Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 6th July, 1944
APPENDIX "J"38To : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)HQ MATAF (attention 2nd Command 23rd SCORU)SAOA SAAFFrom : S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Ref : 21S/752Date : 6th July, 1944OPREP No. 752 for period ending 21.00 hrs on 6th July, 1944Ref Map : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 99 FAENZAA. 12 Baltimores airborne from PESCARA at 14.37 hrs to attack RAILWAYbetween MARRADI and FAENZA. They set course from Perugia at 15.45hrs with a close escort of 8 Spitfires and were in target area at16.16 hrs. Leaders leaders bombs hung up but remainder of form-ation bombed from 12,000' on a course of 340°. Pattern overshot,some hits among farm buildings and on a secondary road from M211170to M211175. Leader made a left hand turn and bombed at 16.19 hrswith his vic from 12,000' on a course of 280°. Bombs fell fromM106032 to M105026 straddling railway line. H.A.A. from S.Sofia --slight and inaccurate -- 6 to 8/10ths Cu at 10,000' in target area.All Aircraft landed by 17.25 hrs.B. (i) 3 Balts Mk IV(ii) NIL(i) 9 Balts Mk V(ii) NILC. (1) & (ii) NIL(1) & (ii) NILD. (i) 08.00 hrs(ii) NIL(i) 24.00 hrs(ii) NILE. (i) 9,600 x .30900 x .3032,100 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(i) 28,800 x .302,700 x .3036,300 x .50(ii) & (iii) NILF. (i) 6 x 500 MC9 x 250 GP(ii) as in (i)(iii) & (iv) NIL(i) 18 x 500 MC27 x 250 GP(ii) as in (i)(iii) & (iv) NILFused: 36 det 27 pist Nose 36 det 28 pist Tailexcept 2 x 250 and 1 x 500 -- 52 det 37 pist Tail (delay)G to V: NILW. (i) 3 Marauders MkIII(ii) NILX. (i) 04.45 hrs(ii) NILY & Z: NIL[Signature] Capt.S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- SAOA
- Senior Air Officer Administration.
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer (Capt. Hallick).
- Cu
- Cumulus clouds.
Bombing Failure (Mechanical Malfunction):
Tactical Improvisation (The "Go-Around"):
Target Area Geography:
Marauder Training Continues:
Abbreviations:
vic: V-shaped formation of three aircraft.
pist: Pistol (Fuse component).
det: Detonator.