SOLIMAN NORTH L.G.

R.A.F. Form 441 A. SORTIE REPORT 159 [strike-through: I] 'L' (Part A.) Sheet No. 1 Oprep. Ref. No. 313 Date. 11 JUN 43 Squadron. 21 SAAF. Type of Aircraft. 12 Baltimores Captain Formation Leader Aircraft No. (7 Mk. 111 & 5 Mk. 111A) Crew. Lt. Col. Coppen D.F.C. Aircraft Letter. See reverse. Capt. Farrant (Observer) " See reverse. Time Up. 0550 hrs. L.T. (1st. A/C) Time Down. 0758 hrs. L.T. (Last A/C) Aerodrome or L.G. SOLIMAN NORTH L.G. Total Time. 21 hrs. 00 mins. Type of Cloud. Cu. & St.Cu. Map or Chart Amount of Cloud. 5/10 to 6/10 Reference. Base of Cloud. 12,000 ft. FRENCH NORTH AFRICA Visibility. Fair 1:500000 Sheet NJ.32.SE. General Weather. Fair TUNIS PANTELLERIA 1:25,000 " Substitute 1A Task or Duty. Medium level bombing attack on batteries 4A & 5 PANTELLERIA ISLAND. Time Height. Place. Narrative. Base Airborne & circling. 0600 2000 " S/C 120 M for KORBA. 0612 2000 KORBA S/C 040 M for KELIBIA. 0620 4000 KELIBIA S/C 100 M for PANTELLERIA. 0645 7500 TARGET Bombing on course of 360 M. 0657 6000 Off target. S/C 280 M for KELIBIA. 0730 3000 KELIBIA A/C 210 M. 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. PMEJ - 200,000 - 3/42 P.T.O. Part "B" BA Batteries 4A and 5, PANTELLERIA ISLAND. BB 0645 hrs. L.T. BC Medium level bombing attack from 7/7500 ft. Course 355/360 deg. 1 x 500 lb. S.A.P.) 2 x 500 lb. M.C. ) 49 Det. 28 Pistol. Tail fused. .025 delay. 45 x 500 lb. G.P. ) BD The first box attacked Battery No. 5 and straddled the Western b[oundary] of the target with approx. 12 bombs. Some bombs fell in the sea WEST of the target. No. 2 box bombed Battery No. 4A. Most of the bombs burst across the target area. One stick ended with a direc[t] hit on buildings at F 154055. Near miss claimed on position at F 153049. BE Nil. BF Nil. BG Verticals and obliques taken of some of the bomb bursts. BH (1) Two-funnelled ship seen stationery at L 153024. (2) Two barges at L 181985 in the bay. N.B. Signal received from T.B.F. assessing result of this raid: "Both patterns scored - one pattern straddled 4A scoring hit between two guns (26-yard miss from each). Subsequent photos sho[w] three emplacements destroyed. The other pattern fell rather sho[rt] but end of pattern scored one hit right on emplacement". List of A/C and Crews: F/L 951 V Lt. Col. Coppen, Capt. Farrant, F/Sgts. Bradfield & Lyne. 368 X Lt. Clutterbuck, Lt. v.d. Meulen, F/Sgts. Raeburn & Carbarns 167 S Capt. Smit, Lt. Kay, F/Sgts. Toms & Wright. V/L 142 P Maj. Schravesande, Lt. Campbell, F/Sgts. Meyer & Stopforth. 916 R Lt. Simpson, Lt. Handley, F/Sgts. Roberts V.P. & Shepperson. 957 W Lt. Wood, Lt. Gould, F/Sgts. Purdon & Groenewald. B/L 345 E Capt. McBride, Lt. Pickerill, F/Sgts. Daniels & White. 930 K Lt. Hamilton, Lt. Whittle, F/Sgts. Hodgkinson & Phelan. 290 C Lt. Blieden, Lt. Rose, F/Sgts. Jarvis & Perkins. V/L 977 L Lt. Meredith, Lt. Herring, F/Sgt. Smith S.C. & F/Sgt. Prout(R[AF]) 352 D Lt. Dugmore, Lt. Masters, F/Sgts. Maasdorp & Rogers C.L. 179 A Lt. Willmot, Lt. Borcherds, F/Sgt. Loots & F/Sgt. Walbridge([RAF]) F/L Formation Leader. B/L Box Leader. V/L Vic Leader. [Signature] ....................Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

1943-06-11 SOLIMAN NORTH L.G.

