21 Squadron War Diary
Tortorella, Italy
The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2APPENDIX "G"SORTIE REPORT(Part A)R.A.F. Form 541 A.Sheet No. | Oprep. Ref. No. | Date | Squadron|---|---|---|1 | 548 | 10 Feb 44 | 21 SAAFType of Aircraft | 12 Baltimores | Captain | MAJOR ORDAircraft No. | 1 Mk.3A, 11 Mk.4 | Crew | LT HODGESAircraft Letter | See over | Formation LeaderTime Up | 0859 A Hrs 1st a/c | Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLATime Down | 1116 A Hrs last a/cTotal Time | 24.00 HrsType of Cloud | 4/10 Strata.Cu. Base 7000' over target | Map or Chart ReferenceAmount of Cloud | 9/10 St.Cu over SIMBRUINI Mtns.Base of Cloud | Fine to EAST | ITALY 1:100,000Visibility | Sheet 150General Weather | Much haze over target area | ROMAGoodTask or Duty | PALESTRINA TOWN G0860Time | Height | Place | Narrative| | | BASE | A/B0910 | 2500 | BASE | S/c LUCERA0916 | 5000 | LUCERA | XX Made one circuit0921 | 7400 | LUCERA | S/c CAMPOBASSO0943 | 12000 | CAMPOBASSO | S/c PALESTRINA1012 | 14000 | PALESTRINA | On bombing run Co.245° M.1014 | 12000 | PALESTRINA | S/c ROCCARASO1030 | 13000 | ROCCARASO | S/c BASE1105 | 2000 | BASE | Over Base| | | | Landed| | | | 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 27/269/2BA: PALESTRINA TOWN G0860BB: 1013 A HrsBC: Medium level bombing attack 240°/260° 12000/12400'24 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol36 x 250 GP do doBD: Boxes bombed in line astern on leader. Medium stick starting fromN.E. of town [crossed out text] G081604 across Northern part of town toG077601. Two fires were seen to be burning in town, one with brownsmoke, the other with yellow smoke.BE: NILBF: NILBG: Verticals and Obliques of bomb burstsBH: 20 + MET stationary on Rd ALATRI to GUARCINO and in ALATRI. Rd clearof snow.10 + MET moving both ways G22733 + MET moving both ways G1372MT on Rds from GUARCINO to PALESTRINA and FROSINONE to VALMONTONEat 2miles interval moving WEST.15 + MET stationary on Rd between S. VINCENZO and SORAAIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.643H MAJOR ORD LT HODGES F/SGT BOUCHER CAPT HALL FL467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN A/SGT MACKAY637C LT WITTE LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON A/SGT MARAIS441F LT FROST LT WHITE F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN VL576O LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL A/SGT STEWART545A CAPT V.D.RIET LT RIVE F/SGT SAVAGE A/SGT SCOTT412B CAPT VISSER LT ELLIOTT LT POTGIETER LT V.D.WESTHUIZEN BL383W LT GREDER LT KIRBY F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY167S LT V.D.MERWE LT JORDAAN F/SGT VERITY A/SGT PIENAAR612T CAPT JOB LT NAUDE F/SGT GRATTON A/SGT LEISCHING VL414P LT ROWE LT JANSEN 2/LT HEYNS A/SGT PECKITT649U LT RICHARDS LT RABINOWITZ F/SGT ROBBERTSE A/SGT McCRINDLE