| TORTORELLA |

I 26 R.A.F. Form 441 A. SORTIE REPORT (Part A) | [Header Columns] | [Content] | |---|---| | Sheet No. | 1 | | Oprep. Ref. No. | 514 | | Date | 13 Jan 44 | | Squadron | 21 SAAF | | Type of Aircraft | 12 Baltimores (3 Mk.3A, 9 Mk.4) | | Aircraft No. | See over | | Aircraft Letter | | | Captain | MAJOR SMIT | | Crew | CAPT CARTER | | | Leader of Formation | | Time Up | 1130 A Hrs 1st aircraft | | Time Down | 1407 A Hrs Last aircraft | | Total Time | 30.00 Hours | | Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLA | | State of Cloud | St.Cu Battle area. St. PENNA PT to SANGRO | |---|---| | Amount of Cloud | 10/10 2/10 | | Base of Cloud | 17000' 2000' | | Visibility | 10/15 miles | | General Weather | Good | | Map or Chart Reference | ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 141 CHIETI | |---|---| | Task or Duty | FACTORY AREA - LORETA - E985256 | |---|---| | Time | Height | Place | Narrative | |---|---|---|---| | 1130 | | BASE | A/B | | 1218 | 10000 | PENNA PT. | Picked up fighter escort. S/c NORTH of SALINE RV. | | 1232 | 14000 | SALINE RIV. | Crossed Coast. S/c Target area | | 1240 | 13300 | TARGET | Bombs dropped | | 1358 | | Base | Landed | | 1407 | | | Last aircraft landed | [Signature Block] (Signed) [Signature unreadable - similar to "Lt Thompson"?] Lt for 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/1,500,000/4-42 P.T.O.

1944-01-13 | TORTORELLA |

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes: * Sortie Report 514 (Loreta Factory): This report provides the specific flight details for the raid on the "factory area of Loreta" described in the War Diary entry for January 13th, 1944 (see file 269-1__7.jpg). The diary described the target as a "Tank Repair Shop" and noted a "large volume of black smoke" after the attack. * Target Identification (Loreta/Loreto Aprutino): The target is listed as "FACTORY AREA - LORETA" with coordinates "E985256". The map reference "Sheet 141 CHIETI" places this squarely in the Abruzzo region. This is almost certainly Loreto Aprutino, located west of Pescara. The "factory area" was likely a dispersed industrial site or vehicle depot used by the German 10th Army for repairing armor behind the front lines. * Fighter Escort: The narrative notes: "Picked up fighter escort. S/c NORTH of SALINE RV." This refers to a rendezvous (RV) with Allied fighters (likely Spitfires or Kittyhawks) near the Saline River mouth. The presence of an escort was crucial for this deep penetration mission near the Adriatic coast, protecting the bombers from Luftwaffe interceptors. * Major Smit: The mission was led by Major Smit (Captain), flying with Capt. Carter (Crew/Observer). Major Smit had previously led the successful raid on Sibenik on January 3rd. Captain Carter appears to be the squadron's premier Lead Observer, having flown with both Major Smit and the O.C., Lt. Col. Kotzé, on multiple key missions. * Mission Duration: The "Total Time" of "30.00 Hours" for 12 aircraft averages to 2.5 hours per plane. This was a relatively long mission compared to the quick hops over the Sangro River front (like the Palena raids), necessitating the fighter escort. * A/B: Abbreviation for "Airborne". 33 Verification: Target File Verification: This document is the reverse side (Part B) of the Sortie Report for January 13th, 1944 (Sortie No. 514). Although there is no specific "Date" column on this side, the target "LORETA FACTORY AREA" matches the Part A document from the previous image (269-1__32.jpg) dated Jan 13, 1944.