Sortie Report (Form 541)
SSBA: PALENA TOWN - H1276BB: 1245 A HrsBC: Medium level bombing 245° 11300/12500'22 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol33 x 250 GP do do2 x 500, 3 x 250 Hang-up, brought back to base.BD: Target seen in narrow break of 10/10 cloud. Leading box bombed S[outh]portion of town, bursts being seen from H117755 to H110753. Medi[um]stick. NO direct hits on buildings observed. Second box N.W. edg[e]of town across Rd PALENA-CASOLI. Hits on buildin[gs]along side Rd and on Rd itself. Bounderies of hits H114759 - H11[?]BE: NILBF: NILBG: Verticals and Obliques of bomb burstsBH: 4 M.E.T. alongside buildings H104740 - tracks to Rd visible.Gun flashes area ORSOGNAEAST and S.E. portion of town pitted with bomb-bursts marked insnow.Rds still snow coveredAIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.| | | | | | ||---|---|---|---|---|---|| 437N | LT/COL KOTZE | CAPT CARTER | 2/LT THOMPSON | LT TE WATER POHL | || 387R | LT RICHARDS | LT HARLE | 2/LT STRYDOM | P/O GILDON | || 383W | LT GREDER | LT KIRBY | F/SGT GREYLING | A/SGT AIREY | || 460V | CAPT DALLING DFC. | LT BARNES | F/SGT FORRESTER | A/SGT BUCHLER | VL || 639Q | LT ASKEW | LT LAMBERT | F/SGT GELDENHUYS | A/SGT CRAWHALL | || 445U | LT V.D. MERWE | LT JORDAAN | F/SGT VERITY | A/SGT PIENAAR | || 545A | CAPT JOB | LT ROSE | F/SGT BOUCHER | 2/LT CASE | || 441F | LT FROST | LT WHITE | F/SGT CARTER | A/SGT ALLAN | || 356Z | CAPT V.D. RIET | LT RIVE | F/SGT SAVAGE | A/SGT SCOTT | || 412K | LT HEWITT | LT HORWITZ | F/SGT KIDNEY | A/SGT BOWEN | || 367C | LT WITTE | LT RUSHFORTH | F/SGT EATON | A/SGT MARAIS | || 341L | LT ASHTON | LT STUART | F/SGT HARMSE | A/SGT BROUGH | |
Transcriber's Notes
- Hang-up
- The report notes "2 x 500, 3 x 250 Hang-up, brought back to base." A hang-up occurred when a bomb failed to release from the rack despite the trigger being pulled, often due to frozen mechanisms or electrical faults. Returning to base with live bombs ("hung up") was dangerous, as a hard landing could jar them loose.
- M.E.T
- Abbreviation for Motor Enemy Transport. Spotting 4 trucks alongside buildings suggests the Germans were using the town for shelter and logistics. 29 Verification: Target File Verification: This document is the reverse side (Part B) of the Sortie Report for January 11th, 1944 (Sortie No. 512). Although there is no specific date column on this reverse side, the Sortie No. 512 aligns with Part A (file 269-1__28.jpg) which is dated Jan 11, 1944.