Last aircraft saw

BA. CANICATTI TOWN. BB. FROM 2209 to 2232 HRS. BC. MEDIUM LEVEL 8000/94000'. Courses 340°/360°. 24 x 250 GP (Rods) 43 Det. BD. Target identified by hill NE of Town, road LICATA-CANICATTI and rivers EAST and WEST of approach to target. Last aircraft saw reddish fire glow at target. One stick of bombs seen exploding NW-SE well to SOUTH of target by one aircraft on approach. Bombs dropped in long sticks on target and NW and SOUTH portion of target. BE. NO AA over target. NO S/Ls. 10/15 HAA from PORTO EMPEDOCLE stretching to AGRIGENTO. LAA from LICATA accurate at 9000'. 10 flashes HAA seen NORTH of target. BF. Nil. BG. Nil. BH. Fires and bomb bursts seen at PORTO EMPEDOCLE-AGRIGENTO area and LICATA, fire 20 miles EAST of target and flashes from CASTEL VETRANO or MARSALA areas. LIST OF AIRCRAFT and CREWS 9/10 JUL 43. 903 B. Major Cormack, Lt. Lombard, F/Sgts. Pearce & Le Roux. 108 O. Capt. Stuart, Lt. Pawson, F/Sgts. Morley & Schumann. 221 Y. Lt. Eaton, Lt. McDermott, Sgt. Freestone (NZ) & F/Sgt. Van Rooyen. 143 G. Lt. A'Bear, Lt. Owen-Hughes, F/Sgts. Harrison & Pickup.

1943-07-10

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded: * HRS: Hours. * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Det: Detonator. * NE / NW / SE: North-East / North-West / South-East. * AA: Anti-Aircraft. * S/Ls: Searchlights. * HAA / LAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft / Light Anti-Aircraft. * Lt. / Capt. / F/Sgts / Sgt.: Lieutenant / Captain / Flight Sergeants / Sergeant. * NZ: New Zealand (referring to the nationality/service of the crew member). * Observations about Individuals Mentioned: * Major Cormack: Leading the four-aircraft formation in Baltimore 903 B, Cormack was a senior pilot whose leadership was vital during this high-tempo transition to the invasion phase. * Lt. Eaton and Sgt. Freestone (NZ): Flying in aircraft 221 Y, this crew included a New Zealander, highlighting the multinational composition of Commonwealth air forces under the SAAF banner. * Lt. A'Bear: Pilot of aircraft 143 G. The A'Bear family had deep roots in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, and several members served with distinction in the SAAF during the war. * Information about the Location: * Canicattì, Sicily: A significant inland town that served as a critical hub for road and rail transport in southern Sicily. * Modern Name: It remains known as Canicattì in the Province of Agrigento. * Porto Empedocle and Agrigento: Coastal areas to the southwest of the target. The crews observed intense defensive activity and fires in these sectors, which were primary Allied landing zones. * Castelvetrano and Marsala: Located on the western tip of Sicily; the flashes seen there (Section BH) likely came from the massive Allied naval and aerial bombardment of those ports occurring simultaneously with this raid. * Historical Context and Theatre Events: * Operation HUSKY (The Invasion of Sicily): This mission, flown on the night of July 9/10, 1943, was the final tactical strike before the Allied landings began at dawn. 21 Squadron's task was to disrupt the flow of Axis reinforcements from the interior (Canicattì) toward the invasion beaches at Gela and Licata. * The "Invasion Sky": The observation of fires and flashes across the entire southern and western horizon of Sicily illustrates the scale of the Allied assault. The "reddish fire glow" at Canicattì suggests the town was already suffering from heavy saturation bombing intended to paralyzed Axis mobility. * Accurate Defenses: Despite the chaos, the crews reported "accurate" light anti-aircraft fire from Licata at 9,000 feet, demonstrating that Axis shore batteries were fully manned and alert as the invasion fleet arrived. * The Martin Baltimore: The unit utilized the Martin Baltimore III and IIIA, providing the high-speed, medium-altitude bombing capability required for night interdiction. 46 The date written in the header of this routine order is 10th July 1943.