Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 13 JULY 43
- Took off
- 0220 hrs
P O S T A G R A M.49To : 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.
Transcriber's Notes
- 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.
- Mk
- Mark (aircraft version).
- GP
- General Purpose (bomb type).
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:
hrs LT: hours Local Time.
Route and Tactical Observations:
Ordnance and Armament Analysis:
Observations about Individuals:
Historical and Location Context: