Operation

P O S T A G R A M. 52 To : 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/339. Date : 14 JUL 43. OPREP NO. 339 for period ending 2100 hrs on 14 JUL 43. OPERATION NO. - (REF MAP SICILIA 1:500,000 NE 36/12.) A. Seven aircraft took off from 2158 hrs LT to 2250 hrs LT at approximately 5 to 10 minute intervals. The target was the roads and any MT seen in areas B5228, C3305 and H0677. Bombs and incendiaries were dropped from 2307 hrs to 0028 hrs from 2500/5000’ above ground level. Last aircraft landed base 0145 hrs. Bombs straddled 10 MT and incendiaries started a fire at CALTANISETTA Village. Bomb bursts near 6 MT on the road near LEONFORTE and a stick of six straddled a cutting at 09055. One top gunner straffed a row of large MT at RAFFADALI and started a fire. Slight and inaccurate LAA from CALTANISETTA and one S/L from C3805. Weather good. B. Baltimores: 4 Mk IIIA and 3 Mk III. C. (i) (ii) NIL. D. 18 hrs 40 mins. E. (i) 4 Mk IIIA: 12800 x .30; 2800 x .5; 1200 x .303. 3 Mk III : 9600 x .30; 6900 x .303. (ii) Mk IIIA : 250 x .5. (iii) NIL. F. (i) 4 Mk IIIA: 24 x 250 GP 43 Det Rods. 60 x 4lb Incendiaries. 6 x 4.5 Recce Flares No. 6. 16000 Pamphlets (Mussolini 28 Nov. 40). 3 Mk III: 18 x 250 GP 43 Det Rods. 90 x 4lb Incendiaries. 6 x 4.5 Recce Flares No. 6. 12000 Pamphlets (Mussolini 28 Nov. 40). (ii) As in F(1). (iii) (iv) NIL. G. (i) (ii) (iii) NIL. H. NIL. J. NIL. V. (i) (ii) NIL. W. (i) 6 IIIA; 2 III; (ii) NIL. X. (i) IIIA 5.25 hrs. III 2 hrs; (ii) NIL. Y - Z. NIL. (Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt. SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.

1943-07-14

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded: * 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. * hrs LT: hours Local Time. * MT: Motor Transport. * Mk: Mark (referring to aircraft version). * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Det Rods: Detonator Rods (likely the 6-inch standoff rods used to trigger lateral blast). * Recce: Reconnaissance (flares). * LAA: Light Anti-Aircraft. * S/L: Searchlight. * Route and Tactical Observations: * Staggered Departure: The seven aircraft departed in a staggered formation between 2158 and 2250 hrs LT, striking targets over a 90-minute window. * Low-Level Tactics: Unlike the high-altitude port strikes of the previous nights, these "armed recce" missions were flown at much lower altitudes, between 2,500 and 5,000 feet above ground level, to allow for the visual identification of motor transport on the roads. * Aggressive Engagement: The report notes a "top gunner" strafing a row of large motor transport vehicles at Raffadali, demonstrating the aggressive, multi-role nature of the Baltimore crews during this phase. * Ordnance and Psychological Warfare: * Bomb Load: The formation dropped 42 x 250 lb GP bombs and 150 incendiaries. * Ammunition: There was a massive expenditure of defensive and offensive ammunition, totaling over 32,000 rounds across three calibers (.30, .303, and .50), reflecting the intensity of low-level strafing runs. * Propaganda Drop: A unique feature of this mission was the delivery of 28,000 pamphlets titled "Mussolini 28 Nov. 40". This was part of a psychological warfare campaign aimed at eroding Italian morale by reminding them of past failures or specific speeches. * Individuals Mentioned: * Captain J.S. Bester: The SIO who certified this technically complex report involving multiple aircraft types and tasks. * Location and Historical Context: * Operational Area: The mission targeted the interior logistical nodes of Caltanissetta, Leonforte, and Raffadali. These towns sit on the primary routes used by Axis forces to move reinforcements from the north toward the central Sicilian front. * Modern Names: All three towns—Caltanissetta, Leonforte, and Raffadali—remain significant municipalities in modern Sicily. * Operation HUSKY Momentum: Flown on the night of July 13/14, 1943 (D+4), this mission highlights the shift in Allied air strategy. As ground forces pushed further inland, 21 Squadron's role was to conduct "armed reconnaissance" to paralyze Axis mobility on the narrow, twisting Sicilian roads. 74 The date written in the 'Date' column of the sortie report is 13/14 Jul 43.