There was moderate — Onoorwinlik

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Date: 23rd March, 1945

APPENDIX "T"122From : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.To : H.Q. M.A.A.F. (Attention Operations Records)H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. (SCORU)W.I.O. 3 WING S.A.A.F.Ref. : 21S/974Date : 23rd March, 1945Oprep No. 974 for the period ending 2100 Hrs. on the 22nd March, 1945Ref. Map Italy 1:100,000 Sheet 39 - PORDENONE.Operation No. 176/21S/M.A : 10 Marauders airborne from Jesi L/G between 1420 hrs and 1719 hrspicked up an escort of 6 Spits at Porto Corsini and set coursefor target at 1520 hrs. The formation was diverted by a windfinding A/C from the primary target, Zalog M/Yards in Yugoslaviato Casarsa M/Yards, the weather alternative, which was bombedfrom 11,500 to 12,500' at 1607 hrs. The wind send by thewindfinding A/C was not received by the formation leader, whosebombs fell with a right lateral error of 150 - 200 yds, inopen country. 2nd Box dropped a stick which ran right throughthe centre of the yards, with several d/h's on trucks, ofwhich there were about 100 in the target area. Bombs from the3rd Box fell with an undershoot ending on the edge of the yds.with a few bombs falling into the target. There was moderateaccurate H/A/A which holed 7 A/C (total of 12 holes).There was no cloud over the target but visibility was poor inhaze. Pamphlets and window were dispensed.One Marauder airborne between 1358 and 1650 hrs found primarytarget covered by banks of cloud between 9500' and 14000' sodiverted formation to Casarsa, where a wind of 051/11 was foundand passed. This A/C then bombed Porto Nogaro Cellulose factory,bombs falling with 100 yards overshoot. No bombs in target. Noenemy opposition.B : (1) 11 Marauders III (ii) Nil C. (1) and (ii) NilD : (1) 32.05 Hrs (ii) Nil E. (1) 37400 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NilF : (1) 66 x 500 MC/Fused: (ii) as in (1) (iii) & (iv)44 x 250 GP/30-51Tail 18 Pkts Pamphlets Nil252 lbs window: (ii) 2 Marauders Cat II (Flak)5 Marauders Cat I (Flak)G to V : NilW : (1) 1 Marauder III (ii) Nil X. (1) 3.00 Hrs (ii) NilY to Z : Nil.[Signed] S.F. WiggillLT. Capt.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.Handwritten Marginalia / Stamps:

Folio Number: 122 (Handwritten, Top Right).

Reference Stamp:The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/3

Transcriber's Notes

Jesi L/G: Jesi Landing Ground, the primary forward base for 21 Squadron during March 1945.
Spits: Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft provided for top-cover and close escort.

MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard high-explosive ordnance, typically 500 lb and 250 lb variants, carried by SAAF crews to destroy physical industrial infrastructure and rolling stock.