Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA: Block Road Junction at H029479 (ALFEDENA)BB: 1004 A Hrs.BC: Medium Level Bombing. 12600'. Course 255º. Speed 210 I.A.S.36 x 250 G.P. 49 Dets 27 Pistols (Nose fused)23 x 500 M.C. 49 Dets 27 Pistols (Nose fused)24000 Pamphlets (Copy attached)1 x 500 M.C. hung up.BD: Formation hit target in very good pattern from H035477 to 027480 causing terrific explosion with smoke rising to 4000 feet. Two lesser fires were also started. Some buildings in village received direct hits.BE: Moderate and inaccurate H/A/A and intense and inaccurate L/A/A before bombing. No A/A from Target. After bombing moderate H/A/A accurate for the second box, (First box evasive tactics climbing and turning successful)BF: 15 aircraft in No. 2 box received a total of 50 holes from H/A/A. All repairable by Unit. 2 aircraft from No. 1 box received minor damage from H/A/A.Two aircraft collided about six minutes after bombing at 13000 ft over area H2060 and spun in. One parachute seen. One a/c was seen to hit ground and burn.(1) FW 474X LT/COL. BRITZ. DFC. PilotLT. BOOYSE Observer2/LT. HARRISON WOP/Gunner2/LT. PICKUP Top Gunner(11) AW 951YY CAPT. DIEU (Belgian) PilotP/O. EDMEADES ObserverF/SGT. OSWALD WOP/GunnerA/SGT. BREEDT Top GunnerALL MISSING.BG: Obliques and Verticals taken during bombing run.BH: Fairly heavy general movement of M/T seen on roads.AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.474X LT/COL. BRITZ. DFC. LT BOOYSE 2/LTs HARRISON & PICKUP383W LT GREDER LT MCARAVEY F/SGT GREYLING SGT GRATTON387R LT RICHARDS LT DE CONNICK F/SGT ROBBERTSE SGT MCCRINDLE167P CAPT SMIT LT KAY 2/LT PURDON SGT SCHOOMBIE916K LT FROST LT LAMBERT F/SGT CARTER SGT ALLEN951YY CAPT DIEU P/O EDMEADES F/SGT OSWALD SGT BREEDT437H MAJ. ORD LT HODGES F/SGT WALKER SGT DEVENISH341L LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL SGT STEWART467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN SGT MACKAY586B CAPT SAUNDERS P/O SMALLMAN LT POTGEITER SGT EARP-JONES441F LT WITTE 2/LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON SGT MARAIS545A LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY SGT AIREY
Transcriber's Notes
- I.A.S
- Indicated Air Speed.
- WOP/Gunner
- Wireless Operator and Air Gunner.
- M/T
- Motor Transport.
Expanded Abbreviations:
a/c: Aircraft.
Observations on Individuals and Historical Tragedy:
Lieutenant Colonel J.F. "Jack" Britz, D.F.C.: The Officer Commanding (OC) of No. 21 Squadron. This report documents a dark day in the squadron's history. Britz, leading in aircraft 474X, was involved in a mid-air collision shortly after the successful bombing run.
Location and Context: