Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 15th April 1944
APPENDIX "O"198TO : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SAOA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/631DATE : 15th April 1944OPREP No.631 for period ending 1200 Hrs on 15/4/44REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 146 SULMONA12 Baltimores airborne at 1017 Hrs from BIFERNO L/G to attack a RR bridgeat B954043 immediately EAST of TORRE. Each a/c carried 4 x 500 bombs,one of which was fused with a 12 Hour delay. Formation set course at1050 Hrs and after one dummy run bombed in two boxes line astern at1138 Hrs from 8500' on a course of 088°. Whole formation overshot targetactual target but pattern extended across railway line and throughlarge buildings beyond (B955045 - 962051). An explosion resulted amongbuildings at B960050, followed by large fire and thick black smoke whichwas still visible 20 - 30 miles from target. Moderate H/A/A light andfew bursts of H/A/A encountered. Weather clear and visibility good intarget area. All a/c landed by 1150 Hrs.B: (i) 6 Balts 1V(ii) NIL(i) 6 Balts V(ii) NILC: NILD: (i) 9.30 Hrs(ii) NIL(i) 9.30 Hrs(ii) NILE: (i) 19200 x .301800 x .3034200 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(i) 19200 x .301800 x .3034200 x .50(ii) & (iii) NILF: (i) 24 x 500 MC(ii) As above(iii) & (iv) NIL(i) 24 x 500 MC(ii) As above(iii) & (iv) NIL(36 fused 49 Det 27 Pist NOSE - 49 Det 28 Pist Tail12 fused 12 Hours delay 52 Det 37 Pist TailG to Z: NIL..S.L. BoshoffCapt.SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- SCORU
- Scientific Operational Research Unit. 30 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 15th April 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a duplicate copy of Sortie Report No. 631 (Appendix "O"), identical in content to the previous file (269-4__29.jpg) but serves as a confirmation copy for the War Diary.
- RR
- Railroad.
- H/A/A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft.
- MC
- Medium Capacity (High Explosive).
- Det
- Detonator.
- Pist
- Pistol (Bomb fuse mechanism).
Tactical Innovation (Delayed Action Bombs):
Targeting & Execution (Torre de' Passeri):
Defensive Fire:
Abbreviations: