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Operation No. 767

BRIDGE

Aircraft: Y Time: 21:00 hrs

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Date
18th July, 1944
APPENDIX "Y"53TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)HQ MATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SADA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/767DATE : 18th July, 1944OPREP No. 767 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 17th July, 1944REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 117 JESIA: 12 Baltimores airborne from PESCARA at 1845 hrs to attack ROAD BRIDGEat S492504. Formation set course at 1905 hrs and bombed in boxesline astern from 9500' on a course of 185°. First box dropped a shortstick from S494504 to S495499; 2nd box from S496501 to S495497; bothboxes slight lateral error to the left, straddling railway line androad. Some direct hits on buildings at S495501, starting a small firewith white smoke. H/A/A slight inaccurate from coastal area East oftarget area. 4/10 str cu in layers from 9000-11000 ft en route andin target area. Area cover was provided by Spitfires. All A/C downby 2025 hrs.B: (i) 6 Balts IV(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) 12 x 500 MC18 x 250 GP(ii) As above(iii) & (iv) NIL(i) 12 x 500 MC18 x 250 GP(ii) As above(iii) & (iv) NIL(fused 49-28 tail)G to V: NILW: (i) One Balt IV; One Marauder III(ii) NILX: (i) 50 mins. 1.30 Hrs.(ii) NILY & Z: NILHallick Capt.S.I.O., 21 Squadron, SAAF.

Transcriber's Notes

MAAF
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
SCORU
Statistical Control and Operations Research Unit.
MATAF
Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force.
SADA
Likely Senior Air Officer Administration (S.A.O.A.).
OPREP
Operational Report.
H/A/A
Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak).
A/C
Aircraft.
NIL
None. 55 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 19th July, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (Appendix "Z") labeled 54 in the top right corner.
S.I.O
Squadron Intelligence Officer (Capt. Hallick).

Operational Context (Interdiction of the Jesi Sector):

Defensive and Support Measures:

Conversion Milestone (The First Marauder Entry):

Geography and Locations:

Abbreviations Expanded:

str cu: Stratocumulus clouds.