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Thursday, 22 March 1945

Aircraft: R Time: 21:00 hrs

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Date
22nd March, 1945
APPENDIX "R"120From : S.I.O. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.To : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( Attention Operations records)H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. ( SCORU)W.I.O. 3 WING S.A.A.F.Ref. : 21S/972Date : 22nd March, 1945Oprep No. 972 for the period ending 2100 hrs. on the 21st March, 1945.Ref. Map. Yugoslavia 1:100,000 Sheet Y.3Operation No. 174/21S/M.-----------------------A :10 A/C airborne between 1339 - 1730 hrs. to attack the St.VEITM/Yards ( Austria) at R(D)288957. One A/C returned early dueto engine trouble. Remainder in 3 Vics picked up 8 SpitsThunderbolts at Fano as close escort and bombed from about13000' at 1530 - 1539 hrs on courses between 230 - 270°.First box didx a dummy run and bombed last. Results: FirstBox had slight left lateral error for main yards, butstraddled southern choke point of target. Second Box'spattern commenced in southern half of yards and ran outinto open country. Third Box's pattern ran through centre of M/Ywith numerous D/H's on buildings, trucks and tracks. Noenemy opposition encountered. Weather : 6/10ths at 13000'in T/A, vis. fair.B : (1) 10 Marauders III (ii) NilC : (1) & (ii) Nil D. (1) 34.20 hrs . (ii) NilE : (1) 34000 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NilF : (1) 60 x 500 (Fused: 30-51 tail) (ii) 54 x 500, 25 Pkts Pamph.40 x 250 36 x 250 324 lbs window (iii) & (iv) Nil
G to Z: Nil[Handwritten line across the page]NOTE:- Oprep No. 957 dd 8/3/45 refers:- W/OII Nel N.H. No. 284246now returned to unit, slightly injured. S. L. Boschoff [Signed] Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
Handwritten Marginalia / Stamps: * Folio Number: 120 (Handwritten, Top Right). * Reference Stamp:The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/3

Transcriber's Notes

S.I.O
Squadron Intelligence Officer. Captain S. L. Boschoff was tasked with aircrew debriefing and compilation of OPREP data.
W.I.O
Wing Intelligence Officer.

MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard high-explosive ordnance, typically 500 lb and 250 lb variants, carried by SAAF crews to destroy physical industrial infrastructure and rolling stock.