Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 4th June, 1944
APPENDIX "D"308TO : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SAOA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/705DATE : 4th June, 1944OPREP No. 705 for the period ending 2100 Hrs on the 3rd June, 1944REF MAP : YUGOSLAVIA 1:100,000 SHEET 109 OMIS12 Baltimores airborne from BIFERNO at 1418 hrs to bomb OMIS HARBOUR.Formation set course from PENNA POINT at 1447 hrs with an escort of sixSpitfires. Attack took place at 1536 hrs from 11000' on a Courseof 060°. Pattern from both boxes fell alongside each other coveringarea U73318 - U76320, U76319 - U74317. Only six or seven bombsin water. Several direct hits followed by explosions on Warehouse atthe S.W. tip of harbour and explosion with purple brown smoke frombuilding just East of deep water berth. Stick carried into theEastern portion of the town. No enemy opposition. Weather good. AllA/c landed by 1638 hrs.B: (i) 6 Balts Mk IV(ii) NIL(i) 6 Balts Mk V(ii) NILC: (i) & (ii) NIL(i) & (ii) NILD: (i) 13.00 Hrs(ii) NIL(i) 13.00 Hrs(ii) NILE: (i) 19200 x .301800 x .3034200 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(i) 19200 x .301800 x .3034200 x .50(ii) & (iii) NILF: (i) 24 x 500 M.C.(ii) As in (i)(iii) & (iv) NIL(Fused: 49 - 27 Nose, 36 - 28 Tail)(i) 24 x 500 M.C.(ii) As in (i)(iii) & (iv) NILG to Z : NILW: (i) 2 Balts Mk III(ii) NIL(i) 1 Balt Mk V(ii) NIL(i) 0.15 Hrs(ii) NIL(i) 0.15 Hrs(ii) NILY 2: NILADDENDUM to OPREP No. 702 dated 2nd June, 1944Baltimore 380 (S) "S" hit by flak immediately after bombing.A/c responding normally, but oil was pouring out of port engine whichstarted to smoke. Pilot switched off, turned off petrol and engagedfire extinguishers. A/c was then flying normally on one engine. Oilpressure dropped suddenly and engine started to smoke. Pilotswitched off and put A/c into a glide, estimated height at the time3000'. Crash landed in a field near road at approximately M201999(ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 170 TERRACINA). Towards the end of the bellylanding, A/c broke up in two and port engine tore out. Observer andtwo gunners were thrown out. Pilot was extricated from his cockpitby American M/P's. Observer has both ankles fractured and a fractureof the spine, still in hospital. Top-turret gunner lacerated face,still in hospital. Pilot and W/Op-AG both with lacerated faces,returned to Squadron. A/c badly damaged, left under guard ofAmerican M/P's.F.L Major Dalling D.F.CHallick Capt.S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- S.W
- South West.
- A/c
- Aircraft.
- M/P's
- Military Police.
- W/Op-AG
- Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. 20 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 5th June, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 706) labeled APPENDIX "E" (page number 309).
- Major Dalling
- The document is signed by F.L. (Flight Leader) Major Dalling D.F.C. As noted in the diary for June 30th (File 13), Major Dalling was posted "Tour Expired" at the end of the month, making this one of his final combat leads.
The Crash of Baltimore "S" (A Vivid Account):
Leadership:
Abbreviations: