21 Squadron War Diary
1506 hrs Tortorella, Italy
The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2APPENDIX "F"SORTIE REPORT(Part A)R.A.F. Form 541 A.Sheet No. | Oprep. Ref No. | Date | Squadron|---|---|---|1 | 546 | 8 Feb 44 | 21 SAAFType of Aircraft | 12 Baltimores | Captain | MAJOR DALLING DFCAircraft No. | (1 Mk.3A, 11 Mk.4) | Crew | LT MCARAVEYAircraft Letter | See over | Formation LeaderTime Up | 1258 A Hrs 1st a/c | Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLATime Down | 1506 A Hrs last a/cTotal Time | 24.00 HrsType of Cloud | 10/10 Alto.Stratus 10000' base, 15000' | Map or Chart ReferenceAmount of Cloud | tops WEST of CAMPOBASSO. 3/10 CirrusBase of Cloud | over target area, 25000' base | ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 160 CASSINOVisibility | Good over targetGeneral Weather | PoorTask or Duty | ATINA TOWN G8535Time | Height | Place | Narrative| | | TORTORELLA | A/B1325 | 2500 | " | S/c from Drome1345 | 6000 | LUCERA | Rv with 232 Wing1352 | 6500 | " | S/c CAMPOBASSO1414 | 8000 | CAMPOBASSO | Turned round owing to cloud. Lost 232 Wing and started climbing on S.W. Co. to get over the cloud.1433 | 16000 | BENEVENTO | S/c VENAFRO and TARGET1443 | 16000 | TARGET | Bombed ATINA TOWN1506 | | | Last a/c landed(Signature) Capt.SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.(Signature illegible)PART B (on reverse) to be completed according to relevant pro-forma in H.Q. R.A.F., M.E. Instruction 34. P.T.O.The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2AB: ATINA TOWN G8535BB: 1441 A HrsBC: High level bombing attack B/Course 320°/330° 16000'24 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol35 x 250 GP do doNOTE: 1 x 250 GP 49 Det 27 Pistol hang-up A/C J.BD: Boxes bombed line astern on leader. Medium stick, EAST of town fromG835354 to G830358. NO bombs in the town. Several direct hits on RdG830358.BE: H/A/A moderate, accurate for height from target area - Some gunsSOUTH of ATINA town, One gun G8839 -,NO enemy fighters.BF: NILBG: Verticals and Obliques of bomb burstsBH: Black smoke over CASSINOAIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.612T MAJOR DALLING DFC. LT McARAVEY F/SGT FORRESTER A/SGT BUCHLER383W LT GREDER LT KIRBY F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY167S LT ASKEW LT LAMBERT F/SGT GELDENHUYS A/SGT CRAWHALL387R LT RICHARDS LT RABINOWITZ F/SGT ROBBERTSE A/SGT McCRINDLE460V CAPT DIEU LT VANDE PUTTE F/SGT BAILEY F/SGT DU RANT414P LT HILL LT PIETERS F/SGT V.D. WESTHUIZEN A/SGT JENKINSON545A CAPT JOB LT STUART 2/LT CASE A/SGT EARP-JONES637C LT ASHTON LT ROSE F/SGT HARMSE A/SGT BROUGH412B LT HEWITT LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT KIDNEY A/SGT BOWEN576O LT MURRAM LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL A/SGT STEWART645J CAPT V.D. RIET LT RIVE F/SGT SAVAGE A/SGT SCOTT586K LT MUSGROVE LT GILDENHUYS LT V.SCHALKWYK A/SGT LEIPOLDT