| TORTORELLA |

SORTIE REPORT (Part A) R.A.F. Form 441 A. T 43 | [Header Columns] | [Content] | |---|---| | Sheet No. | 1 | | Oprep. Ref. No. | 526 | | Date | 23 Jan 44 | | Squadron | 21 SAAF | | Type of Aircraft | 12 Baltimores 12 Mk.4. | | Aircraft No. | See over | | Aircraft Letter | | | Captain | CAPT. W.T. DALLING DFC | | Crew | LT McARAVEY | | | Formation Leader | | Time Up | 0915 A Hrs 1st a/c | | Time Down | 1059 A Hrs last a/c | | Total Time | 19.00 Hours | | Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLA | | Type of Cloud | Cir.St. [Cirrostratus] St.Cu. [Stratocumulus] over target. St.Cu & Cu out to sea | |---|---| | Amount of Cloud | 1/10 In bank | | Base of Cloud | 25000' 4500' Tops 6000' | | Visibility | 20 miles | | General Weather | Good - haze to TERMOLI | | Map or Chart Reference | ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 146 SULMONA | |---|---| | Task or Duty | SULMONA RR STN and M/Y [Marshalling Yards] | |---|---| | Time | Height | Place | Narrative | |---|---|---|---| | 0915 | | TORTORELLA | a/b [Airborne] | | 0932 | 2000 | TORTORELLA | S/c [Set Course] TERMOLI | | 0953 | 8000 | TERMOLI | Circling to Rv. [Rendezvous] with 232 Wing | | 0956 | 8000 | TERMOLI | S/c CASOLI | | 1006 | 12000 | CASOLI | S/c TARGET | | 1013½ | 11300 | TARGET | Bombing from 11000 on course of 170° | | 1015 | 9000 | | S/c BASE | | 1049 | | TORTORELLA | Landed | | 1059 | | | Last a/c landed | [Signature Block] (Signed) [Signature unreadable - similar to "Lt Thompson"?] Capt 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/PMEJ - 200.000 - 3/43 P.T.O.

1944-01-23 | TORTORELLA |

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes: * Sortie Report 526 (Sulmona Raid): This report details a raid on Sulmona Railway Station and Marshalling Yards (M/Y) on January 23rd, 1944. This was a repeat target, having been hit twice on Jan 19th. The continued pounding suggests the Germans were desperately trying to repair the line or move stranded rolling stock. * Wing-Level Coordination (Rv with 232 Wing): The narrative notes "Circling to Rv. with 232 Wing" at Termoli. This is a significant escalation in formation size. Previously, reports mentioned rendezvousing with individual squadrons (like 223 Sqn). Rendezvousing with an entire Wing implies a massive strike force, likely involving 36+ bombers (3 squadrons of 12) hitting the target area in waves to ensure total destruction. * Capt. Dalling's Redemption: Capt. W.T. Dalling DFC led this mission with Lt. McAravey. This was their first lead since the failed Popoli raid on Jan 20th (Sortie 522), where a "short bombing run" caused an overshoot. Leading a Wing-sized formation was a high-pressure responsibility, and being assigned it immediately after an error shows the command's continued faith in Dalling's abilities. * Attack Heading (170°): The bombing run was made on a course of 170° (South-South-East). This is similar to the successful afternoon raid on Jan 19th (190°), coming down the valley from the north rather than across the mountains from the east. This approach had proven more effective for accuracy. * Aircraft Fleet: The report notes "12 Baltimores 12 Mk.4." This is the first mission in this batch where the entire formation consisted of the modern Mark IV variant, with no older Mk.IIIA aircraft listed. This standardization simplified formation flying and maintenance. * Weather: Conditions were ideal with "20 miles" visibility and only scattered cloud ("1/10") at high altitude, providing a perfect environment for visual precision bombing. 59 Verification: Target File Verification: This document is the reverse side (Part B) of the Sortie Report for January 23rd, 1944 (Sortie No. 526). Although there is no "Date" column on this side, the target "SULMONA RR STN and M/Y" and the "Time over Target" of 1013 Hrs match the Part A document from the previous image (269-1__58.jpg) dated Jan 23, 1944.