Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 2 APR 43
"A" 4List of Aircraft and aircrews attached to Sortie Report No. 249 dated<u>1 APR 43.</u> <u>21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.</u>900 F Capt. Mouton, Lt. Simon, F/Sgts. Carr & Wisenberg.977 L Lt. Guard, Lt. Campbell, F/Sgts. Steven & Forrest.942 G Lt. Carlisle, Lt. Webber, F/Sgts. Schumann & Waldek.903 O Capt. Smit, Lt. Kay, F/Sgts. Perkins & van Rooyen.176 YY Lt. Clutterbuck, Lt. Wright, Raeburn & Fraser (F/Sgts.)940 V Lt. Eaton, Lt. Floor, F/Sgts. le Roux & Gildon (RAF)916 SS Lt. Smith, Lt. Arnold, Sgt. Freestone (RNZAF) & F/Sgt. Viljoen.957 W Lt. Wood, Lt. Gould, F/Sgts. Purdon & Groenewald.142 P Lt. Liddiard, Lt. Pickerill, F/Sgts. Zaaiman & Oliff.151 Y Lt. Carr, Lt. Lombaard, F/Sgts. Toms & Wright.126 U Lt. Hargrave, Lt. Rees, Sgt. McQueen (RCAF) & F/Sgt. Bedford.982 N Maj. Schravensande, Lt. Herring, F/Sgts. Meyer & Stepforth.904 BB Capt. Budd, Sgt. Smallman (RAF), F/O Cornelius (RCAF) & F/Sgt. Woods.877 J Lt. Blieden, Lt. Rose, F/Sgts. Jarvis & Smith L.W.179 A Lt. A'Bear, Lt. Owen-Hughes, F/Sgts. Harrison & Pickup.862 D Lt. Hotchkiss, Lt. Morrell, F/Sgts. Mamet & Mills.930 K Lt. Hamilton, Lt. Whittle, F/Sgts. Rogers F.D. & Phelan.944 C Lt. Dugmore, Lt. Masters, F/Sgts. Maasdorp & Rogers C.L.P O S T A G R A M "B": H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.From: S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/250Date: 2 APR 43<u>OPREF No. 250 for period ending 1800 hrs. 2 APR 43</u>A Any enemy concentration in Squares TZ 1070 or TZ 1080.(Ref. Map: TUNISIA 1:500,000 GABES and SFAX)B 12 Baltimores Mk.lll of 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. and6 Bostons of 24 Squadron, S.A.A.F.C (1) Medium level bombing attack.(11) 8000 - 8700 ft.(111) 1039 hrs.D (1) 72 x 250 lb. GP 43 Det. (Rods)(11) Nil.(111) No enemy concentration seen in either square, so theformation dropped a long stick across the GABES - SFAXRoad and to the EAST of the road from TZ 3087 to TZ 3393Two small fires were started. (These are believed tohave been small ammunition dumps among the bushes, asthey gave off sparks) One direct hit was scored on theroad on which there were 8 - 10 MT very well dispersed.E Nil.F Nil.G Nil.H (1) 0915 hrs.(11) 27 hrs. 00 mins.J General weather good. Visibility 20 miles. No cloud.K HAA fairly intense but inaccurate from NORTH of WADIAKARIT.HAA: 6 guns seen firing at TZ 2373.2 " " " " TZ 1869.1 " " " " TZ 2784.4 " " " " TZ 2269.COMM. Nil.T.O.O. 1800 hrs. 2 APR 43.[Handwritten Signature] Capt.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F
- No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force.
- S.A.A.F
- South African Air Force.
- H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
- Headquarters Royal Air Force Middle East. The central command authority responsible for air operations across the Mediterranean and North African theaters.
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer. The officer tasked with debriefing aircrews and compiling operational data for this report (No. 250).
- OPREF
- Operational Report. This document details the squadron's primary morning strike on April 2, 1943.
- MT
- Motor Transport. Refers to Axis wheeled or tracked supply and troop vehicles.
- HAA
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire.
- WADI AKARIT
- A major natural defensive line in southern Tunisia where Axis forces attempted to halt the Allied northward advance.
- T.O.O
- Time of Origin. Operational Context The mission conducted on April 2, 1943, targeted potential Axis troop and equipment concentrations behind the Wadi Akarit defensive line. Strategically, this period followed the Allied breakthrough at the Tebaga Gap, as the British Eighth Army pushed toward Central Tunisia. The objective was to interdict the German 1st Italian Army's logistical chain and suppress ground forces before they could consolidate their positions along the Akarit line. Tactically, the raid demonstrated the flexibility of light bomber operations in the desert. When the primary "enemy concentrations" in squares TZ 1070 and TZ 1080 were not located, the formation—comprising 12 Martin Baltimores and 6 Bostons—re-tasked to interdict the vital Gabes-Sfax road. By dropping a "long stick" of 72 General Purpose bombs, the aircrews successfully targeted Axis Motor Transport and destroyed small ammunition caches, identified by characteristic "sparks". The reporting of 13 distinct heavy anti-aircraft guns positioned north of Wadi Akarit highlights the density of the Axis flak screen protecting this critical withdrawal route. Despite the "fairly intense" opposition, the formation suffered no casualties, contributing to the sustained Allied "air blitz" that isolated Axis ground units from their northern supply bases. 7 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 2 APR 43
Sortie Report No. 249: The formal tactical record for the medium-level bombing mission conducted on April 1, 1943.
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 surface to maximize fragmentation against "soft" targets like motor transport and supply dumps.