Sortie Report (Form 541)
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)88Sheet No.Oprep. Ref. No. 357Date. 30 Jul 43Squadron. 21 SAAF ADVType of Aircraft. 12 BALTIMORES (10 Mk 3A, 2 Mk 3)Aircraft No. ) as per listAircraft Letter. )Leader of Formation.Captain MAJOR JANDRELL.Crew. LT. CHRISTIE.Time Up. 1035 LT 1st aircraft.Time Down. 1246 LT last aircraftTotal Time. 24 hoursAerodrome or L.G. HALFARType of Cloud. S/Cu )Amount of Cloud. 2/10 ) OVERBase of Cloud. 6500, 8000ft Tops ) TARGETVisibility. 15 miles through breaks ) AREAGeneral Weather.Map or Chart Reference.1. 1:500,000 SICILIA NE. 36/12.2. 1:100,000 PATERNO Sheet 269Task or Duty. GUN POSITIONS AND STRONG POINTS H7393.| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 1035 | | Halfar | Airborne || 1050 | 2000 | Malta | Set course PALAZZOLO || 1115 | 6500 | Pozzallo | Crossed South coast of Sicily. || 1119 | 6300 | Palazzolo | Picked up escort. Set course target. || 1200 | 10000 | Target | Bombed. || 1205 | 9500 | | Set course PALAZZOLO || 1230 | 4100 | Palazzolo | Dropped fighters. Set course BASE. || 1235 | 2500 | Pozzallo | Crossed coast of Sicily. || 1245 | 2000 | Malta | Over Base. || | | Halfar | Landed. || 1246 | | | Last aircraft landed. |(Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- R.A.F
- Royal Air Force.
- Oprep. Ref. No
- Operational Report Reference Number.
- SAAF ADV
- South African Air Force Advanced (Headquarters).
- LT
- Local Time.
- L.G
- Landing Ground.
- S/Cu
- Stratocumulus (cloud type).
- NE
- North-East.
- Pozzallo
- A coastal town in southern Sicily used as the "landfall" and departure point for the crossing from and to Malta. Historical Context (Operation HUSKY)
- SIO
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded