Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 15th Mar 44
TO : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SAOA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/589DATE : 15th Mar 44OPREP No.589 for period ending 1100 Hrs on 15/3/44REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 133 ASCOLI PICENOA: 12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G from 0820 Hrs to bomb SAN BENEDETTO RR STN. After R/V with 223 Sqdn (leading) 21 Sqdn attacked in 2 boxes at 0920 Hrs on a course of 210° from 12000'. No.2 box was flying line astern close to No.1 box. The leaders bombs hung-up and he experienced trouble and slight delay firing the Verey signal for the formation to bomb. Some a/c bombed early, bombs falling into the sea outside the Northern Jetty, carrying into the harbour. Sticks straddled a portion of target whilst another pattern was observed from the S.W. corner extending well into SAN BENEDETTO town. One a/c did NOT observe Verey light signal and bombs falling into the sea after turn off. 2 x 500 and 4 x 250 bombs hung-up, jettisoned in sea 5 miles S.E. of target. All a/c landed back at base by 1015 Hrs. An area cover of 5 Spitfires was provided. Weather clear and visibility over target was clear with/10 Cirrus at 25000'. H/A/A intense and accurate was encountered over target, seven of the a/c being holed. 4 guns at B888866 - 2 guns B880868. Semi circle of guns around hills B850805 - B900810 - B895818 also guns at B885845 - B910790 - B900825 - B890800 & B907803B: (1) 10 Balts IV.(ii) NIL(1) 1 Balt V.(ii) NIL(1) 1 Balt IIIA(ii) NILC: NILD: (1) 16.20 Hrs(ii) NIL(1) 1.50 Hrs(ii) NIL(1) 1.50 Hrs(ii) NILE: (1) 32000 x .303000 x .3037000 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(1) 3200 x .30300 x .303700 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(1) 3200 x .30300 x .303700 x .50(ii) & (iii) NILF: (1) 20 x 500 MC30 x 250 GP(ii) 18 x 500 MC26 x 250 GP(iii) 2 x 500 MC4 x 250 GP(iv) NIL(1) 2 x 500 MC3 x 250 GP(ii) NIL(iii) As in (1)(iv) NIL(1) 2 x 500 MC3 x 250 GP(ii) As above(iii) & (iv) NIL(Fused: 47 Det 27 Pist (Nose) 49 Det 28 Pist (Tail) )G: (i) NIL(ii) 7 a/c Holed Cat.1to Z: NIL.Wahlin...? CaptSIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- RR STN
- Railroad Station.
- H/A/A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire.
- Cat.1
- Category 1 damage (repairable at unit). 53 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 15 March 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 590) detailing a second mission flown on March 15th, 1944.
Operational Mishap (The Verey Light Incident):
Detailed Flak Intelligence:
Technical Issues:
Abbreviations: