Sortie Report (Form 541)
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)94Sheet No.Oprep. Ref. No. 360Date. 1 Aug 43Squadron. 21 SAAF ADVType of Aircraft. 12 BALTIMORES (1 Mk 3, 9 Mk 3A, 2 Mk 4)Aircraft No. ) as per listAircraft Letter. )Leader of Formation.Captain CAPT. ORD.Crew. LT. HODGES.Time Up. 1043 hrs LT 1st aircraftTime Down. 1255 hrs LT last aircraftTotal Time. 24 hoursAerodrome or L.G. HALFARType of Cloud. CU ) OVERAmount of Cloud. 3/10 ) pointBase of Cloud. 7500 ) only.Visibility. 10 miles. Very hazyGeneral Weather. FairMap or Chart Reference.1:500,000 SICILIA SHEET NE 36/12.1:100,000 PATERNO SHEET 269Task or Duty. JUNCTION ROADS PATERNO VILLAGE.| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 1043 | | Halfar | Airborne || | 2000 | | S/c PALAZZOLO. || 1115 | 6000 | Palazzolo | S/c PATERNO 010°M (with six Spit Escort) || 1125 | 7200 | Lentini | Circuit gaining height. || 1143 | 9000 | | S/c PATERNO. || 1150 | 11000 | Paterno | On bombing run Course 330°M. || 1200 | 9000 | Sferro | S/c PALAZZOLO 175°M || 1230 | 6500 | Palazzolo | S/c HALFAR. || 1250 | 2000 | Halfar | Over BASE. || | | | Landed. || 1255 | | | Last aircraft landed. |(Signature: J. S. Bester) Capt.SIO. 21 SQUADRON SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- R.A.F
- Royal Air Force.
- Oprep. Ref. No
- Operational Report Reference Number.
- SAAF ADV
- South African Air Force Advanced (Headquarters).
- Mk
- Mark (designating aircraft version).
- LT
- Local Time.
- L.G
- Landing Ground.
- CU
- Cumulus (cloud type).
- S/c
- Set Course.
- Lentini
- Used as a navigational landmark where the formation performed a "circuit gaining height" maneuver to reach an optimal bombing altitude of 11,000 feet before crossing into the heavily defended Etna sector.
- Sferro
- A frequently mentioned waypoint in the Catania plain. The formation turned onto their return course over Sferro immediately after the bomb run.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded