Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 16th AUGUST, 1944
APPENDIX "C"109TO : H.Q. MAAF ( ATTENTION 23rd SCORU): H.Q. TAF ITALY ( ATTENTION SCORU): S.A.O.S. S.A.A.F.FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.REF. : 21S/ 796DATE : 16th AUGUST, 1944OPREP NO. 796 FOR 24 HOURS ENDING 2100 HOURS L.T. ON THE 15th AUGUST, 1944REF. MAP:- ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 76 FERRARAOPERATION NO. 1/21/M: In the Squadron's first Operation on Marauders, 12 A/Cwere airborne from PESCARA at 16.40 Hours to attackthe Railway Sidings at PORTO MAGGIORE (M.2670).One A/C returned with bombs after two hours due toinstrument trouble.After R/V with a close escort of 8 Spitfires at FALCONARAformation set course at 1755 hours and attacked in twoboxes at 1833 hours from 11000 feet on courses of 185ºand 160º respectively, dropping short concentrated sticksof about 150 - 200 yards.First box straddled centre of main siding from M.261697-262695 with several D/Hs on lines. Second box bombedabout 200 yards to east, with D/H's on buildings andR.R. track branching east from main siding.No enemy oppositionWeather:- Target clear, but visibility fair to hazy.All A/C down by 1950 hours.:(i) 12 Marauders 111 (ii) Nil:(i) & (ii) Nil:(i) 36,150 hrs. (ii) Nil:(i) 45,600 x .50 (ii) Nil:(i) 48 x 1000 G.P. iv (ii) 43 x 1000 (iii) 1 x 1000 (iv) NIL: NIL:(i) 1 Marauder iii (ii) Nil:(i) 00.40 Hrs (ii) Nil: Nil.(Signed) S.L. BoschoffFor CAPT.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- H.Q. MAAF
- Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
- SCORU
- Special Central Operational Reporting Unit.
- TAF
- Tactical Air Force.
- S.A.O.S. S.A.A.F
- South African Operational Section, South African Air Force.
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
- OPREP
- Operational Report.
- L.T
- Local Time.
- A/C
- Aircraft.
- R/V
- Rendezvous.
- R.R
- Railroad.
Abbreviations Expanded:
Observations about Individuals:
Location and Strategic Geography:
Historical Context and Tactical Observations: