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