21 Squadron War Diary
1555 hrs Tortorella, Italy
The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2APPENDIX "K"SORTIE REPORT(Part A)R.A.F. Form 541 A.Sheet No. | Oprep. Ref. No. | Date | Squadron|---|---|---|1 | 553 | 14 Feb 44 | 21 SAAFType of Aircraft | 12 Baltimores | Captain | MAJOR DALLING DFC.Aircraft No. | 1 Mk.3A, 10 Mk.4, 1 Mk.5. | Crew | LT McARAVEYAircraft Letter | See over | Formation LeaderTime Up | 1415 A Hrs 1st a/c | Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLATime Down | 1640 A Hrs last a/cTotal Time | 29.15 HoursType of Cloud | Cu | Map or Chart ReferenceAmount of Cloud | 7/10 - 8/10Base of Cloud | 4000' base 7000' Tops | ITALY 1:100,000Visibility | Good though hazy | Sheet 150General Weather | Good | ROMATask or Duty | SUPPLY DUMPS G 084570| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 1415 | | TORTORELLA | A/B || 1445 | 2500 | " | S/c || 1500 | 5000 | LUCERA | Circling and climbing over cloud || 1515 | 7600 | " | S/c AVEZZANO || 1543 | 14000 | AVEZZANO | S/c SUBIACO || 1545 | 14000 | SUBIACO | S/c TARGET || 1548 | 14000 | TARGET | Circled twice || 1552 | 11000 | TARGET | Bombed || 1555 | 11000 | PALESTRINA | S/c AVEZZANO || 1614 | 11000 | AVEZZANO | S/c BASE || 1640 | | TORTORELLA | Last a/c landed |(Signature) Capt.SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.PART B (on reverse) to be completed according to relevant pro-forma in H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. Instruction 34.QP/1,500,000/4-42 P.T.O.The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/288BA: SUPPLY DUMPS G084570BB: 1521 Hrs to 1527 A HrsBC: Medium level bombing attack 080°/110° 11000/11700'23 x 500 MC 52 Det 44 Pistol36 x 250 GP do doNOTE: 1 x 500 MC hang-up in a/c "S" (Mk.3A) Electrical defect.BD: Whilst running on target Leader's inter-com failed. Second boxbombed. Leader made a second run and 1st box bombed with him.1st box, medium stick from G050570 to G088569. One fire (greyon Western edge of Rd - One direct hit on Rd.2nd Box, short stick G081570 to G086572, two fires (one cloud ofpink smoke, one grey brownish smoke)BE: NILBF: NILBG: Verticals and Obliques of bomb burstsBH: 15 M.T. travelling both ways on Rd ROME to VALMONTONE, WEST ofVALMONTONE4 M.T. stationary on Rd SOUTH WEST of AVEZZANO6 M.T. on Rd PALESTRINA - ROME travelling towards latterFair Rd activity between ROME and target area.AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.437N MAJOR DALLING DFC. LT McARAVEY F/SGT FORRESTER A/SGT BUCHLER383W LT GREDER LT KIRBY F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY612T LT BENNETT LT HARLE 2/LT STRYDOM A/SGT CROOMBIE167S CAPT DE WET LT MELTZ LT DU PREEZ A/SGT PEENS649U CAPT DIEU LT VANDE PUTTE F/SGT BAILEY F/SGT DU RANT325Q LT ROWE LT JANSEN LT HEYNS A/SGT PECKITT545A CAPT JOB LT STUART LT CASE A/SGT EARP-JONES645J CAPT V.D. RIET LT RIVE F/SGT SAVAGE A/SGT SCOTT637C LT WITTE LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON A/SGT MARAIS576O LT RICHARDS LT RABINOWITZ F/SGT ROBBERTSE A/SGT McCRINDLE412B LT ASHTON LT ROSE F/SGT HARMSE A/SGT BROUGH586K LT MUSGROVE LT GILDENHUYS LT V.SCHALKWYK A/SGT LEIPOLDT