| TORTORELLA |

SORTIE REPORT (Part A) R.A.F. Form 441 A. E 22 | [Header Columns] | [Content] | |---|---| | Sortie No. | 1 | | Oprep. Ref. No. | 510 | | Date | 9 Jan 44 | | Squadron | 21 SAAF | | Type of Aircraft | 12 Baltimores 2 Mk.3A, 10 Mk.4 | | Aircraft No. | See over | | Aircraft Letter | See over | | Captain | LT/COL KOTZE | | Crew | CAPT CARTER | | Formation Leader | [Blank - aligned with Captain field] | | Time Up | 1152 A Hrs 1st aircraft | | Time Down | 1327 A Hrs last aircraft | | Total Time | 17.00 hrs | | Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLA | | State of Cloud | St.Cu. Scattered Cu en-route | |---|---| | Amount of Cloud | 10/10 -> 6/10 | | Base of Cloud | 15/20000' -> 11000' upwards | | Visibility | 15/20 miles | | General Weather | Good | | Map or Chart Reference | ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 153 AGNONE | |---|---| | Task or Duty | PALENA TOWN - H1276 | |---|---| | Time | Height | Place | Narrative | |---|---|---|---| | 1152 | | BASE | a/b | | 1210 | 1500 | BASE | S/C TERMOLI | | 1237 | 6000 | TERMOLI | S/C TARGET | | 1250 | 12000 | TARGET | Bombs dropped | | 1315 | | BASE | Landed | | 1327 | | | Last a/c landed | [Signature Block] (Signed) [Signature unreadable - similar to "Lt Thompson"?] Lt for SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. PART B (on reverse) to be completed according to relevant pro-forma in H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. Instruction 34. HQP/1,500,000/4-42 P.T.O.

1944-01-09 | TORTORELLA |

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes: * Sortie Report 510 (Palena): This document provides the technical flight data for the raid on Palena described in the War Diary entry for January 9th, 1944 (see file 269-1__5.jpg). The diary noted results in the "S.W. portion of the town". * Target Geography (Agnone/Palena): The map reference "Sheet 153 AGNONE" helps localize the target. Palena is situated in the rugged Maiella massif, an area of difficult terrain that formed part of the German winter defensive line. The town sits on a key road (SS84) connecting the interior mountains to the Adriatic coast. * Cloud Conditions: The weather report ("10/10" cloud reducing to "6/10" over the target) explains why operations were possible on this day despite the terrible weather earlier in the week. The "Base of Cloud" at "11000' upwards" gave the bombardiers just enough clearance to bomb from 12,000 feet. * Command: Lt. Col. Kotzé (O.C.) led the mission personally with Capt. Carter. This consistent leadership from the front (Kotzé also led on Jan 4th) was vital for maintaining morale during the harsh winter stalemate. * Flight Profile: The route again utilized the coast for navigation ("S/C TERMOLI") before turning inland to the target. This "dog-leg" approach was standard to avoid flying over the heavily defended German front lines for longer than necessary. 24 Verification: Target File Verification: This document is the reverse side (Part B) of a Sortie Report. While the date is not explicitly written in a header column on this specific page, the content matches perfectly with the War Diary entry for January 10th, 1944 (Sortie Report No. 511), detailing the multiple failed bombing runs and jettisoning of loads at Palena.