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Time: 23:54 hrs

Sortie Report (Form 541)

BA: (1) EBOLI - OLIVETO - PESCO PAGANO - POTENZA - BRIENZA(2) EBOLI - AULETTA - BUCCINO - BRIENZA - AULETTABB: From 2354 Hrs LT to 0151 Hrs LT.BC: Medium level bombing from 8000/10000 feet on various courses48 x 250 G.P. 43 Dets 27 Pistols (with rods)16 x 40 G.P. 43 Dets 38 PistolsBD: Considerable MET seen particularly along rds. EBOLI-01049 and EBOLI-AULETTA and on later sorties when haze had thinned. Results as follows:-(1) 03936, 3 x 250 on bridge, bursts near Rd03108, 3 x 250, 3/4 MET, across "S" bend, bursts near Rd. 2 x 40 on S bend just WEST of BRIENZA05133, 3 x 250, 2 x 40 on fire at side of Rd. bursts just off RdT3198, 3 x 250 - TEGIANO, N.R.O.00521, 1 x 250, near miss 5/10 MET, fire seen laterRd OLIVETO - 01049, 5 x 250, 2 x 40, singly, 50 plus MET along Rd. One explosion followed by a lot of smoke, all bursts near RdN9527, 6 x 250, 2 x 40, on 15/20 MET, stationary and moving both sides Rd. Bombs fell on and across Rd. Started fire just off Rd amongst 50 plus MET on Rd EBOLI - CAMPAGNA moving Eastwards.N9727, 4 x 250, 10/15 MET in close convoy, long stick across Rd bend close to Rd, N.R.O.05333, 2 x 250, 1 x 40 on bridge, direct hit or very near miss. N.M.S. One mile WEST of BUCCINO, 1 x 40 N.R.O.(2) 03120 - 6 x 250 medium stick on cross-roads N.R.O.SERRE - AULETTA 2 x 40 singly01720, 3 x 250 hit Rd02423, 2 x 40 just off Rd02924, 3 x 250 hit Rd00520, 3 x 250 near Rd. 6/10 MET 25/50 apart N.R.O.20 MET on SERRE - AULETTA Rd mostly moving Eastwards FASTNORTH AULETTA, 2 x 40 on scattered MET N.R.O.02910, 3 x 250 at steady light on Rd. bursts near Rd N.R.O.BE: Slight H/A/A SOUTH of SELE River, inaccurate.Approximately 6 tracers from below, across and underneath behind tail 190º 3 miles SAPRIBF: NILBG: NILBH: Bomb bursts and A/A 5/7 miles NORTH SALERNO 15/20 flaresNaval firing 20/30 miles at sea GULF of SALERNOGuns firing inland on coast S.W. EBOLI, flashes EBOLI area and 5/10 miles N.E. MONTECORVINO area.Large fires N8573, (2) EAST portion EBOLI (2), BATTIPAGLIA (2), BUCCINO (1). NORTH AULETTA (1) with a lot of smoke. MONTESANO smallish fire BRIENZA at 0110 Hrs.Green lights SCALEA area - KRYPTON lights area ROCCADASPIDE.AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.290C LT/COL. BRITZ. DFC. P/O SMALLMAN 2/LTs HARRISON & PICKUP356Z CAPT. STUART LT PAWSON F/S MORLEY 2/LT SCHUMANN256S CAPT. SMIT LT KAY F/S PURDON SC SCHOOMBIE181Y LT EATON LT GOULD F/S FREESTONE F/S VAN ROOYAN586B CAPT SAUNDERS LT BOOYSE F/S MOORE SGT EARP-JONES271F LT GUARD LT WEBBER 2/LTs TOMS & DE VILLIERS916K LT FROST LT WHITE F/S CARTER SGT ALLEN341L LT WILLMOT LT BORCHARDS F/S LOOTS F/S WALBRIDGE

Transcriber's Notes

Hrs LT
Hours Local Time.
G.P
General Purpose (bombs).
Dets
Detonators.
MET
Mechanical Enemy Transport (motorized military vehicles and convoys).
N.R.O
No Results Observed.
N.M.S
No Movement Seen.
H/A/A
Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire.
DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross. Personnel and Command Observations

Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded