Martin Baltimores of No. 21 Squadron SAAF clear the target area as the smoke from burning oil dumps spreads across the airfield on Pantelleria, on the during the intensive air bombardment of the island by light bombers of the Desert Air Force. The massive  air offensive with the destruction of all control communications were destroyed together with many gun emplacements, ammunition stores and air-raid shelters caused the Italian garrison’s surrender just after the landing of the Allied forces. The conquest of Pantelleria, as that of Lampedusa, was the first step for the Sicily’s invasion. Victor Sierra

A massive air offensive

Operation Corkscrew: a Boston medium bomber of No. 24 Squadron South African Air Force flies over the target as bombs explode on the Italian gun battery on Monte San Elmo (bottom), during the ten-day air aerial bombardment of Pantelleria, prior to the Allied landings, 10 June 1943. In the June of 1943 14,203 bombs amounting to 4,119 tons were dropped on 16 Italian batteries. Out of 80 guns bombed 43 were damaged (10 beyond repair). Victor Sierra




SAAF bomber raiding Pantelleria

In preparation of Sicily’s invasion, Summer 1943: trolleys loaded with 250-lb GP (General Purpose) bombs are driven to the flight lines of No. 223 Squadron RAF Detachment at Luqa, Malta, where their Martin Baltimore Mark IVs are being prepared for a raid on enemy positions around Catania, one of the most important strategic and tactical targets of the Sicily. Victor Sierra