21 Squadron War Diary
1005 hrs Tortorella, Italy
NO. 21 SQUADRON, SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE.1st November 1943 3rd November 1943.TORTORELLA1st Cont.and started functioning immediately, lights being set upin the Messes.2ndA formation of twelve aircraft left at 10.05 hours tobomb Railroad Marshalling Yards at Colle Ferro. Bombingfrom a height of 13,000 feet, the target was straddled;several direct hits being scored.Sortie Report No. 431.Appendix "C"3rdA formation took off to attack the road junction atAlfedena. After the target area had been hit and coveredin fine pattern, the aircraft turned for home and encount-ered heavy Ack Ack fire. The leader of the Formation,Lt. Col. Britz, and the No.3 of his second Vic, Capt. Dieu(a Belgian Pilot) were seen to collide. In descending,the propeller of the Colonel's machine cut the tail cleanoff Capt. Dieu's plane; both aircraft were seen spinning