Remaining three were over target at 1706 hrs. and a pattern about 1000 yards long fell 500 to 800 yards N.E. of briefed

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Date: 16th SEPTEMBER, 1944

'N'183TO : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION 23rd SCORU)H.Q. T.A.F. ITALY ( ATTENTION SCORU)S.A.O.A. S.A.A.F.FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.REF. : 21S/829DATE : 16th SEPTEMBER, 1944OPREP NO. 829 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HRS. ON THE 15th SEPTEMBER '44REF. MAP ITALY, 1:100,000 SHEET 101 RIMINI.OPS. 94 to 96 / 21 / M.A. : 12 Marauders in 3 Boxes of 4 A/C each, briefed to attack an Enemy Strong Point with its centre at R. 808933. Each A/C carried 192 x 20 frag. cluster bombs. Last A/C was airborne from PESCARA at 1605 hrs. One A/C of the first Box returned early with all bombs, having lost sight of formation due to cloud enroute to target. Remaining three were over target at 1706 hrs. and a pattern about 1000 yards long fell 500 to 800 yards N.E. of briefed pin points. Second Box returned with all bombs due to encountering 10/10 layer cloud before reaching ANCONA. Third Box after a dummy run bombed at 1727 hrs. a pattern of about 800 x 500 yards commencing in centre of briefed area and running out, majority of bombs in Target. Slight to moderate H.A.A. from Target area ( 3 A/C holed) Weather: En route 10/10 cloud 5000 to 10,000 feet from base to beyond ANCONA improving to Target area. Target area clear but visibility hazy. Last A/C down by 1821 hrs.B. : (i) 12 Marauders III (ii) NilC. : (i) & (ii) NilD. : (i) 20.20 hrs. (ii) NilE. : (i) 45600 x .50 (ii) (iii) NilF. : (i) 2304 x 20 (ii) 1344 x 20 (iii) & (iv) NilG to V : NilW. : (i) 1 Marauder III (ii) NilX. : (i) 55 Minutes (ii) NilY to Z : Nil(Signed) S. L. BoastLt. for Capt.21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

H.Q: Headquarters.
M.A.A.F: Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
SCORU: Section Central Operational Research Unit.
T.A.F: Tactical Air Force.
S.A.O.A: South African Operational Assistant.
S.A.A.F: South African Air Force.
S.I.O: Squadron Intelligence Officer.
OPREP: Operational Report.
A/C: Aircraft.
N.E: Northeast.

Abbreviations Expanded:

frag.: fragmentation.

Observations about Individuals:

Location and Modern Names:

Historical Theatre Context:

Operation Olive - The Battle for the Ridges: This mission on September 15, 1944, occurred as Allied ground forces were in the midst of a brutal assault on the German Gothic Line.