MARIE DI LICODIA.| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 1427 | | Halfar | Airborne || | 1800 | | S/c PALAZZOLO || 1457 | 6500 | Palazzolo | S Cu 7/10 base 7000 ft. || 1512 | 10,200 | | S/c TARGET || 1525 | 12,500 | Gerbini | Turned back to rendezvous cloud 8/10-10/10ths S/Cu. Tops 13500. Target area 10/10 s/Cu. Coast clear, visibility 2/3 miles. || | 5500 | Palazzolo | S/c BASE || 1600 | 3000 | Pozzallo | 175° - 7 miles. Bombs jettisoned on leader. || 1625 | 1500 | Halfar | || | | | Landed || 1641 | | | Last aircraft landed. |(Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- R.A.F
- Royal Air Force.
- Oprep. Ref. No
- Operational Report Reference Number.
- SAAF ADV
- South African Air Force Advanced (Headquarters).
- Mk
- Mark (designating aircraft version).
- LT
- Local Time.
- L.G
- Landing Ground.
- S/c
- Set Course. Personnel and Command Observations
- SIO
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
S/Cu and Cu: Stratocumulus and Cumulus (cloud types).
ft: feet.
Santa Maria di Licodia (ST MARIE DI LICODIA): The intended target, a strategic road junction on the slopes of Mount Etna. Modern name unchanged.