K. Spasmodic HAA from LG area. 1 HAA gun on coast on turn off from target.

P O S T A G R A M. W. Diary 27 To : HQ.RAF.ME. From : SIO 21 SQUADRON.SAAF. Serial No : 21S/328. Date : 7 Jul 43. OPREP NO. 328 for period ending 1800 hrs 7 JUL 43. A. SCIACCA LG. B. 1 Mk III and 1 Mk IIIA BALTIMORES. C. (i) Level bombing : (ii) 10/11000 ft : (iii) 0407/0412 hrs LT. D. (i) 12 x 250 GP (Rods) 43 Det : (ii) Nil. (iii) 3 in long stick short SE of LG., 3 in long stick considered across LG., 6 in salvo - Jettison - over target area as per ETA gauged from sight of coast EAST of SCIACCA TOWN. Results NOT observed. One fire near LG on arrival - small fires from incendiaries. LG NOT identified. E.F. Nil. G. Unknown. H. (1) 0315 hrs LT. : (ii) 5 hrs 45 mins. J. Visibility bad. Dense haze. Cirro-Cumulus over SICILY base 15000 ft. target. K. Spasmodic HAA from LG area. 1 HAA gun on coast on turn off from target. 3/4 searchlights in target area, fairly accurate, one white, rest blue. Comm: 1.23 hrs. TOO 1800 hrs 7 Jul 43. (Signature: J. S. Besson) Capt. SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.

1943-07-07

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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. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * SAAF: South African Air Force. * OPREP: Operational Report. * LG: Landing Ground. * Mk: Mark (referring to the aircraft version). * ft: feet. * hrs LT: hours Local Time. * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Det: Detonator. * SE: South-East. * ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival. * HAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft. * TOO: Time of Origin. * Observations about Individuals Mentioned: * Captain J. S. Besson: The SIO (Squadron Intelligence Officer) for 21 Squadron. His signature appears on multiple reports from this period, indicating his central role in compiling operational data and intelligence during the lead-up to the invasion of Sicily. * The Aircrews: While not named on this specific page, the crews of the two Baltimores involved faced significant navigational challenges. The "Visibility bad" and "Dense haze" forced them to gauge their target area based on their Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) after sighting the coast. * Information about the Location: * Sciacca LG (Landing Ground): An Axis satellite airfield in southwestern Sicily. * Modern Name: Today, Sciacca is a prominent coastal town in the Province of Agrigento, Italy. The former military landing grounds in the vicinity have largely been reclaimed by the local landscape. * Coast East of Sciacca Town: Used as a navigational landmark to help the crews calculate their run-in to the airfield amidst the poor visibility. * Historical Theatre Context: * Pre-Invasion Attrition: This mission occurred on July 7, 1943, just three days before Operation HUSKY, the Allied invasion of Sicily. Neutralizing Axis landing grounds like Sciacca was a priority to ensure the massive invasion fleet would not be vulnerable to air attack. * Tactical Resilience: Following the heavy losses of July 3, the squadron continued to launch small-scale strikes, often at night or in the pre-dawn hours (0315 hrs LT takeoff), to keep pressure on the Axis while minimizing their own casualties. * Searchlight Tactics: The report notes the use of blue searchlights in addition to white ones. Blue searchlights were often used by Axis defenders to avoid blinding their own anti-aircraft gunners while still tracking Allied aircraft. * The Martin Baltimore: The squadron utilized both Mark III and Mark IIIA variants of the Baltimore light-medium bomber during this phase of the war. 35 The date written in the 'Date' column of the Sortie Report is 6/7 Jul 43.