Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 23rd AUGUST, 1944
APPENDIX "L"118TO : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION 23rd SCORU.): H.Q. T.A.F. ITALY ( ATTENTION SCORU): SAOS S.A.A.F.FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.REF. : 21S/ 804DATE : 23rd AUGUST, 1944.OPREP NO. 804 FOR THE 24 HOURS ENDING 2100 HRS. L.T. ON THE 23. 8. 44REF. MAP:- ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 88 IMOLAOPERATION NO. 8/21/M.A. : 12 Marauders briefed to attack IMOLA M/ YARDS and formationtook off from PESCARA at 0805 hrs. with a load of 48 x 1000lbs bombs. After R/V at Falconara with a close escort of8 Spitfires, formation set course out to sea and crossedcoast over Lake Comacchio and attacked from a northernlycourse at 1000 hrs from 11,000 feet. Pattern of firstbox resulted in a slight right error, bombs falling parallelto M/Yards with numerous direct hits on buildings in vicinity.First Vic of Second box straddled N/W portion of target, whilesecond vic's pattern started in open ground immediately northof M/Yards and ended with 2 - 3 direct hits on what appearsto be large factory buildings N.E. of target. One A/C expe-rienced bomb-door trouble and brought bombs back. No enemyopposition. Weather:- Target clear of cloud, but visibilityvery hazy. All A/C down by 1114 hrs.B. : (1) 12 Marauders III (ii) NilC. : (1) & (ii) NilD. : (1) 36 hrs. (ii) Nil.E. : (1) 45600 x .50 (ii) & (iii) Nil (Fuzing: 36-27 Nose SA-30 Tail)F. : (1) 48 x 1000 (ii) 44 x 1000 (iii) & (iv) NilG - Z. : Nil.(Signed) S.L. BoschoffCapt.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- H.Q. M.A.A.F
- Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
- SCORU
- Special Central Operational Reporting Unit.
- T.A.F
- Tactical Air Force.
- SAOS S.A.A.F
- South African Operational Section, South African Air Force.
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
- OPREP
- Operational Report.
- L.T
- Local Time.
- R/V
- Rendezvous.
- Falconara
- A coastal town north of Ancona used as a standard rendezvous point for the formation and its Supermarine Spitfire escort. It is the site of modern Ancona International Airport.
- Lake Comacchio
- A large lagoon system in Northern Italy used as a primary navigational landfall point for aircraft crossing the Adriatic.
Abbreviations Expanded:
Observations about Individuals:
Location and Strategic Geography:
Historical Theatre Context: