LUCA

R.A.F. Form 441 A. SORTIE REPORT (Part A.) NIGHT OP N 107 Sheet No. Oprep. Ref. No. 378 Date. 16/17 Aug 43 Squadron. 21 SAAF ADV Type of Aircraft. 4 Baltimore Mk 3A Aircraft No. ) Aircraft Letter. ) as per list Leader of formation. Captain CAPT. ORD. Crew. LT. HODGES. Other aircraft followed similar courses at 10 min intervals. Time Up. 0050 hrs LT 1st aircraft Time Down. 0355 hrs LT last aircraft Total Time. 11 hrs 30 mins Aerodrome or L.G. LUCA Type of Cloud. Cu Amount of Cloud. 1/10 - 4/10 Base of Cloud. 5000 ft Tops Visibility. 8/10 miles General Weather. Hazy but good Map or Chart Reference. MESSINA 1:500,000 NE38/14 SICILIA 1:500,000 NE36/12 Task 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 TAURO BB From 0207 hrs LT to 0215 hrs LT BC Medium level bombing 6500/8500 ft 120 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 CALABRIA 16 x 40 VILLA SAN GIOVANNI (S/Ls) 16 x 40 EAST REGGIO DI CALABRIA 16 x 40 SCILLA 8 x 40 NORTH BAGNARA 8 x 40 PALMI 32 x 40 FORK ROADS GRIMOLDO BE 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 aircraft BF 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 hrs Explosions, 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 MILAZZO 3 fires along road area D2560. Fires at USRIA (C7840) MT lights NICOSIA area Beacons MALTA and GELA seen and correct. LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW. 226 H Capt ORD, Lt. HODGES, F/Sgt WALKER, Sgt DEVENISH 221 Y Lts. EATON & GOULD, F/Sgt FREESTONE (NZAF) & VAN ROOYEN 291 U Capt SMIT, Lt. KAY, 2/Lts. PURDON & WRIGHT 344 X Capt. SAUNDERS, Lt. BOOYSE, F/Sgt. MOORE, Sgt. EARP-JONES.

1943-08-17 LUCA

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded * 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). * hrs LT: hours Local Time. * L.G.: Landing Ground. * Cu: Cumulus (cloud type). * ft: feet. * ARMD RECCO: Armed Reconnaissance. * S/c: Set Course. * NE tip SICILY: North-East tip of Sicily (Capo Peloro area). * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. Personnel and Operational Observations * Captain Ord and Lieutenant Hodges: This veteran crew led the 4-aircraft detachment for the final night of the Sicilian campaign. Captain Ord was one of the squadron's primary tactical leads, frequently chosen for missions requiring precise night navigation over the mountainous volcanic interior. * Intruder Tactics: The aircraft flew a "stream" formation, following similar courses at 10-minute intervals. This was a realistic necessity for night interdiction, ensuring a persistent presence over the narrow Calabrian coastal roads to trap and harass retreating Axis columns while avoiding mid-air collisions in the dark. * Captain J.S. Bester (SIO): While the signature on this final Sicily report is difficult to read, the certifying officer reflects the high administrative standards of 21 Squadron's Intelligence section throughout the operation. Location and Tactical Reality * Pellaro Point (Pellaro) to Gioia Tauro (Italy): This mission targeted the southern coast of the Italian mainland (Calabria). * Pellaro: A coastal town south of Reggio di Calabria (modern name unchanged). * Gioia Tauro: A major logistical node on the Italian side of the straits (modern name unchanged). * Cannitello (CANITELLO): Modern name Cannitello. A coastal village directly across the narrowest point of the Messina straits. The formation "searched and bombed roads" here at an altitude of 7,500 feet, striking at the literal exit point of the Axis ferry system. * Falcone (FALCONE): A town on the northern coast of Sicily used as a navigational turn point after the bombing run. Modern name unchanged. * Luca (Luqa): The detachment operated from the RAF Luqa airfield on Malta, which offered the necessary runway length for fully-laden medium bombers. * Filfla: A small islet south of Malta used as a final visual waypoint at 1,000 feet to align for the approach to Luqa. Historical Context: The End of Operation HUSKY * August 16/17, 1943: This was the final mission of the Sicilian campaign. By the morning of August 17, the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division would enter Messina, effectively ending Axis resistance on the island. * The Final Bridgehead: The "Task or Duty" of armed reconnaissance along the Calabrian coast was the last attempt to degrade the escaping German forces. Despite the intense Allied air campaign, nearly 40,000 German and 62,000 Italian troops successfully crossed to the mainland. * The Martin Baltimore: These night intruder missions from Malta were essential for maintaining 24-hour pressure during the only hours the Axis could attempt to move their heavy equipment. The Baltimore's speed and altitude performance over the 90-mile sea crossing proved critical in turning the narrow Italian coastal highways into a gauntlet of persistent danger during the campaign's closing hours. 163 The date written in the 'Date' column of the associated Sortie Report (found on page) is 16/17 Aug 43. TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded * Armd recce: Armed Reconnaissance. * LT: Local Time. * ft: feet. * lbs: pounds (referring to 40 lb fragmentation bombs). * NMS: No Movement Seen. * S/Ls: Searchlights. * HAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery. * LAA: Light Anti-Aircraft artillery. * NE: North-East. * MT: Motor Transport. * (NZAF): New Zealand Air Force (referring to Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel). Personnel and Operational Observations * Captain Ord (Formation Leader): Led the final night "stream" in Baltimore 226 H. This crew faced significant Axis searchlight activity, reporting that three searchlights at Villa San Giovanni were extinguished only after they successfully bombed a cluster of four. * Multinational SAAF Crews: The integration of Commonwealth personnel is again evident with F/Sgt Freestone (NZAF) flying in the crew of aircraft 221 Y. * Technical Fault: A container of eight bombs was brought back to base by one aircraft due to an "incorrect selector used," a common stress-related equipment error during high-intensity operations. Location and Tactical Intelligence * Calabrian Coast (Italy): The mission targeted the exit routes on the Italian mainland. * Pellaro Point / Pellaro: South of Reggio di Calabria. * Villa San Giovanni: The primary ferry terminal for the Messina straits. * Reggio di Calabria: A major port city opposite Messina. * Scilla, Bagnara, and Palmi: These towns (modern names unchanged) follow the coastal highway heading north through Calabria. * Grimoldo: Refers to Grumolo or a local fork in the road near the coast. * Gulf of Milazzo: Two German or Italian destroyers were sighted at 0220 hrs heading North-East, likely providing the final escort for evacuation barges. * Pyrotechnic Intelligence: The report records a complex array of signals: flares from other aircraft, a "steady red light" at grid D2637, and a sequential series of Red, Green, and Yellow lights south of Reggio. These were likely Axis signal codes used to coordinate the final chaotic movements of troops into ferry zones. Historical Context: The End of Sicily (Operation HUSKY) * August 16/17, 1943: This document records the final operational mission of the Sicily campaign for 21 Squadron SAAF. At 0200 hrs on August 17, the Axis evacuation (Operation Lehrgang) was nearly complete, with the final rearguards blowing up infrastructure behind them—evidenced by the "gun flashes" and fires reported in Messina. * The Martin Baltimore: On this final sortie, the Baltimores utilized 40 lb fragmentation bombs to saturate the Calabrian roads. By striking the literal doorstep of the Italian mainland at Villa San Giovanni and Reggio, the SAAF attempted to catch the very last elements of the German 14th Panzer Corps as they stepped off their evacuation barges. * Total Victory: The sighting of Allied MT lights in the Nicosia area of Sicily with their headlights on confirms that the island was effectively secured, and Allied air dominance was so absolute that ground transport no longer needed to maintain blackout conditions. 164 The date written in the 'Date' column of target file 276-1__164.jpg is 17/18 Aug 43.