Sortie Report (Form 541)
SORTIE REPORT(Part A)R.A.F. Form 441 A.H 25| [Header Columns] | [Content] ||---|---|| Sortie No. | 1 || Oprep. Ref. No. | 513 || Date | 12 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 | 0911 A Hrs 1st a/c || Time Down | 1052 A Hrs last a/c. || Total Time | 17.00 Hours || Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLA || State of Cloud | Alto.St. general in battle area. St.Cu 10mls to Sea ||---|---|| Amount of Cloud | 8/10-9/10 4/10 || Base of Cloud | 22,000' 4000' || Visibility | 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 ||---|---|---|---|| 0911 | | BASE | A/B || 0932 | 2500 | BASE | S/c TERMOLI || 0948 | 8500 | TERMOLI | S/c PENNA PT. || 0954 | 12000 | PENNA PT. | S/c CASOLI || 0959 | 12500 | CASOLI | S/c PALENA || 1002 | 11300 | PALENA | Over target - bombing course 260° || 1003 | 11000 | PALENA | S/c BASE || 1027 | 2000 | BASE | Over Base || 1033 | | Base | Landed || 1052 | | | Last aircraft landed |[Signature Block](Signed) [Signature unreadable - similar to "Lt Thompson"?]Lt for CaptSIO 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.
Transcriber's Notes
Sortie Report 513 (Palena - Third Strike): This report details the technical parameters of the third consecutive daily raid on Palena (Jan 10, 11, 12). The War Diary for Jan 12th (file 269-1__6.jpg) notes that hits were scored "amongst and on buildings" and the "second box bombed short." The flight profile shows a quick turnaround over the target (10:02 to 10:03), indicating a single pass without the circling issues seen on previous days.