Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Duty
- Medium level bombing attack on battery positions 19 & 19A. Time Height. Place
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)'D' 141No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 306Date. 6 JUN 43Squadron. 21 SAAF.Type of Aircraft. 12 Baltimores (6 Mk. 3 and 6 Mk. 3 A) See reverse.Aircraft No.Aircraft Letter.CaptainCrew.Formation Leader:Maj. JandrellLt. Christie (Observer)See reverse.Time Up. 0825 hrs. L.T. (1st A/C)Time Down. 1000 hrs. L.T. (Last A/C)Total Time. 17 hrs. 00 mins.Aerodrome or L.G. SOLIMAN NORTH L.G.Amount of Cloud. Nil.Base of Cloud. ---Visibility. Very good.General Weather. Good.Map or Chart Reference. 1:500,000 FRENCH NORTH AFRICA Sheet NJ.32.SE. TUNISPANTELLERIA Map Substitute Sheet 1A.Target or Duty. Medium level bombing attack on battery positions 19 & 19A.Time Height. Place. Narrative.0825 SOLIMAN Airborne.0837 2000 " S/C Rendezvous point 050 deg.0840 2000 R/Pt. S/C Target 093 deg. with fighter escort (33 & 99 Bomber Escort USAAF)0916 7200 TARGET Bombed on course of 127 deg. Left hand turn off target0917 7000 " S/C RAS MELAH.0942 1400 R.MELAH S/C GULF of TUNIS 270 deg.0955 1000 BASE1000 SOLIMAN 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.P.T.O.R/PMEJ - 200,000 - 3/42Part "B"BA Battery positions Nos. 19 & 19 A (Ref. Map: PANTELLERIA Map :Substitute Sheet 1A.BB 0916 hrs. L.T.BC Medium level bombing attack from 6750 ft. Course 127 deg.12 x 500 lb. S/A/P 49 Det. .025 delay-tail fuzed.12 x 500 lb. GP 49 Det. .025 delay. Tail fuzed.24 x 500 lb. M/C 49 Det. .025 delay. Tail fuzed.BD The formation attacked the target from the sea in two boxes of 6.No. 2 box being slightly below and to the starboard of the leadbox. The first box undershot the target and the bombs fell intothe sea and on the beach towards the target. No. 2 box hit theSouthern edge of the target in a tight pattern. No results obs...BE Moderate HAA and LAA, with an increasing volume of bursts overtarget. Inaccurate. (See also bomber combat report.)BF One A/C Cat. 1 (HAA) 930 K.Two A/C Cat. 1 (Enemy fighter action) 291 U & 181 T.Sgt. W.C. McQueen R.C.A.F. No. 87601 seriously wounded in A/C 291 U.BG Verticals and obliques of bomb-bursts. Speed 210 IAS. Course 127.Height 6750 ft.BH ME 109 F seen smoking after dog-fight.One unidentified A/C appeared to be out of control in spiral dive4 miles NORTH of target.One twin-engined A/C flying low Northwards NORTH of target at 0925. List of A/C and Crews:
176 YY Maj. Jandrell, Lt. Christie, F/Sgts. Pearce & le Roux.957 W Lt. Wood, Lt. Gould, F/Sgts. Purdon & Groenewald.[Strike-through: 221 Y Lt. Eaton, Lt. McDermot, F/Sgt. Freestone (RNZAF) & F/Sgt. Gilder]142 P Maj. Schravesande, Lt. Campbell, F/Sgts. Meyer & Stopforth.291 U Lt. Hargrave, Lt. Rees, [Strike-through: XX]Sgt. McQueen (RCAF) & F/Sgt. Bedford.181 T Lt. Simpson, Lt. Handley, F/Sgts. Roberts V.P. & Shepperson.345vE Capt. McBride, Lt. Pickerill, F/Sgts. Daniels & White.930 K Lt. Hamilton, Lt. Whittle, F/Sgts. Hodgkinson & Phelan.290 C Lt. Blieden, Lt. Rose, F/Sgts. Jarvis & Perkins.977 L Lt. Meredith, Lt. Herring, F/Sgt. Smith S.C. & F/Sgt: Prout (RAF).352 D Lt. Dugmore, Lt. Masters, F/Sgts. Maasdorp & Rogers C.L.271 F Lt. Guard, Lt. Forssman, F/Sgt. Green & Sgt. Cleland (RCAF).Cf. X above:221 Y Lt. Eaton, Lt. McDermot, F/Sgt. Freestone (RNZAF) & F/Sgt. Gilder F/L Formation Leader. B/L Box Leader. V/L Vic Leader.
[Signature] .................. Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.