| TORTORELLA |

SORTIE REPORT (Part A) R.A.F. Form 441 A. F 23 | [Header Columns] | [Content] | |---|---| | Sortie No. | 1 | | Oprep. Ref. No. | 511 | | Date | 10 Jan 44 | | Squadron | 21 SAAF | | Type of Aircraft | 12 Baltimores (3 Mk.3A . 9 Mk.4) | | Aircraft No. | See over | | Aircraft Letter | See over | | Captain | MAJOR ORD | | Crew | LT HODGES | | Formation Leader | [Blank - aligned with Captain field] | | Time Up | 0904 A Hrs 1st aircraft | | Time Down | 1104 A Hrs last aircraft | | Total Time | 21.00 Hrs | | Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLA | | State of Cloud | St. [Stratus] St.Cu [Stratocumulus] Cw.St. | |---|---| | Amount of Cloud | 6/10-7/10. 8/10 5/10 | | Base of Cloud | Over Mtns & in) 19000' 25000' valleys.) | | Visibility | 15/20 miles | | General Weather | Good | | Map or Chart Reference | ITALY 1:100,000 Sheets 147 & 153 LANCIANO & AGNONE | |---|---| | Task or Duty | PALENA TOWN - H1276 | |---|---| | Time | Height | Place | Narrative | |---|---|---|---| | 0904 | | BASE | A/B | | 0922 | 2500 | BASE | S/c TERMOLI | | 0939 | 11500 | TERMOLI | S/c PENNA PT. | | 0945 | 13000 | PENNA PT. | S/c CASOLI | | 0951 | 15500 | CASOLI | S/c PALENA | | 0955 | 14200 | PALENA | On bombing course of 290° | | 1005 | 14200 | PALENA | S/c TERMOLI | | 1038 | 6000 | TERMOLI | Followed coast to MANFREDONIA | | 1056 | 3000 | MANFREDONIA | S/c BASE | | 1044 | 2000 | BASE | Over Base | | 1047 | | BASE | Landed | | 1104 | | | Last aircraft landed | [Signature Block] (Signed) [Signature unreadable - similar to "Lt Thompson"?] Lt for 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.

1944-01-10 | TORTORELLA |

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes: * Sortie Report 511 (Palena Raid): This document details the flight path for the problematic raid on Palena on January 10th, 1944. As transcribed in the War Diary (see file 269-1__5.jpg) and the Part B report (see file 269-1__25.jpg), this mission was marred by technical failures where the leader (Major Ord) had to make three passes over the target before jettisoning bombs. The timeline here shows the formation over Palena from 09:55 to 10:05, a duration of 10 minutes, which confirms the extended time spent circling the target area making multiple runs. * Route Analysis: The flight plan reveals a cautious approach. The formation flew up the coast to Termoli and Penna Point (Vasto), then turned inland to Casoli before striking Palena. On the return leg, they "Followed coast to MANFREDONIA," staying over the relative safety of the Adriatic shoreline rather than flying directly over the mountains, likely to avoid flak or bad weather over the interior. * Cloud Cover: The weather section notes heavy cloud ("Over Mtns & in valleys"), which likely contributed to the difficulty in identifying the target or setting up the bomb run on the first pass. * Map References: The mission required two maps: "Sheets 147 & 153 LANCIANO & AGNONE," indicating the target lay on the border of these two grid zones in the Maiella mountains. * Aircraft Mix: The formation included 3 Mk.3A and 9 Mk.4 Baltimores. The Mk.3A was an older variant, lacking the power turret of the Mk.4, but still capable of frontline service. 26 Verification: Target File Verification: This document is the reverse side (Part B) of the Sortie Report for January 10th, 1944 (Sortie No. 511), corresponding to the Part A document in the previous image (269-1__26.jpg). There is no "Date" column on this side of the form, but the mission details (Major Ord, Palena) confirm the date.