Sortie Report (Form 541)
APPENDIX "E"201FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.TO : W.I.O. 3 WING S.A.A.F.H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( Attention Operations Records)H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. ( SCORU)REF. : 21S/989DATE : 5th APRIL, 1945.OPREP NO. 989 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HRS. ON THE 4th APRIL, 1945 REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 40A - GORIZIAIC.
<u>OPERATION NO. 185/21S/M.</u>
A : 8 A/C in two Boxes airborne between 1530 and 1825 hrs. toattack the MONSANTA M/Yards at GORIZIA pp. C. 718077. Escortedby 12 Spitfires formation set course for target at 1624 hrsfrom Porto Corsini, and bombed at 1702 hrs from 12500' on acourse of 030º. Due to a suspected Wind Error, both boxeshad right errors - patterns mingling and finishing on largebuildings 500 yards east of the target at C. 723073. No enemyopposition. Weather; clear patch over the target otherwise8/10ths St. Cu. at 11000'. Visibility good.B : (1) 8 Marauders III (ii) NilC : (1) & (ii) NilD : (1) 22.40 Hrs. (ii) NilE : (1) 27200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NilF. : (1) 48 x 500 ) Demo Fused (ii) as in (1) (iii) & (iv) Nil32 x 250 ) 36 Pkts Pamphlets.dropped.G to V: NilW : (1) 3 Marauders III (ii) NilX : (1) 3.05 Hrs (11) NilY to Z: Nil S.L. Boshoff [handwritten signature] ___-------------------- Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.9-349346SA 21 / 478 4 APR 45 F20 || HH C 7207 12500 1702 B I O
Transcriber's Notes
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer, Capt. S.L. Boshoff.
- 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F
- No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force, a medium bomber unit.
- 3 WING S.A.A.F
- No. 3 Wing SAAF, the administrative and tactical higher command overseeing 21 Squadron's medium bomber operations.
- SCORU
- South African Operations Records Unit.
- OPREP NO. 989
- Operational Report number 989, documenting combat activity for the period ending 21:00 hours on 4th April 1945.
- F20
- Focal length of the camera lens (20 inches) used for vertical strike photography.
- HH C 7207
- Map reference C. 7207 (specifically pp. C. 718077), identifying the coordinates for the Monsanta Marshalling Yards in Gorizia on the Goriziaic 1:100,000 Sheet 40A.
- B I O
- Box I, Observer. Indicates the high-altitude strike photograph was taken from the observer's camera position in the lead aircraft of the first four-plane formation (Box I).
MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive ordnance. For this mission, the squadron utilized 48 x 500 lb GP Demo and 32 x 250 lb GP Demo fuzed bombs.