**

P O S T A G R A M. W. Diary 24 To : HQ.RAF.ME. From : SIO. 21 SQUADRON SAAF. Serial No. 21 Sqdn/ 327. Date : 6 July 43. OPREP NO. 327 for period ending 1800 hrs 6 July 43. A. TRAPANI/MILO A/D. B. 3 Mk 3 and 3 Mk 3A BALTIMORES. C. (i) Level Bombing: (ii) 8/10,500 ft: (iii) 0410 to 0414 hrs LT. D. (i) 29 x 250 GP 43 Dets. (Rods) ** (1 x 250 GP 43 Dets (Rods) Hangup brought back.)** ** (ii) Nil.** ** (iii) One stick straddled the A/D. The rest fell on the NE, NW and Western boundaries of A/D. NO fires started.** E. Nil. F. Nil. G. Unknown. H. (1) 0252 hrs. LT. ** (ii) 14 hrs 15 mins.** J. 4/10 – 10/10 Strata-Cumulus Tops 3500 ft Cape Bon-Sicilia. ** Clear over target.** K. HAA intense at times, inaccurate. ** LAA slight, inaccurate.** ** 20 Searchlights from ST. VITO to SOUTH of A/D, fairly inaccurate.** ** 5 Searchlights from FAVIGNANA ISLANDS, inaccurate.** Comm: Nil. TOO 1800 hrs. 6 Jul.43. (Signature: J. S. Besson) Captain. SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.

1943-07-06

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations Expanded: * HQ.RAF.ME.: Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * SAAF: South African Air Force. * OPREP: Operational Report. * hrs: hours. * A/D: Aerodrome (Airfield). * Mk: Mark. * ft: feet. * LT: Local Time. * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Dets: Detonators. * NE, NW: North-East, North-West. * HAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft. * LAA: Light Anti-Aircraft. * ST. VITO: San Vito Lo Capo. * TOO: Time of Origin. * Observations about Individuals: * Captain J. S. Besson: As the Squadron Intelligence Officer, Besson was responsible for the interrogation of crews and the compilation of these reports. This mission followed the catastrophic losses of July 3, 1943, where Besson had to report four aircraft missing and multiple airmen killed or captured. * Information about the Location: * Trapani/Milo Aerodrome: A critical Axis airfield in Western Sicily. * Modern Name: Today, the area is largely occupied by the city of Trapani, with the former military airfield now part of the urban fabric or specialized facilities; military flight operations moved to the nearby Trapani-Birgi Airport. * Favignana Islands: Located off the west coast of Sicily, these islands were strategic points for Axis defensive searchlights and anti-aircraft batteries. * Historical Theatre Context: * Operation HUSKY Interdiction: This raid on July 6, 1943, was part of the final week of intense air operations preceding the Allied invasion of Sicily on July 10. The goal was to neutralize Axis airfields to prevent their aircraft from interfering with the invasion fleet. * Tactical Shift: After the devastating loss of four Baltimores during a medium-level strike on this same target three days prior, the use of only six aircraft (3 Mk 3 and 3 Mk 3A) for a pre-dawn strike (0410 LT) indicates a shift in tactics to minimize exposure to accurate daytime flak and fighters. * The Martin Baltimore: The squadron was operating the Martin Baltimore, a light-medium bomber that was the backbone of the SAAF's contribution to the Tactical Bomber Force in the Mediterranean. 31 The date written in the 'Date' column of the Sortie Report is 5/6 July 43.