Sortie Report (Form 541)
List of Aircrew and Aircraft attached to Sortie Report No. 172 dated the 18th January, 1943 - 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. --------------------------------------------------------------
940 V 1. ~~XXXXX~~ Lt. Col. Coppen, Lt. Farrant, F/Sgt. Herbst, F/Sgt. Bradfield
2. 944 R Lt. Rich, Sgt. Smallman (R.A.F.), F/Sgt. Roberts, F/Sgt. L-Wright.
3. 956 C, Lt. Golding, Lt. Mulholland, F/Sgt. Pearce, F/Sgt. Green.
4. 176 YY Major Jendrell, Capt. Hatswell, F/Sgt. Morley, Lt. te Water Pohl
5. Major Barnby, Lt. Simon, F/S. Lotter, ~~XXXX~~ Lt. Sandilands (A/C No. 108 B)
6. 900 F Capt. Mouton, Lt. Cooper, F/S Goodchild, F/S Champion.
7. 920 O Capt. Cormack, Lt. Moore, F/B Finberg, F/S. McGee
8. 957 W Capt. Bell, Lt. Levi, F/S Kosviner, F/S Myburgh
9. 918 T Lt. Metcalf, Lt. Floor, F/Sgt. Forrest A. F/Sgt. Perkins
10. 904 BB Capt. Cumming, Lt. Evans, F/Sgt. Heyman, F/Sgt. Lyne.
11. 910 H Lt. Hotchkiss, Lt. Morrell, F/Sgt. Mamet, F/Sgt. Mills.
ooooooo "B1" 47
From: Officer Commanding, No. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.To: (1) D.P.S.O., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E. (4)(2) No. 3 (S.A.) Wing (Admin.) (1)(3) Rear A.H.Q., W.D. (1)(4) A.D.A.I., S.A.A.F., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E. (1)Date: 21st. January, 1943.Ref: 21S. 34/5/ CIRCUMSTANTIAL REPORT:
BALTIMORE III - AC. 900 Port Engine No. A. 212110 Starboard " No. A. 212098.
CREW: Pilot: No. 102848 Capt. J. MOUTON (Uninjured) Observer: 103710 Lieut. A. COOPER (Slightly wounded) W/Op. 206496 A/T/Sgt. Goodchild G.D. (Uninjured) A/Gunner: 102388 A/T/Sgt. Champion D.C. (Uninjured)
This Squadron's signal T. 20 dated 19 Jan. 43, refers.
* The above-mentioned aircraft was one of seven Baltimores
of this Squadron which took part in a raid of enemy M.T. on the roadEast of Castelverde on the night of 18/19 Jan. 43. The aircraft took offat Chel II at 23.30 hours on 18 Jan. 43 and, after bombing andground-straffing, turned out to sea and commenced the return tripto base. * There appears to have been some error in navigation as
the aircraft crossed the coast about eight miles East of Homs, be-yond the bomb-line, and was at 1,500 feet when a battery ofBredas opened fire. One direct hit was secured below the Observer'scompartment, splinters from which did considerable damage in thecompartment, damaged several instruments and slightly wounded theObserver Lieut. A. Cooper, in the left buttock. * The aircraft returned to base where, apart from the
bursting of a tyre, it landed without further damage. It is beingflown to 51 R.S.U., Soluch, for repairs. * Lieut. Cooper has been admitted to No. 33 S.A.F.A. where
the shrapnel splinter has been removed and it is anticipated thathe will be returning to the Squadron in the course of a day ortwo. (Handwritten Signature: Lt Col Coppen) LT.-COLONEL, OFFICER COMMANDING NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F. "C1" 48
P O S T A G R A M -----------------
To : H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.From : S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Squadron/ 173Date : 20th January, 1943. OPREP No. 173 for period ending 0600 hours on the 20th January, 1943.
A. M.T. on coastal road between CASTEL VERDE - TRIPOLI(Map reference TRIPOLI 1:500,000 Sheet 2)B. 7 BaltimoresC. (i) Medium Level Bombing.(ii) 2/5000 ft.(iii) 0000/0026 hours.D. (i) 42 x 250 lbs G.P. 43 det (Rods)(ii) 2500 rounds .300(iii) The road was attacked at various points, allbombs hitting the target area and ten fireswere started. One aircraft groundstraffed M.T.on the road from 300ft. No results observed.E. One Aircraft Cat. 2.F. One Observer, Lt. A. Cooper, Slight wound.G. NilH. (i) 2230 hours (ii) 22 hours.J. Poor.K. Spasmodic Light Ack/Ack from GASR GARABULLIIntense light from CARRADINI: Accurate. COMM. (1) ~~EXHXXXX~~ 1 Hour 40 mins
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) Capt. Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F
- No. 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force, a light bomber unit operating under the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF).
- S.A.A.F
- South African Air Force.
- Lt. Col. Coppen
- Lieutenant Colonel Coppen, the Officer Commanding 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. and formation leader for this operation.
- R.A.F
- Royal Air Force. Sergeant Smallman is identified as an R.A.F. member integrated into the S.A.A.F. crew of aircraft 944 R.
- A/C No
- Aircraft Number. Specifically used to clarify the airframe for Major Barnby's crew after a strike-through in the original typewritten list.
- H.Q., R.A.F., M.E
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
- Rear A.H.Q., W.D
- Rear Advanced Air Headquarters, Western Desert.
- A.D.A.I., S.A.A.F
- Assistant Director of Air Intelligence, South African Air Force.
- W/Op
- Wireless Operator.
- A/T/Sgt
- Acting Temporary Sergeant.
Sortie Report No. 172: The specific operational record documenting the squadron's maximum-effort nocturnal interdiction mission conducted on 18–19 January 1943.
D.P.S.O., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.: Deputy Principal Staff Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
No. 3 (S.A.) Wing: No. 3 (South African) Wing, the administrative and tactical formation to which 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. was assigned.
BALTIMORE III - AC. 900: The Martin Baltimore Mark III light bomber, serial number AC. 900, tactical letter 'F'.
ground-straffing: Low-altitude machine-gun attacks on ground targets (archaic spelling of 'strafing').
bomb-line: A tactical line established to indicate the forward limit for Allied air attacks to prevent friendly fire on advancing ground forces.
ft.: Feet, the unit of measurement used for altitude, such as the 300-foot low-level strafing run.
250 lbs G.P. 43 det (Rods): 250-pound General Purpose high-explosive bombs utilizing No. 43 tail pistols and nose extension rods. These rods, colloquially termed "daisy cutters," triggered detonation just above the desert floor to maximize the lateral fragmentation blast against soft-skinned vehicles.