Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 29 Feb 44
(page obscured on left) : H.Q. NAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) APPENDIX "V"(obscured) : H.Q. MATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) 95(obscured) : SAOA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/568DATE : 29 Feb 44OPREP No.568 for period ending 1100 Hrs to 2100 Hrs LT 28 Feb 44REF MAP : - ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 141 CHIETI(obscured) : 12 a/c took off in two boxes from BIFERNO L/G from 1443 to 1450 Hrs andbombed the CHIETI Cellulose Factory C115185 at 1539 Hrs from 15000' on acourse of 010°/025°. A cover of 4 Spitfires was provided over target area.11 of the a/c returned to base, the last landing at 1653 Hrs. Theremaining a/c was seen to bomb and shortly afterwards fell out of theformation. A message later received from the army advised that this a/chad crashed at H3595 (later corrected as H357912) and 4 parachutes was seento open. Three of the crew landed near ATESSA where they were being cared ffor by the 13th CORPS. A further message advised that the Pilot (CAPT V.D.RIET) had been killed, NO details being given. Visibility over target wasgood but cloudy en-route. Heavy intense and accurate A/A was encounteredsoon after crossing the bomb-line, particularly along the GUARDIAGRELE -CHIETI road, from immediately WEST of the target and from the PESCARAvalley. Several of the 11 a/c were holed, two being Cat. 1. On return.Bombing results generally were NOT well observed due to evasive actionthrough the A/A, but it appears the entire formation undershot, shortsticks commencing with direct hits on station C113171, extending alongWestern edge of railway, and ending at C115185 just short of factory(obscured) (i) 11 Baltimores Mk.4 (i) 1 Baltimore 3A.(ii) NIL (ii) NIL(obscured) NIL(obscured) (i) 20.50 Hours (i) 2.00 Hrs(ii) NIL (ii) NIL(obscured) (i) 35200 x .30 (i) 3200 x .303300 x .303 300 x .3037700 x .50 700 x .50(ii) 10-15 x .50. (ii) NIL(iii) 3200 x .30.- 300 x .303 - 700 x .50 (iii) NIL(obscured) (i) 22 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pist. (i) 2 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pis33 x 250 GP do do 3 x 250 GP do do(ii) 22 x 500: 32 x 250 (1 hang-up) (ii) As in (1)(iii) & (iv) NIL (iii) & (iv) NIL(obscured) (i) One destroyed (i) NIL(ii) 2 Cat.1 (ii) NIL(obscured) No. 47505V. CAPT VAN DER RIET. T.A.B. Pilot, Killed (NO details.)(obscured) to Z: NIL(Signature) S.A. Boshoff Lt for Capt.S.I.O. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- MATAF
- Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force.
- SIO
- Squadron Intelligence Officer. 127 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is an "APPENDIX 'W'" Operational Report (OPREP). The date in the header is 1 Mar 44, but the text body specifies "OPREP No. 569 for period ending 2100 A Hrs L.T. on 29th Feb 44".
- 13th CORPS
- The British XIII Corps, commanded by Lt. Gen. Miles Dempsey (and later Sidney Kirkman), was operating on the right flank of the Allied line, pushing up the Adriatic coast.
- Cat. 1
- Category 1 damage (minor/repairable at unit).
- T.A.B
- Initials of Capt. van der Riet (Thomas Arnoldus Brown).
Casualty Report (Capt. van der Riet):
Operational Details:
Personnel:
Abbreviations: