Operation

P O S T A G R A M. 46 To : HQ.RAF.ME. HQ. NAAF (attention 23rd SCORU). N.A.T.A.F. (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU). SIO. TBF. From : SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF. Ref : 21S/337. Date : 13 JUL 43. OPREP NO. 337 for period ending 0100 hrs LT 12/13 JUL 43. OPERATION NO. - (REF MAP SICILIA 1:500,000 NE 36/12.) A. Two aircraft took off at 2150 hrs to drop flares over, and bomb, TERMINI shipping, or alternatively, TERMINI HARBOUR installa- tions. Bombing took place 2304/2315 hrs on courses 275°/170° from 9/11000’. Earlier aircraft encountered considerable op- position from 20 S/Ls, was picked up twice and evaded, and fairly intense HAA accurate, aircraft being noled in various places - slight damage. Bombs dropped in Western portion of town and flares thereafter. Later aircraft little opposition, LAA, flashes HAA and 6 S/Ls seen for few moments SOUTH of town - nothing accurate. Passed over target 4 times dropping 2 flares on NORTH-SOUTH run SOUTH of docks and SW of town, one flare on SW-NE run over central dock area. Bombed on NORTH-SOUTH run along docks and observed results on further SOUTH-NORTH run. Black smoke seen from explosion after first bomb and variocloured fires seen where incendiaries dropped in dock area. (It is considered first aircraft attacked PALERMO harbour in error). B. 2 Baltimores Mk IIIA. C. NIL. D. 4 hrs 55 mins. E. (i) 6400 x .30, 1400 x .50, 600 x .303 (ii)(iii) NIL. F. (i) 6 x 250 GP 43 Det, 360 x 4lb Incendiaries, 6 flares Recce 4.5 No. 10. (ii) 6 x 250 GP 43 Det, 350 x 4lb Incendiaries, 6 flares Recce 4.5 No. 10. (iii) (iv) NIL. G. (i)(ii) NIL (iii) 1 Baltimore Mk IIIA slight damage (Cat I). H-J. NIL. V - Z. NIL. (Signature: G.W. Thompson) Lt. for Capt. SIO. 21 SQUADRON. SAAF.

1943-07-13

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded: * HQ.RAF.ME.: Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. * NAAF: Northwest African Air Forces. * SCORU: Section Control and Operational Research Unit. * N.A.T.A.F.: Northwest African Tactical Air Force. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * TBF: Tactical Bomber Force. * SAAF: South African Air Force. * OPREP: Operational Report. * hrs LT: hours Local Time. * HAA / LAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft / Light Anti-Aircraft artillery. * S/Ls: Searchlights. * GP: General Purpose (bombs). * Det: Detonator. * Recce: Reconnaissance (referring to illumination flares). * Cat I: Category I (aircraft damage that is repairable on-site). * Individuals Mentioned: * Lieutenant G.W. Thompson: Thompson signed this report on behalf of the Squadron Intelligence Officer, Captain J.S. Bester. The intelligence staff was working under extreme pressure during this period, debriefing crews from complex night sorties and verifying navigational errors such as the one noted in Section A. * Route and Navigational Analysis: * Navigational Error: Section A contains a candid admission that the first aircraft likely attacked Palermo harbour in error instead of the intended target. This highlights the extreme difficulty of night navigation over Sicily, even with searchlight activity providing a visual reference. * Target Persistence: The second aircraft displayed significant technical discipline, passing over the target four times to ensure precise flare placement before its bombing run along the docks. * Attack Profile: The missions were flown at altitudes between 9,000 and 11,000 feet, utilizing a variety of courses (275° and 170°) to avoid established anti-aircraft "kill zones". * Ordnance and Tactical Observations: * Mixed Payload: Each Baltimore carried a highly effective "harassment" load: 6 x 250 lb GP bombs for structural damage, over 350 x 4 lb incendiaries to start fires in the port facilities, and 6 recce flares for target identification. * Ammunition Expenditure: The expenditure of 1,400 rounds of .50 caliber and 6,400 rounds of .30 caliber ammunition suggests the crews were actively engaging searchlight positions or harbor defenses during their multiple passes. * Strike Results: The report notes "black smoke" from high explosives and "varicoloured fires" from the incendiaries, indicating successful hits on the dock area and likely industrial or fuel stores. * Historical and Location Context: * Termini Imerese, Sicily: A significant port town on the northern coast of Sicily. It served as a vital logistical hub for Axis forces attempting to move supplies from Palermo toward the central and eastern fronts. * Operation HUSKY Context: Flown on the night of July 12/13, 1943, this mission supported the D+3 phase of the invasion. By striking Termini Imerese, 21 Squadron aimed to paralyze the coastal supply route that was essential for Axis reinforcements. * The Martin Baltimore: The squadron utilized the Martin Baltimore Mk IIIA, an American-built bomber prized for its speed. The fact that one aircraft returned with Category I damage from "accurate" Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire underscores the risk these crews took in making multiple passes over a defended port. 63 The date written in the 'Date' column of the sortie report is 12/13 JUL 43.