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Operation No. 376

ARMD RECCE ROAD VILLA S. GIOVANNI – C. SPARTIVENTO

Sunday, 15 August 1943

Over target: 2328 hrs Landed: 0142 hrs Time: 22:20 hrs

Sortie Report (Form 541)

R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)NIGHT OPM 106Sheet No.Oprep. Ref. No. 376Date. 14/15 Aug 43Squadron. 21 SAAF ADVType of Aircraft. BALTIMORES 1 Mk 3, 3 Mk 3AAircraft No. ) AS PER LISTAircraft Letter. )Leader of formation.Captain MAJOR JANDRELLCrew. LT. CHRISTIEOther aircraft followed similar courses at 20 min intervals.Time Up. 2220 hrs LT 1st aircraftTime Down. 0142 hrs LT last aircraftTotal Time. 10 hoursAerodrome or L.G. LUCAType of Cloud. Cu NW GozoAmount of Cloud. 5/10 - 8/10Base of Cloud. 300'Visibility. 5/10 milesGeneral Weather. Good. Heavy haze. NORTH MT. ETNA. Slight haze over target.Map or Chart Reference.MESSINA 1:500,000 NE 38/14SICILIA 1:500,000 NE 36/12Task or Duty. ARMD RECCO ROAD VILLA S. GIOVANNI — C. SPARTIVENTO| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 2220 | | Luca | Airborne || 2233 | 4400 | Gozo | S/c GELA || 2255 | 7200 | Gela | S/c NICOSIA || 2307 | | Nicosia | S/c RANDAZZO || 2316 | 8200 | Randazzo | S/c D2719. || 2323 | 4500 | Coast Sicily | S/c D4830. || 2328 | 3200 | Coast Italy | RECCO OF ROAD || 2331 | 2100 | Target | Bombed || 2335 | 5000 | Coast Italy | S/c SICILY COAST NE MT. ETNA || 2342 | 7400 | Coast Sicily | S/c RANDAZZO || 2346 | 5500 | Randazzo | S/c NICOSIA || 2355 | 6000 | Nicosia | S/c GELA || 0010 | 3500 | Gela | S/c GOZO || 0032 | 2400 | Gozo | || 0044 | 1300 | Malta | Crossed coast || 0055 | | Luca | Landed. || | | | || 0142 | | | Last aircraft landed. |(Signature: illegible) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON SAAF.

Transcriber's Notes

R.A.F
Royal Air Force.
NIGHT OP
Night Operation.
Oprep. Ref. No
Operational Report Reference Number.
SAAF ADV
South African Air Force Advanced (Headquarters).
Mk
Mark (designating the specific version of the aircraft).
LT
Local Time.
L.G
Landing Ground.
Cu
Cumulus (cloud type).
NW
North-West.
NE
North-East.

Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded

Villa San Giovanni to Capo Spartivento (Italy): This mission targeted the southern coast of the Italian mainland (Calabria).