Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA. Roads through ST MARIE DI LICODIABB. 1122 hrs LTBC. Medium Level. Height 10500. Courses 355/010°72 x 250 GP 47 Det 27 PistolsBD. The formation bombed from H790908 to H787919 straddling the target. Bombs burst in a good pattern and left the Western area of the village covered in dust and smoke. Numerous direct hits were scored on buildings and on the main road.BE. Moderate but accurate HAA opened when formation started run-in and continued after bombing to SFERRO. HAA from NW. PATERNO do SOUTH of ADRANO. do WEST of BIANCAVILLE. Effective evasive tactics, climbing and turning and losing height employed by leader.BF. One aircraft a number of minor holes (271F) Cat IBG. Obliques and Verticals, of bomb bursts. Height 10500. Courses 355/0 IAS 210BH. (1) 1 FW 190 seen 2000 ft above Spitfire escort before bombing. Did NOT attack.(ii) 40 Trucks and coaches in station NORTH of PATERNO. NO engines seen.(iii) At H730900 Rail bridge blown.LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW.344X Capt. STUART, Lt. PAWSON, F/Sgt. MORLEY, 2/Lt. SCHUMANN (F/L)291U Lts. HARGRAVE & REES, F/Sgts. JENSEN (RCAF) & BEDFORD173P Capt. SAUNDERS, Lt. BOOYSE, F/Sgt. MOORE & Sgt. EARP-JONES.221Y Lts. EATON & MODERKOTT, F/Sgts. FREESTONE (NZAF) & VAN ROOYEN356Z Lts. SIMPSON & HANDLEY, F/Sgts. ROBERTS & SHEPPERSON.387R Lts. RICHARDS & DE CONNICK, F/Sgt. ROBERTSE, Sgt. McGRINDLE.290U Lts. BLIEDEN & ROSE, F/Sgts. JARVIS & PERKINS341L Lts. WILLMOTT & BORCHERDS, F/Sgts. LOOTS & WALBRIDGE (RAF)206J Lts. WOOD & NEL, F/Sgt. JAMES, Sgt. BUCHLER.179A Lts. ASKEW & LAMBERT, F/Sgt. GELDENHUYS, Sgt. CRAWHALL.916K Lts. FROST & WHITE, F/Sgt. CARTER, Sgt. ALLAN.271F Lts. MURMAN & WALTERS, F/Sgt. ODENDAAL, Sgt. STEWART.
Transcriber's Notes
- LT
- Local Time.
- GP
- General Purpose (bombs).
- Det
- Detonator.
- HAA
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery.
- Cat I
- Category I (Aircraft damage that is minor and repairable within the squadron).
- IAS
- Indicated Air Speed.
- FW 190
- Focke-Wulf 190 (German fighter aircraft).
- RCAF
- Royal Canadian Air Force.
- NZAF
- New Zealand Air Force (referring to Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel).
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
ft: feet.
(F/L): Formation Leader.
(RAF): Royal Air Force. Personnel and Tactical Observations
Santa Maria di Licodia (ST MARIE DI LICODIA): A vital transportation hub on the slopes of Mount Etna. The report records "numerous direct hits" on buildings and the main road, but realistically, area saturation was the goal. The Western area of the village being "covered in dust and smoke" confirms a high density of ordnance delivered into the urban center.