Sortie Report (Form 541)
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)2nd OP OF DAY.82Sheet No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 354Date. 27 Jul 43Squadron. 21 SAAFType of Aircraft. 11 BALTIMORES (6 Mk 3A and 5 Mk 3)Aircraft No. ) as per listAircraft Letter. )Leader of formation.Captain CAPT. STUART.Crew. LT. PAWSON.Time Up. 1555 hrs LT 1 st aircraftTime Down. 1841 hrs LT last aircraft.Total Time. 29 hrs 20 mins.Aerodrome or L.G. HALFARType of Cloud. ---Amount of Cloud. ---Base of Cloud. ---Visibility. 10/15 milesGeneral Weather. GoodMap or Chart Reference.SICILIA 1:500,000 NE 36/12TARGET CHART 2/107/NATask or Duty. MILAZZO RAILWAY STATION.| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 1555 | | Halfar | Airborne. || 1605 | 2000 | | Set course PALAZZOLO (Rendezvous) || 1630 | 7000 | Palazzolo | Picked up fighter. Circled to gain height. 24 Spitfires. || 1705 | 9000 | | Set course pinpoint 06510 || 1710 | 11000 | PPC6510 | Set course MILAZZO || 1721 | 14000 | Milazzo | Bombed. || 1723 | 11000 | PP5343 | Set course PALAZZOLO || 1752 | 7000 | Palazzolo | Set course HALFAR || 1830 | 2000 | | || 1831 | | | Landed. || 1841 | | | 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
- South African Air Force.
- LT
- Local Time.
- L.G
- Landing Ground.
- SIO
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
Milazzo (Millazzo) Railway Station, Sicily: A vital rail hub on the northern Sicilian coast. By July 27, 1943, Milazzo (modern name unchanged) was a primary evacuation point for Axis forces retreating toward the Italian mainland.
Flown on July 27, 1943 (D+17), this mission targeted the logistical infrastructure of the German 14th Panzer Corps. The Allied air strategy was focused on "isolating the battlefield" to trap the retreating German 15th Panzergrenadier and 29th Motorized Divisions.