Operation

P O S T A G R A M. 49 To : HQ.RAF.ME. HQ. NAAF (attention 23rd SCORU). N.A.T.A.F. (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU). SIO. TBF. From : SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF. Ref : 21 S/338. Date : 13 JULY 43. OPREP NO. 338 for period ending 2100 hrs LT on 13 JULY 43. OPERATION NO. – (REF MAP SICILIA 1:500,000 NE 36/12.) A. 4 aircraft, 2 of which pathfinders, took off 0220 hrs and bombed TERMINI IMERESE HARBOUR from 10000' at 0345 to 0405 hrs, landed base 0550 hrs LT. NO shipping seen and HARBOUR area attacked. Bombs bursting across base of mole; in central Dock area and in Town near Docks. NO results observed. B. Baltimores 2 Mk III and 2 Mk IIIA. C. (i) (ii) NIL. D. 12 hrs. E. (i) Mk III 6400 x .30, 4600 x .303; 2 Mk IIIA 6400 x .30; 1400 x .5; 600 x .303. (ii) (iii) NIL. F. (i) Mk III 6 x 250 GP 43 Det. 10 Flares 4.5. Recce (No. 10) Incendiaries 360 x 4lb. Mk IIIA 12 x 250 GP 43 Det. 6 Flares 4.5. Recce (No. 10). (ii) Mk III 6 x 250 GP 43 Det. 10 Flares 4.5. Recce; 180 x 4lb Incendiaries (Rest hung up. Brought back to base). Mk IIIA 12 x 250 GP 43 Det. 6 Flares 4.5. Recce (No. 10) (iii) (iv) NIL. G. (i) (ii) (iii) NIL. H. NIL. J. (i) (ii) NIL. V. (i) (ii) NIL. W. (i) 6 Mk IIIA (ii) NIL. X. (i) 4.45 hrs (ii) NIL. Y. NIL. Z. NIL. (Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt. SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.

1943-07-13

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded: * HQ.RAF.ME.: Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. * NAAF: Northwest African Air Forces. * SCORU: Section Control and Operational Research Unit. * N.A.T.A.F.: Northwest African Tactical Air Force. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * TBF: Tactical Bomber Force. * SAAF: South African Air Force. * OPREP: Operational Report. * hrs LT: hours Local Time. * GP: General Purpose (bomb type). * Det.: Detonator. * Recce: Reconnaissance (referring to illumination flares). * Mk: Mark (aircraft version). * Route and Tactical Observations: * Timing: This was a pre-dawn night strike, with takeoff at 02:20 hrs LT and the attack occurring between 03:45 and 04:05 hrs LT. The aircraft landed back at base just before 06:00 hrs, concluding a nearly 3.5-hour sortie. * Formation Roles: The four-aircraft formation included two specialized pathfinders responsible for target illumination. The deployment of 16 No. 10 Recce flares (10 from the Mk III pathfinders and 6 from the Mk IIIA) provided the necessary light to identify the harbor in the dark. * Targeting and Results: While no shipping was sighted in the harbor, the bombing was concentrated on the "base of mole" and the "central Dock area". Some ordnance drifted into the "Town near Docks". * Technical Issues: One aircraft experienced a malfunction where a significant portion of its incendiaries "hung up" in the bomb bay and had to be brought back to base. * Ordnance and Armament Analysis: * Bomb Load: The formation dropped a total of 18 x 250 lb GP bombs and approximately 180 x 4 lb incendiaries (with another 180 failing to release). * Defensive Armament: The report lists a significant expenditure of ammunition, including .50 caliber, .303, and .30 caliber rounds. This suggests that despite the "night" classification, the crews were prepared for—or engaged in—air-to-ground strafing or defensive fire against harbor anti-aircraft positions. * Observations about Individuals: * Captain J.S. Bester: As the SIO (Squadron Intelligence Officer), Bester certified this technical OPREP. His role was to synthesize crew debriefings into actionable intelligence for the Northwest African Tactical Air Force. * Historical and Location Context: * Termini Imerese Harbour, Sicily: Located on the northern coast, this port was a critical supply hub for Axis forces. Modern Termini Imerese remains an industrial and commercial port city. * Invasion Context (Operation HUSKY): Flown on the night of July 13, 1943 (D+3), this mission continued the Allied strategy of isolating the Sicilian interior by destroying logistical nodes on the northern coast. * The Martin Baltimore: 21 Squadron operated both the Mk III and Mk IIIA versions. The Mk III was typically utilized for pathfinding and illumination due to its reliable flare-dropping capabilities, while the Mk IIIA provided the main strike power. 68 The date written in the 'Date' line of the postagram is 13 JULY 43.