Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA. MT and BRIDGES and RECCO of RD AGRIGENTO-PALERMO.BB. 2239 hrs to 2259 hrs LT.BC. Medium Level. 5/6000 ft. 2 aircraft attacked NORTH to SOUTH,2 aircraft attacked SOUTH to NORTH.16 x 500 lbs GP 43 Det (50% NDT) (2 bombs in rear bay of oneaircraft had 6" Rods).BD. There were numerous small fires (grass?) in the area near target.Two aircraft search the road which are very twisting and linedwith trees or woods; from 100' to 500' above ground level andfound little movement. Only four MT were seen, 3 miles NORTHof PRIZZI and 1 NORTH of PLATANI and attacked. NO results ob-served. Bombs were aimed at the road and at bridges in Sq 84010.Near misses claimed on one. One bomb was dropped in a defile atFILAGA. Near miss claimed.BE. Slight inaccurate HAA from PLATANI area (where the gun positionsflashed an unidentified code at aircraft before firing.)BF. NIL.BG. NIL.BH. Blinding flash seen in PRIZZI area at 2230 hrs. Explosion NW ofAGRIGENTO and glow at 2303 hrs.Own Naval Forces being attacked in GELA Gulf. Intense barrage;Bombs falling three miles away from A/A at 2225 hrs LT.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.903 B Major CORMACK, Lt. LOMBAARD, F/Sgts. FINBERG & VILJOEN.108 O Capt. STUART, Lt. PAWSON, F/Sgts. MORLEY & SCHUMANN.291 U Lt. HARGRAVE, Lt. REES, Sgt. JENSEN (RCAF) F/Sgt. BEDFORD.271 F Lt. GUARD, Sgt. SMALLMAN (RAF) F/Sgts. GREEN & DE VILLIERS.
Transcriber's Notes
- MT
- Motor Transport.
- RECCO
- Reconnaissance.
- RD
- Road.
- LT
- Local Time.
- Det
- Detonator.
- NDT
- Nose Detonator.
- Sq
- Square (referring to map grid square).
- HAA
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery.
- NW
- North-West.
- A/A
- Likely referring to the aircraft or "Anti-Aircraft".
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded:
lbs GP: pounds General Purpose (bombs).
Route and Timing Observations:
Ordnance and Strike Analysis:
Individuals Mentioned:
Location and Historical Context: