21 Squadron War Diary
2310 hrs Tortorella, Italy
The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2APPENDIX "J"R.A.F. Form 541 A.81SORTIE REPORT(Part A)| Sheet No. | Oprep. Ref. No. | Date | Squadron ||---|---|---|---|| 1 | 552 | 14 Feb 44 | 21 SAAF |Type of Aircraft | 13 Baltimores | Captain | LT/COL JANDRELL DFC.Aircraft No. | (2 Mk.3A. 11 Mk.4) (2 a/c returned early) | Crew | CAPT CARTERAircraft Letter | See Over | Formation LeaderTime Up | 10.31 1st a/c | Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLATime Down | 12.38 last a/cTotal Time | 23.10 HoursType of Cloud | ) | Map or Chart ReferenceAmount of Cloud | ) 1/10 Alto-Cirr. 10/11000' | ITALY 1:100,000Base of Cloud | ) | Sheet 151Visibility | Good | ALATRIGeneral Weather | GoodTask or Duty | COLLEFERRO RR. STATION G170490| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 1031 | | BASE | a/b || 1051 | 2000 | BASE | S/c LUCERA || 1056 | 3000 | LUCERA | S/c Mountains || 1134 | 14400 | TARGET | Bombs dropped || 1156 | | BASE | Landed || 1238 | | | Last a/c landed |(Signature) (Illegible) 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 27/269/2BA: COLLEFERRO RR STATION G170490BB: From 1132 to 1135 A HrsBC: Medium level bombing attack 280°/300° 13400/14300'22 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol33 x 250 GP do do2 x 500 MC do do )hung-up, jettisoned G310594 N.B.G.3 x 250 GP do do )1 x 250 GP do do dropped late at PALIANOAircraft "K" returned after T.O. (20 mins) due to engine troubleAircraft "L" took off to replace "K" but returned after 50 Minsbeing unable to contact formation.BD: Boxes bombed independently on respective box leaders, second boxslightly astern and to left of leading box. Stick across N.W.portion of M/Yds. Numerous direct hits on track, sticks extendinginto buildings beyond. Direct hit, followed by billowing whitesmoke, on large building WEST of main Road leading to station.BE: NILBF: NILBG: Verticals and Obliques of before and after attackBH: Roads SULMONA to ISERNIA and PESCARA to ISERNIA snowbound. AtROCCARASO G9771 Rds in village in use, but secondary Rds snowboundRoad from AVEZZANO to SORA clear. At COLLELONGO G6565 Roads in andout of town in use - 14 M.T. in town. All Rds open around targetarea.AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.437N LT/COL JANDRELL. CAPT CARTER LT THOMPSON LT TE WATER POHL383W LT GREDER LT KIRBY F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY649U CAPT DIEU LT VANDE PUTTE F/SGT BAILEY F/SGT DU RANT441B LT BENNETT LT HARLE 2/LT STRYDOM A/SGT SCHOURDIE645L/ The following a/c returned early as stated above :-167S LT ASKEW LT COCKBURN F/SGT GELDENHUYS A/SGT CRAWHALL545A CAPT JOB LT STUART LT CASE A/SGT EARP-JONES586K LT MUSGROVE LT GILDENHUYS LT V.SCHALKWYK A/SGT LIEPOLDT412B LT ASHTON LT ROSE F/SGT HARMSE A/SGT BROUGH441F LT FROST LT WHITE F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN637C LT WITTE LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON A/SGT MARAIS467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN A/SGT MACKAYThe following a/c returned early as stated above :-341L CAPT V. BREDA LT NAUDE F/SGT GRATTON A/SGT LIESCHING414P CAPT DE WET LT MELTZ LT DU PREEZ A/SGT PEENS