Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA: ARMED RECCE RDS: (1) CASERTA - BENEVENTO - AVELLINO - NAPLES(2) AVELLINO - 0.1049 - VALLATA - N.8073(3) AULETTA - EBOLI - 0.1049 - AVIGLIANO(4) SAPRI - BRIENZA and SAPRI N.W. to Bomb Line.BB: From 2107 Hrs LT to 2247 Hrs LTBC: Medium level bombing on various courses from 5000/12000 feet.48 x 250 G.P. 43 Det. 27 Pistol with rods-6 jettisoned offcoast - considered near SAPRI but unable to pin-point coast.BD: New and isolated MET movement, some with headlights, wereattacked from N.5574 along road to S474 causing an explosion.Bombs aimed at 4 MET at 0.4232 - near misses but grass explosionsseen. SAPRI town received one stick along WEST. One stick hitroad WEST of AVELLINO, near likely MET at 0.3106. 0.3987 bombshit road near 2 lights. Small bridge received hit at 0.2739.5 MET near bridge at T.5468. 4/5 MET moving NORTH - long stick.MET moved off after bursts.BE: 7/8 H/A/A bursts inaccurate and 25 S/Ls SOUTH of NOLA area.Some caught a/c but evaded by diving.BF: NIL.BG: NIL.BH: Heavy haze over coastal area C. SCALEA to C. PALINURA - onea/c unable to pin-point coast. Jettisoned bombs in sea,considered off SAPRI and returned to Base.AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.586B CAPT SAUNDERS LT BOOYSE F/S MOORE SGT EARP-JONES290C LT/COL. BRITZ. DFC. P/O SMALLMAN 2/LTs HARRISON & PICKUP206J LT WOOD LT NEL F/S JAMES SGT ROBERTSON291U LT BENNETT LT HARLE F/S STRYDOM P/O GILDEN221Y LT EATON LT GOULD F/S FREESTONE F/S VAN ROOYAN256S CAPT SMIT LT KAY 2/LTs PURDON & WRIGHT387R LT RICHARDS LT DECONNICK F/S ROBERTSE SGT MCGRINDLE195G LT MURMAN LT OWEN-HUGHES F/S ODENDAAL SGT STEWART
Transcriber's Notes
- RECCE RDS
- Reconnaissance of Roads.
- Hrs LT
- Hours Local Time.
- G.P
- General Purpose (explosive bombs).
- MET
- Mechanical Enemy Transport (motorized vehicles/convoys).
- H/A/A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire.
- S/Ls
- Searchlights.
- DFC
- Distinguished Flying Cross. Personnel and Command Observations
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded
a/c: Aircraft.