Fighter area cover provided. No

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Date: - 13th MARCH 1945

APPENDIX "J"112C O N F I D E N T I A L.FROM :- S.I.O. NO. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.TO :- H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION OPERATIONS RECORDS)H.Q. M.A.T.A.F.( S.C.O.R.U.)S.A.O.A. ADV. HQ. S.A.A.F. C.M.F.W.I.O. 3 SA WING S.A.A.F.REF :- 21S/961.DATE :- 13th MARCH 1945.OPREP NO 961 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HOURS ON THE 12th MARCH '45.REF MAP ITALY 1,100,000 pp G 455301 SHEET NO 65. (ADRIA): Ten A/C airborne from Jesi L/G between 1544 and 1750 hoursto attack the PONTO LONGO Sugar Refinery at G 455301. Onebox of four and two Vics. set course from base at 1608hours and bombed at 1652 - 1658 hours from 12000' on acourse of 340 degrees. First Box:- Leaders bombs hung up,but remaining 3 A/C bombed on verey overshooting by about100 yards; no hits in target claimed. On second run, 9bombs of leader in centre of target (1 x 250 lb broughtback). SECOND BOX:- On first run leader experiencedtrouble with bomb doors; on second run pattern of this Vicfell about 100 yards right of target, mostly in open coun--try. THIRD BOX:- also had a right error of about 200 Ydsin fields N.E. of target. Fighter area cover provided. Noenemy opposition encountered. Weather target clear, Vis.hazy.: (1) 10 Marauders 111 (11) NIL.: (1) NIL. (11) NIL.: (1) 20.00 Hours. (11) NIL.: (1) 34000 x .5 (11) NIL. (111) NIL.: (1) 60 x 500 lb (11) 60 x 500Lb (111) 1 x 25040 x 250 Lb 39 x 250 (1v) NIL.Fused tail only 540 lb's window.30 - 51. 25 Pkts. Pamphlets.: NIL.: (1) 2 Marauders 111 (11) NIL.: (1) 1.50 Hours (11) NIL.: Z NIL.[Signed] S. L. Boschoff------------------------- CAPTAIN.21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.Handwritten Marginalia / Stamps:

Folio Number: 112 (Handwritten, Top Right).

Reference Stamp:The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/3

Transcriber's Notes

S.I.O: Squadron Intelligence Officer. Captain S. L. Boschoff was responsible for mission debriefing and OPREP compilation.
S.C.O.R.U: Section for Operational Research and Underlining (or Unit), responsible for analyzing strike accuracy and effectiveness.
S.A.O.A. ADV. HQ: South African Officer Administrative, Advanced Headquarters.
C.M.F: Central Mediterranean Force.
W.I.O: Wing Intelligence Officer.
Vic: A tactical formation of three aircraft flying in a 'V' shape.

MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard high-explosive ordnance, typically 500 lb and 250 lb variants, carried by SAAF crews to destroy physical industrial infrastructure and storage facilities.