Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Duty
- Medium level bombing attack on gun positions at F 175050. Time Height. Place
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)153 I [strike-through: XX]SECOND OPERATION OF DAY.Sheet No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 310Date. 9 JUN 43Squadron. 21 SAAF.Type of Aircraft. 12 Baltimores (6 Mk. 111 & 6 Mk. 111A) See reverse.Captain Formation Leader Capt. StuartCrew. Lt. Pawson (Observer) See reverse.Time Up. 1915 hrs. (1st A/C)Time Down. 2045 hrs. (Last A/C)Total Time. 17 hrs. 00 mins.Aerodrome or L.G. SOLIMAN NORTH L.G.Type of Cloud. St.Cu.Amount of Cloud. Scattered.Base of Cloud. 10,000 ft.Visibility. Good.General Weather. Good.Map or Chart Reference. FRENCH NORTH AFRICA 1:500,000 Sheet NJ.32.SE TUNIS PANTELLERIA 1:25,000Task or Duty. Medium level bombing attack on gun positions at F 175050.Time Height. Place. Narrative.1915 Base Airborne.1920 1000 " S/C RAS EL FORTASS.1935 2000 FORTASS Picked up fighter escort (6 P40's 33rd. Bomber escort) S/C KELIBIA.1945 4000 KELIBIA S/C TARGET.2003 8000 TARGET Bombed on course of 250 - 259 deg.2015 5000 WF 1306 S/C RAS EL FORTASS.2026 2000 FORTASS S/C SOLIMAN.2045 Base Last A/C landed.PART B (on reverse) to be completed according to relevant pro-forma in H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. Instruction 34.2942 / PMEJ - 200,000 - 3/42 P.T.O.Part "B"BA Gun positions at F 171048 PANTELLERIA ISLAND.BB 2003 hrs. L.T.BC Medium level bombing attack from 7800/8000 ft. Course 250 - 255 deg.35 x 500 lb. G.P. )3 x 500 lb. S.A.P.) [strike-through: XXX] 49 Det. Delay .025. Tail pistol 28.6 x 500 lb. M.C. )4 x 500 lb. G.P. hung up and were jettisoned in sea in Sq. 1403.BD The two boxes of six machines dropped their bombs from F 175050 to175051 in a fairly short stick along the main road. Bomb burstscover one gun position. An explosion accompanied one bomb burstat F 173048.BE No Ack/Ack bursts seen.BF Nil.BG Verticals and obliques taken. IAS 210. Course 255 deg.BH One unidentified S/E aircraft with smoke coming from it, was seenheading for target after bombing.Three S/E aircraft seen taking off from PANTELLERIA L.G. beforeformation bombed.Seven JU 52's parked in a row on the L.G. at 180040. Two JU 52'sparked on the L.G. SOUTH of this point.List of A/C and Crews:F/L 108 O Capt. Stuart, Lt. Pawson, F/Sgts. Morley & Schumann.957 W Lt. Wood, Lt. Gould, F/Sgts. Purdon & Groenewald.221 Y Lt. Eaton, Lt. McDermot, [strike-through: XX] Sgt. Freestone (RNZAF) & F/Sgt. Gilder(RAF)V/L 167 S Capt. Smit, Lt. Kay, F/Sgts. Toms & Wright.291 U Lt. Hargrave, Lt. Rees, Sgt. Jensen (RCAF) & F/Sgt. Bedford.916 R Lt. Simpson, Lt. Handley, F/Sgts. Roberts V.P. & Shepperson.B/L 977 L Lt. Meredith, Lt. Herring, F/Sgt. Smith S.C. & F/Sgt. Prout (RAF)930 K Lt. Hamilton, Lt. Whittle, F/Sgts. Hodgkinson & Phelan.352 D Lt. Dugmore, Lt. Masters, F/Sgts. Maasdorp & Rogers C.L.V/L 226 H Capt. Ord, Lt. Hodges, F/Sgt. Walker & A/Sgt. Devenish.179 A Lt. Willmot, Lt. Borcherds, F/Sgt. Loots & F/Sgt. Walbridge.877 J Lt. Oakes, Lt. Sachs, Sgts. Morrison & Cleland (RCAF)F/L Formation Leader. B/L Box Leader. V/L Vic Leader.[Signature] ....................Capt.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.