Sortie Report (Form 541)
P O S T A G R A M "E1" -----------------
To : H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.From : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/232Date : 21 MAR 43. OPREP No. 232 for period ending 1200 hrs. 21 MAR 43. ----------------------------------------------------
A MT on road Z 4814 to Z 5110 (1:200,000 Sheet 23 GABES)B 12 Baltimores Mk. 111 (21 Squadron)3 Bostons (12 Squadron)3 Bostons (24 Squadron)C (i) Medium level bombing attack.(ii) 7500 ft.(iii) 1010 hrs.D (i) 71 x 250 lb. G.P. 43 Det. (Rods) (1 hang-up)(ii) Nil.(iii) Observers bombed individually and all bombs strad-dled the road between pp. Z 4814 and Z 5110.Direct hits were scored on road and one bombburst near a vehicle. No further results wereseen. (Not more than 12 MT seen on entire GABES-MARETH Road. Target was considered very poor)E Four A/C slightly holed, by Ack/Ack.F Nil.G Nil.H (i) 0850 hrs.(ii) 26 hrs. 26 mins.J General weather fair : Visibility good : Cloud nil.K H.A.A. Intense and fairly accurate.4 H.A.A. guns at TZ 30296/8 " " at TZ 35321 " " at TZ 46232 " " on GABES L.G.3 " " at TZ 5615Approx. 16 guns around MARETH Village.COMM. : NIL. T.O.O. 1800 hrs.
(Handwritten Signature: J. Bester) Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
- OPREP No. 232
- Operational Report Number 232, the standardized daily summary of mission results.
- MT
- Mechanical Transport, referring to Axis supply or troop vehicles.
- Baltimores Mk. 111
- The Martin Baltimore Mark III, an American-built twin-engine light attack bomber.
- Bostons
- The Douglas Boston (A-20), a light bomber utilized by No. 12 and No. 24 Squadrons S.A.A.F. in this composite formation.
- A/C
- Aircraft.
- GABES L.G
- Landing Ground Gabes, a major Axis forward airfield.
[AUTO-CLASSIFIED — VERIFY CATEGORY]
S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.: Senior Intelligence Officer of No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force.
G.P. 43 Det. (Rods): General Purpose bombs fitted with No. 43 Detonators and extended nose fuzes ("rods" or "daisy cutters") to trigger the explosion above ground level for maximum fragmentation.
hang-up: A mechanical failure where a bomb remains fixed to the release shackles.
pp.: Pinpoints or specific grid locations.