Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- Night 13/14 APR 43
P O S T A G R A M "U"To : H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.From : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/264Date : Night 13/14 APR 43.<u>OPREP No. 264 for period ending 0600 hrs. 14 APR 43.</u>A Dispersed A/C and MT around Ste. MARIE du ZIT WEST L.G.K 2311 (Ref. Map: TUNISIA 1:500,000 TUNIS)B 15 Baltimores.C (1) Individual medium level bombing attack.(11) 8/9,000 ft.(111) 2224 hrs. to 2250 hrs.D (1) 90 x 250 lb. GP 43 Det. (Rods)(11) Nil.(111) Owing to very bad visibility the bombs were dropped onETA. Bombs fell in and around the target area. One smallfire was started but was quickly extinguished. Onemedium fire was seen burning and giving off sparks tenminutes after leaving the target at 2240 hrs.E One A/C, 187 G, Cat. 11.F Pilot (A/C 187 G) killed: Lt. J.P. Carlisle: baled outwhen A/C ran out of fuel. Parachute opened but pilotbelieved to have baled from too low.Observer: Lt. E.G. Webber & Gunner: F/Sgt. Waldek V.slightly injured in fall. W.Op. Gunner F/Sgt. Schumann Muninjured.G Nil.H (1) 2040 hrs.(11) 43 hrs. 03 mins.J General weather poor. Visibility bad (Ground haze)K Five searchlights seen around the coast for 8 miles atHAMMAMET (from K 4312 to K 5318). 4 HAA & 3 LAA guns insame area. Four searchlights operating over target withspasmodic HAA over the L.G.Comm. Nil.T.O.O. 0600 hrs. 14 APR 43.[Handwritten Signature]..................Capt.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.In reply please quoteGeliewe in u antwoord te verwys na..................................................................No...................................UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA—UNIE VAN SUID-AFRIKA.OFFICE OF THE—KANTOOR VAN DIE[Seal: Coat of Arms of the Union of South Africa][The remainder of the page is blank]
Transcriber's Notes
- H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
- Headquarters Royal Air Force Middle East. The theater-level command structure responsible for strategic oversight of Allied air operations.
- OPREP No. 264
- Operational Report number 264, providing a tactical summary of the results for the mission ending 0600 hours on 14 April 1943.
- A/C
- Aircraft. Refers both to the enemy aircraft targeted on the ground and the 15 Martin Baltimores of the S.A.A.F. formation.
- MT
- Motor Transport. Refers to Axis wheeled or tracked logistical vehicles.
- L.G
- Landing Ground.
- Baltimores
- Martin Baltimore Mk. III light bombers utilized for medium-level tactical bombardment.
- ETA
- Estimated Time of Arrival.
- Cat. 11
- Category 11 (often recorded as Category II or B). A damage classification indicating an aircraft is damaged beyond local repair but is repairable at a specialized maintenance unit or depot.
- W.Op. Gunner
- Wireless Operator / Gunner.
- HAMMAMET
- A coastal town on the southeastern side of the Cape Bon peninsula.
S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.: Squadron Intelligence Officer for No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force.
GP 43 Det. (Rods): 250 lb General Purpose bombs fitted with No. 43 detonators and extension rods ("daisy cutters"). These rods trigger detonation just above the ground surface to maximize fragmentation against unarmored targets like dispersed aircraft.
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA—UNIE VAN SUID-AFRIKA: The dual-language (English and Afrikaans) official designation of the sovereign state within the British Commonwealth, which provided the personnel and administrative framework for the South African Air Force (SAAF) during the Mediterranean campaigns.
Crew
Observer Lt. E.G. Webber