Sortie Report (Form 541)
P O S T A G R A M "O1" -----------------
To : H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.From : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/235Date : 23 MAR 43. OPREP No. 235 for period ending 1200 hrs. 23 MAR 43. ----------------------------------------------------
A Enemy concentrations and strong points in squareTZ 51 (TUNISIA 1:200,000 Sheet 23 GABES)B 6 Baltimores Mk. 111 of 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.12 Bostons of 12 Squadron, S.A.A.F.C (i) Medium level bombing.(ii) 7,500 ft.(iii) 1025 hrs.D (i) 36 x 250 lb. GP 43 Det. (Rods) (Baltimores)(ii) Nil.(iii) Baltimore box bombed on leader of formation. Bombsfell on NW corner of ZARAT Village, stretching in along stick and bursting among some H.A.A. guns, thatwere firing. One bomb-burst seen in the courtyard ofa building.E Nil.F Nil.G Nil.H (i) 0915 hrs.(ii) 12 hrs. 00 mins.J Slight haze: Visibility good. No cloud.K Enemy held fire until formation had bombed. About 50Ack/Ack bursts were seen. These were inaccurate.2 H.A.A. guns at TZ 50121 H.A.A. gun 500 yards from the coast NNW of ZARAT.Comm. : Nil. T.O.O. 1200 hrs. 23 MAR 43.
(Handwritten Signature: J. Bester) Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
- OPREP No. 235
- Operational Report Number 235, the standardized daily summary of combat activity for the 24-hour period.
- Baltimores Mk. 111
- The Martin Baltimore Mark III, an American-built twin-engine light attack bomber.
- Bostons
- The Douglas Boston (A-20), a light bomber utilized here by No. 12 Squadron S.A.A.F. in a composite formation.
[AUTO-CLASSIFIED — VERIFY CATEGORY]
S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.: Senior Intelligence Officer of No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force.
GP 43 Det. (Rods): General Purpose bombs fitted with No. 43 Detonators and extended nose fuzes ("rods" or "daisy cutters") designed to trigger detonation at the surface to maximize lateral fragmentation.
stick: A linear release sequence of multiple bombs dropped in rapid succession.