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion Glossary of Terms The archival documentation for this mission utilizes standardized nomenclature to log tactical and meteorological data. The form itself is an R.A.F., or Royal Air Force, Form 441 A., the primary template for recording medium-level bombing Sortie Reports. The handwritten and stamped header "159" and "L" define the mission's sequential place in the 21 SAAF (South African Air Force) operational tempo for June 11. The acronym Oprep. Ref. No. signifies the Operational Report Reference Number. The aircraft utilized were Baltimores, referring to the Martin Baltimore twin-engine medium bomber, with Mk. 111 and Mk. 111A designating the Mark III and Mark IIIA variants. Military ranks and honors are abbreviated, including Lt. Col. for Lieutenant Colonel and D.F.C. for the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to Formation Leader Coppen. Chronological data is recorded in L.T., or Local Time, while the abbreviation L.G. denotes a Landing Ground, specifically SOLIMAN NORTH L.G.. Meteorological notations identify Cu. for Cumulus and St.Cu. for Stratocumulus cloud types. Navigational shorthand includes S/C for Set Course, A/C for Aircraft Course, and M for Magnetic bearing. The administrative footer references H.Q. R.A.F. M.E., expanding to Headquarters Royal Air Force Middle East, and P.T.O., instructing the reader to Please Turn Over. Operational Context This Sortie Report documents the final tactical bombardment mission executed by 21 Squadron SAAF on the morning of June 11, 1943, during the culminating phase of Operation Corkscrew. The strategic objective was the absolute neutralization of the heavily fortified Italian island of Pantelleria to secure the maritime corridor through the Strait of Sicily prior to Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. Following weeks of saturation bombing, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) directed this early morning strike of twelve Martin Baltimore bombers against coastal defense batteries 4A and 5. Under the direct command of the Officer Commanding, Lieutenant Colonel Coppen, the squadron launched from Soliman North at 0550 hours. The mission narrative detail a precise navigational profile: the formation transited Korba and Kelibia before initiating a bombing run at 7,500 feet on a magnetic heading of 360 degrees. The mission timeline, concluding with the last aircraft landing at 0758 hours local time, reflects the high-tempo, final application of kinetic pressure on the garrison. This sortie was a critical component of the final aerial offensive that compelled the island to officially surrender later that same day, June 11, without an Allied amphibious landing—a historic milestone in the history of air power. 209 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check There is no explicitly printed date in a dedicated 'Date' column on this specific "Part B" continuation sheet; however, the mission chronology recorded under section BB logs the time as "0645 hrs. L.T." on a document that contextually and chronologically completes the primary Sortie Report for June 11, 1943. Phase 2: Technical Expansion Glossary of Terms The technical notations within this operational report utilize standard Commonwealth military abbreviations to record tactical results. The abbreviation L.T. refers to Local Time, establishing the morning strike window at 0645 hours. Ordnance parameters utilize S.A.P. for Semi-Armour Piercing, M.C. for Medium Capacity, and G.P. for General Purpose 500-pound munitions. The technical firing configuration involved a 49 Det. (Detonator Number 49) used in conjunction with a 28 Pistol (impact-delay tail pistol), utilizing a .025 fractional delay and tail fused only to ensure structural penetration prior to detonation. The term A/C serves as the standard nomenclature for Aircraft, specifically identifying the twelve Martin Baltimore medium bombers utilized for this sortie. Photographic reconnaissance is recorded by Verticals and obliques, referring to the specific angles of the strike cameras. The intelligence assessment includes a signal from T.B.F., which expands to Tactical Bomber Force, the higher-echelon command responsible for coordinating strike operations and assessing battle damage. The crew manifest formally documents the integration of multinational personnel within 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F. (South African Air Force), utilizing RAF for the Royal Air Force. Tactical flight leadership roles are delineated by F/L (Formation Leader), B/L (Box Leader), and V/L (Vic Leader), the latter designating the commander of a standard three-aircraft "Vic" element . Military ranks are abbreviated as Lt. Col. for Lieutenant Colonel, Maj. for Major, Capt. for Captain, Lt. for Lieutenant, and F/Sgts. for Flight Sergeants. The document is authenticated by the S.I.O., or Squadron Intelligence Officer. Operational Context This archival document provides the detailed tactical narrative for the final kinetic bombardment mission executed by 21 Squadron SAAF on the morning of June 11, 1943, during the culminating hours of Operation Corkscrew. The strategic objective was the total neutralization of the fortified Italian island of Pantelleria to secure the maritime lanes of communication for the impending invasion of Sicily. Following weeks of unremitting aerial bombardment that had systematically suppressed the island's defenses—evidenced here by the reporting of "Nil" enemy anti-aircraft or fighter opposition—Allied command directed this final heavy strike against Batteries 4A and 5. Under the direct command of the Officer Commanding, Lieutenant Colonel Coppen, twelve Martin Baltimore bombers attacked from 7,500 feet on a northerly heading. The mission execution demonstrated significant precision: the first six-ship box straddled the western boundary of Battery No. 5, while the second box successfully concentrated its ordnance across Battery No. 4A. The subsequent Tactical Bomber Force analysis confirmed that the patterns scored direct hits between gun emplacements and on adjacent support buildings, resulting in the destruction of three active gun positions. In addition to the bombardment, aircrews conducted visual maritime reconnaissance, identifying a stationary two-funnelled vessel and two barges in the bay area. This sortie represented the final application of physical destruction before the island's garrison officially capitulated later that day, marking the first time in military history that a major fortress surrendered entirely due to the application of air power without an Allied amphibious landing. 210 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check The exact date found in the 'Date' column of the image is 12 JUN 43.