TORTORELLA

R.A.F. Form 441 A. SORTIE REPORT (Part A.) Sheet No. 1 Oprep. Ref. No. 456 Date. 24 Nov 43 Squadron. 21 SAAF No. of Aircraft. 12 Baltimores 4 Mk.3A, 8 Mk.4 Aircraft No. ) Aircraft Letter. ) See Over Captain. CAPT SMIT Crew. LT KAY Formation Leader Time Up. 1416 A Hrs 1st Aircraft Time Down. 1600 A Hrs Last Aircraft Total Time. 17.00 Hours Aerodrome or L.G. TORTORELLA Type of Cloud. Cu. Cirrus. St. Cu/Nimb. Amount of Cloud. 3/10 2/10 2/10 7/10 Base of Cloud. 7000' Tops 8000'. 10000'. 14000'. 7000' Visibility. 10/15 Miles General Weather. Fair Map or Chart Reference. ITALY 1:100,000 Sheets 147/148 Target or Duty. GUNS AND TROOPS C370015 Narrative: | Height. | Place. | Narrative. | |---|---|---| | — | BASE | A/B | | 3000 | BASE | S/c 315º M for TERMOLI POINT | | 9000 | TERMOLI | S/c 305º M for SANGRO RIVER MOUTH | | 14000 | SANGRO RIV MOUTH | S/c TARGET | | 11000 | TARGET | Bombs dropped Height 11000', Course 240º Speed 200 | | 10000 | SANGRO RIV | S/c 130º M for BASE | | 3000 | BASE | Circling | | — | BASE | Landed | | — | BASE | Last a/c Landed | (Sgd) [unclear signature] Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1943-11-24 TORTORELLA

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes Expanded Abbreviations * R.A.F.: Royal Air Force. * SAAF / S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * Oprep. Ref. No.: Operational Report Reference Number. * Mk.: Mark (designating the specific version of the aircraft). * CAPT / LT: Captain / Lieutenant. * L.G.: Landing Ground. * Cu. / St. / Nimb.: Cumulus / Stratus / Nimbus (cloud types). * A/B: Airborne. * S/c: Set course. * M: Magnetic (referring to compass headings). * RIV / RIVIS: River. * a/c: Aircraft. * SIO: Senior Intelligence Officer. * Sgd: Signed. Observations on Individuals * Captain Smit: Serving as the Formation Leader in aircraft 383W (referenced "See Over"). Smit was a veteran pilot in 21 Squadron who consistently led formations during the high-intensity tactical support missions throughout November 1943. * Lieutenant Kay: Acted as the regular observer/navigator for Captain Smit. This established lead crew was responsible for the precision timing and navigation required to coordinate with Allied ground forces near the Sangro River. Location Information and Modern Geography * Target C370015 (near Fossacesia): The grid coordinate points to German gun and troop concentrations situated on the ridge overlooking the Sangro River, specifically near the modern-day town of Fossacesia in the Abruzzo region. * Sangro River Mouth: A critical navigational waypoint and the site of the Allied front line during late November 1943. Today, this area is home to the Le Morge nature reserve. * Tortorella Landing Ground (Foggia No. 2): The home base for 21 Squadron. Now largely agricultural land, the original site is located just east of the modern Foggia "Gino Lisa" Airport. * Termoli Point (Punta di Termoli): A coastal landmark in the Molise region used as a pivot point for the formation as they flew north along the Adriatic coast. Historical Context * The Battle of the Sangro: Flown on November 24, 1943, this mission took place during the opening phases of the British Eighth Army's major offensive to break the Bernhardt Line (also known as the Reinhard Line). German "Guns and Troops" positions on the high ground north of the river were primary targets for light bombers like the Martin Baltimore. * Meteorological Interference: The report notes complex cloud formations, including Cumulonimbus (Cu/Nimb.) with 7/10 coverage and tops at 7,000 feet. These storm clouds were typical of the deteriorating Italian autumn weather that frequently disrupted Allied air operations and bogged down ground movements in thick mud. * Tactical Precision: Despite the clouds, the formation successfully identified the target and dropped their ordnance from 11,000 feet at a speed of 200 knots. The use of both Mk.3A and Mk.4 versions of the Baltimore underscores the mix of equipment the squadron had to maintain under field conditions. * High Operational Tempo: This mission followed a series of intense strikes against rail and road targets, such as Palena Station, as the Desert Air Force (DAF) worked to isolate German front-line units from their supply bases in the north. 69 The date written in the 'Date' column on the corresponding Part A report to verify this image is 24 Nov 43.