Second aircraft claims to have straddled LG.

BA. TRAPANI/ MILO A/D SICILY. BB. 0413/8 LT. BC. MEDIUM LEVEL 9/10000'. 8 x 500 GP 39 Det 37 Pistol (6hr delay). Tail fused only. 100 Crowefeet. BD. Large fire was burning in TRAPANI TOWN on arrival. One aircraft bombed on ETA and considers that bombs fell in or near Target. Second aircraft claims to have straddled LG. All spikes were thrown out through the rear hatch by the bottom gunner ten seconds after release of last bomb. Two explosions were seen in Target area shortly after bombing. BE. Slight LAA and HAA from Target area, inaccurate. Ship fired HAA from NW TRAPANI. Isolated and inaccurate. Red balls fired at aircraft over target. Seemed to hang before falling. Good for height. 12/20 S/Ls from TRAPANI-ST. VITO point. Inaccurate. BF. NIL. BG. NIL. BH. Appeared to be numerous small grass fires over NW Sicily. LIST OF AIR CREW AND AIRCRAFT 9/10 JUL 43. 957 W. Lt. Wood, Lt. Gould, F/Sgts. Purdon & Groenewald. 930 K. Lt. Hamilton, Lt. Whittle, F/Sgts. Hodgkinson & Phelan.

1943-07-10

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded: * A/D: Aerodrome. * LT: Local Time. * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Det: Detonator. * LG: Landing Ground. * ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival. * LAA / HAA: Light Anti-Aircraft / Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery. * NW: North-West. * S/Ls: Searchlights. * Lt. / F/Sgts: Lieutenant / Flight Sergeants. * Observations about Individuals Mentioned: * Lieutenants Wood and Gould: This experienced pilot-navigator pair flew aircraft 957 W. Their arrival over the target amidst "numerous small grass fires" across the region indicates they were part of a larger saturation effort. * Lieutenants Hamilton and Whittle: Flying aircraft 930 K, this crew provided the visual confirmation of two explosions in the target area after their bombing run. * The Bottom Gunners: The report specifically highlights the role of the bottom gunners in manually deploying "spikes" through the rear hatch. This physically demanding task was performed only ten seconds after the high-stress bombing run. * Information about the Location: * Trapani/Milo Aerodrome: A critical Axis base on the western tip of Sicily. * Modern Name: Today, the historic Milo airfield site is integrated into the city of Trapani, Italy. Modern military flight operations in this sector are now centered at Trapani-Birgi Airport. * St. Vito point: Now known as San Vito Lo Capo, a prominent cape northeast of Trapani that housed Axis searchlight batteries. * Historical Context and Theatre Events: * D-Day Sicily (Operation HUSKY): This mission took place on the morning of July 10, 1943, the date Allied forces invaded Sicily. The "Large fire" burning in Trapani on their arrival was likely the result of the massive naval and aerial bombardment that preceded the landings. * Area Denial Tactics: The use of 6-hour delay fuzes on the 500 lb bombs and the deployment of "Crowefeet" (metal spikes or caltrops) were designed to paralyze the airfield. The spikes would puncture tires of aircraft and support vehicles, while the delayed bombs would explode as ground crews attempted to clear the debris, effectively closing the base during the critical first hours of the Allied landings. * "Red Balls" (Pyrotechnic Defenses): The mention of "Red balls" that "seemed to hang before falling" refers to specialized Axis anti-aircraft markers or flares. These were used to gauge the altitude of Allied bombers or to mark their position for night fighters. * The Martin Baltimore: 21 Squadron utilized the Martin Baltimore, an American-built bomber prized for its speed and defensive armament, which proved essential as they evaded the inaccurate but intense searchlight and flak concentration between Trapani and San Vito. 50 The date written in the 'Date' line of the postagram is 11 JUL 43.