Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 17th July, 1944
APPENDIX "W"51TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)HQ MATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SADA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/765DATE : 17th July, 1944OPREP No. 765 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 16th July, 1944REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 118 ANCONAA: 12 Baltimores airborne from PESCARA at 1315 hrs to bomb GUN AREAS623407 - S630397 - S622394 - S615405 and to drop pamphlets in areaS510405. Attack took place at 1405 hrs. First box bombed from12,500' on a course of 360°, overshoot and lateral error to the leftin area S599415. Second box owing to confusion in the identification ofCAMERANO and OSIMO Towns, made a left hand weave after crossing coast andreleased bombs from 12300' on a course of 310° on what was believed atthe time to be the briefed target. Stick fell in area S583333, asconfirmed by photographic evidence, about 1000 yds inside the bomb line.Results not observed in both cases. H.A.A. slight inaccurate after turnoff target. Visibility hazy. All A/c landed by 1457 hrs. Area coverwas provided by Spitfires.B: (i) 5 Balts Mk IV(ii) NIL(i) 7 Balts Mk V(ii) NILC: NILD: (i) 7.05 Hrs(ii) NIL(i) 9.55 Hrs(ii) NILE: (i) 16000 x .301500 x .3033500 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(i) 22400 x .302100 x .3034900 x .50(ii) & (iii) NILF: (i) 10 x 500 M.C.15 x 250 G.P.(ii) As in (i)(iii) & (iv) NIL(Fusing: 52 - 44 Nose)(i) 14 x 500 M.C.21 x 250 G.P.(ii) As in (i)(iii) & (iv) NILG to V: NILW: (i) 5 Marauders Mk III(ii) NILX: (i) 5.40 Hrs(ii) NILY & Z: NILHallick Capt.S.I.O., 21 Squadron, SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- MAAF
- Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
- SCORU
- Statistical Control and Operations Research Unit.
- MATAF
- Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force.
- SADA
- Likely Senior Air Officer Administration (S.A.O.A.).
- OPREP
- Operational Report.
- H.A.A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak).
- NIL
- None. 53 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 17th July, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (Appendix "X") labeled 52 in the top right corner.
- M.C
- Medium Capacity (High Explosive).
- G.P
- General Purpose.
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer (Capt. Hallick).
Psychological Warfare and Tactical Failure (Ancona):
Target Geography (The Marche Region):
Camerano and Osimo: Both are strategic heights south of Ancona. Osimo, in particular, was the site of a brutal, house-to-house battle that lasted until July 6th, and the surrounding area remained heavily contested as the Germans conducted a fighting withdrawal.
Marauder Transition Status:
Defensive Fire:
Abbreviations Expanded: