Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 1st.July 1944
APPENDIX "MM"358TO: HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)HQ NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SAOA SAAF.FROM: SIO 21 Squadron SAAF.REF: 21S/741Date: 1st.July 1944.OPREP No. 741 FOR PERIOD ENDING 13.00 Hrs. 30th.June 1944.Ref.Map:Italy 1-100.000 Sheet 99.FAENZA.A. 13 Baltimores (one returned with bomb-load soon after take off owing tohydraulic trouble & another turned back owing to U.S. turret) airbornefrom Pescara at 09.30 Hrs. to bomb FAENZA M/YARDS (M312248). Set course at10.05 Hrs with a close escort of 12 Spitfires and leading 6 Baltimoresof 13 Royal Hellenic Squadron who however turned back before target.Attack took place at 11.25 Hrs. from 13000' on a course of 270°. Bothboxes merged into one pattern overshooting into town and slightly to theleft of M/Yards. Explosion with orange smoke observed. Bombs of one A/Chung up over target & were jettisoned at sea. No. 5 in the second box wasseen to jettison bomb load over target, an explosion being felt immedia--tely afterwards and the A/C went down in flames, crashing in FAENZA town.One parachute seen to open. No enemy opposition. Visibility hazy. RemainingA/C landed to base at 12.26 Hrs. The A/C which turned back before targetjettisoned bomb-load at sea owing to long delay fuse.B. (i) 7 Balt.Mk iv(ii) Nil.(i). 6 Balt.Mk v.(ii) NilC. (i) & (ii) Nil.(i) & (ii) Nil.D. (i) 17.00 Hrs(ii) Nil(i) 16.25 Hrs.(ii) Nil.E. (i) 22400 x .302100 x .3034900 x .50(ii) Nil.(iii) 3200 x .30300 x .303700 x .50(i) 19200 x .301800 x .3034200 x .50(ii) Nil.(iii) Nil.F. (i) 14 x 500 M.C.21 x 250 G.P.(ii) 10 x 50015 x 250(iii) 2 x 5003 x 250(iv) NilFused 36-27 Nose, 36-28 Tail, except 3x250 52-37 Tail (delay).(i) 12 x 500 M.C.18 x 250 G.P.(ii) as in (i)(iii) Nil.(iv) Nil.G. (i) & (ii) Nil.(i) 1 Baltimore Mk.V Cat.iii.(ii) Nil.H. Lt. Elliott-Wilson Pilot.Lt. Stewart ObserverWO.11 Posthumus Wop. A/G.F/Sgt. Brice Straight Gunner.J to Z. Nil.Hallick CaptainSIO 21 Squadron SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- U.S
- Unserviceable.
- M/Yards
- Marshalling Yards.
- M.C
- Medium Capacity (High Explosive).
- G.P
- General Purpose.
- Cat.iii
- Category 3 Damage (Write-off/Destroyed).
- Pilot
- Lt. Elliott-Wilson.
- Observer
- Lt. Stewart.
- Wop. A/G
- WO.II Posthumus.
- Wop. A/G
- Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
- Straight Gunner
- F/Sgt. Brice.
Tragedy at Faenza (A Mysterious Loss):
Combined Operations (The Hellenic Squadron):
Mechanical Attrition:
Ordnance Handling:
Abbreviations: