Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA: ARMED RECCE RDS:- (i) CASALNUOVA-CASERTA-BENEVENTO-AVELLINO(ii) AVELLINO-GROTTAMINARDA-VALLATA-O.1049(iii) EBOLI-O.1049-POTENZA-BRIENZA(iv) EBOLI-SAPRI-AULETTA(v) Pamphlets on LAURIA - Bomb roads NORTH of LAURIABB: From 2040 Hrs LT to 2146 Hrs LTBC: Medium level bombing on various courses from 8000/10500 feet pamphlet dropping and ground strafing32 x 500 G.P. 47 Bets. 27 Pistols (1 dropped on Jettison)BD: Target: (i) N.M.S. N6669 short stick 4 bombs - bursts near rd RR junction N.R.O. - 4 bombs another aircraft 2106 Hrs. N5575(ii) O.1055 - stick 4 bombs on MET light at Rd and RR junction Light out - burst near road.(iii) O.5622 1 bomb near fire, O.5329 2 bombs across Rd & RR O.4833 1 bomb on jettison. M.E.T. ground strafed from 5000’(iv) T5556 1 bomb. Between T5556 and T5878 3 bombs singly on road(v) Pamphlets over LAURIA T4665, 2 bombs on Rd. T4264 2 bombs on Rd near road. O.3108 4 bombs quick stick - last bomb hit Rd junction and 2 bombs close to Rd. T.4090 - O.3108 4 bombs singly on road. T4266 2 bombs on road.Many MET seen along roads N.E. SAPRIBE: T4464 - approximately 20 bursts H.A.A. and some L.A.A.T5066 " " " " " "LAURIA 15 " " " " " "60 bursts H.A.A. spasmodic EAST of C.SCALEA at aircraft bombing coastal rd. S/Ls and E/A NIL. All A/A inaccurate.BF: 1 aircraft holed. Battle Cat.1BG: NIL.BH: MET situated 150 plus, 15/30 yds apart on rds LAURIA-SAPRI and LAURIA-AULETTA. Moving fast Northwards with lights. Switched off when bombed. Area POTENZA 14 MET lights seen and other MET until lights switched on again after bombing and ground strafing.Fires - T1797 at 2038 Hrs. with explosions. T2023 at 2110 Hrs. 3 fires. T3090 6 fires on road in L shape. O.5622 followed by large shooting flame, North portion POTENZA as of warehouse. Lights: 30 in cluster, area T2885, series 6 pairs and 3 in triangle. EBOLI-BATTIPAGLIA area - bright steady red lights at PAOLA and PRAIA-A-MAREAIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.181T LT. DUGMORE LT MASTERS F/S MAASDORP F/S ROGERS221Y LT EATON LT GOULD F/S FREESTONE F/S VAN ROOYAN226H CAPT ORD LT HODGES F/S WALKER F/S DEVENISH586B CAPT SAUNDERS LT BOOYSE F/S MOORE SGT EARP-JONES290C LT/COL. BRITZ. D.F.C. P/O SMALLMAN 2/LTs HARRISON & PICKUP256S CAPT SMIT LT KAY 2/LTs PURDON & WRIGHT356Z CAPT STUART LT PAWSON F/S MORLEY 2/LT SCHUMANN291U LT HARGRAVES LT REES SGT JENSON F/S VALENTINE
Transcriber's Notes
- RECCE RDS
- Reconnaissance of Roads.
- Hrs LT
- Hours Local Time.
- G.P
- General Purpose (bombs).
- Bets
- Likely "Dets." (Detonators).
- N.M.S
- No Movement Seen.
- RR
- Railroad.
- N.R.O
- No Results Observed.
- C. SCALEA
- Capo Scalea.
- S/Ls
- Searchlights.
- E/A
- Enemy Aircraft.
Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded