Sortie Report (Form 541)
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)NIGHT OPN 107Sheet No.Oprep. Ref. No. 378Date. 16/17 Aug 43Squadron. 21 SAAF ADVType of Aircraft. 4 Baltimore Mk 3AAircraft No. )Aircraft Letter. ) as per listLeader of formation.Captain CAPT. ORD.Crew. LT. HODGES.Other aircraft followed similar courses at 10 min intervals.Time Up. 0050 hrs LT 1st aircraftTime Down. 0355 hrs LT last aircraftTotal Time. 11 hrs 30 minsAerodrome or L.G. LUCAType of Cloud. CuAmount of Cloud. 1/10 - 4/10Base of Cloud. 5000 ft TopsVisibility. 8/10 milesGeneral Weather. Hazy but goodMap or Chart Reference.MESSINA 1:500,000 NE38/14SICILIA 1:500,000 NE36/12Task or Duty. ARMD RECCE ROAD PELLARO POINT (D435270) - GIOIA TAURO| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 0051 | | Luca | Airborne || 0052 | 500 | | S/c GOZO || 0058 | 1500 | Gozo | S/c GELA || 0124 | 5500 | Gela | S/c NICOSIA || 0139 | 7000 | Nicosia | S/c RANDAZZO || 0152 | 7500 | Randazzo | S/c NE tip SICILY || 0208 | 9000 | NE tip SICILY | S/c CANITELLO || 0210- | | | || 0215 | 7500 | Canitello | Searched and bombed roads. || 0229 | 6000 | Gioia | S/c FALCONE || 0230 | 6500 | Falcone | S/c NICOSIA || 0232- | | | || 0241 | 5500 | Nicosia | S/c GELA || 0258 | 2000 | Gela | S/c GOZO || 0318 | 1400 | Gozo | S/c FILFLA || 0325 | 1000 | Filfla | S/c LUCA || 0326 | | Luca | || 0339 | | | Landed. || | | | || 0355 | | | Last aircraft landed. |(Signature: illegible) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON SAAF.BA Armd recce road PELLARO POINT (D435270) - GIOIA TAUROBB From 0207 hrs LT to 0215 hrs LTBC Medium level bombing 6500/8500 ft120 x 40 lbs.1 Container 8 x 40 lb brought to base - incorrect selector used.BD NMS. 3 S/Ls at VILLA S GIOVANNI extinguished immediately after bombing cluster of 4 S/Ls. NO other results observed. All bombs exploded on roads and across river bed SOUTH of REGGIO DI CALABRIA.24 x 40 SOUTH REGGIO DI CALABRIA16 x 40 VILLA SAN GIOVANNI (S/Ls)16 x 40 EAST REGGIO DI CALABRIA16 x 40 SCILLA8 x 40 NORTH BAGNARA8 x 40 PALMI32 x 40 FORK ROADS GRIMOLDOBE 4 bursts HAA at VILLA S GIOVANNI inaccurate.LAA D2560.10 S/Ls seen VILLA SAN GIOVANNI, fairly accurate - some seen area REGGIO DI CALABRIA not directed against own aircraftBF NIL.BG NIL.BH 1 flare dropped by another aircraft GIOIA at 4500 ft, 2 flares seen VILLA S GIOVANNI at 0210 hrs, 6 flares around Southern tip and towards EAST.Steady red light D2637 at 0224 hrs.Series of 8 lights in Red, Green, Yellow order seen SOUTH REGGIO DI CALABRIA at 0214 hrsExplosions, as of bombs just NORTH of VILLA S GIOVANNI.Gun flashes MESSINA area, 2 steady lights MESSINA harbour.2 Destroyers NE course 0220 hrs in gulf of MILAZZO3 fires along road area D2560.Fires at USRIA (C7840)MT lights NICOSIA areaBeacons MALTA and GELA seen and correct.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.226 H Capt ORD, Lt. HODGES, F/Sgt WALKER, Sgt DEVENISH221 Y Lts. EATON & GOULD, F/Sgt FREESTONE (NZAF) & VAN ROOYEN291 U Capt SMIT, Lt. KAY, 2/Lts. PURDON & WRIGHT344 X Capt. SAUNDERS, Lt. BOOYSE, F/Sgt. MOORE, Sgt. EARP-JONES.
Transcriber's Notes
- R.A.F
- Royal Air Force.
- NIGHT OP
- Night Operation.
- Oprep. Ref. No
- Operational Report Reference Number.
- SAAF ADV
- South African Air Force Advanced (Headquarters).
- Mk 3A
- Mark 3A (designating the specific version of the Baltimore aircraft).
- LT
- Local Time.
- L.G
- Landing Ground.
- Cu
- Cumulus (cloud type).
- S/c
- Set Course.
- NE
- North-East.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
hrs LT: hours Local Time.
ft: feet.
NE tip SICILY: North-East tip of Sicily (Capo Peloro area).
Pellaro Point (Pellaro) to Gioia Tauro (Italy): This mission targeted the southern coast of the Italian mainland (Calabria).
Armd recce: Armed Reconnaissance.
ft: feet.
lbs: pounds (referring to 40 lb fragmentation bombs).
(NZAF): New Zealand Air Force (referring to Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel). Personnel and Operational Observations
Reggio di Calabria: A major port city opposite Messina.
Gulf of Milazzo: Two German or Italian destroyers were sighted at 0220 hrs heading North-East, likely providing the final escort for evacuation barges.