Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 9th July, 1944
APPENDIX "L"40TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)HQ MATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SADA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/754DATE : 9th July, 1944OPREP No. 754 for period ending 21.00 hrs on the 8th JULY, 1944REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 105 FIRENZEA: 11 Baltimores (1 returned with bomb load after R/V owing to enginetrouble) took off from PESCARA at 0805 hrs to bomb a fuel dump andsuspected H.Q. (Area Q627762, Q640766, Q634757). After R/V with8 Spitfires at PERUGIA, they flew to target and bombed at 0939 hrsfrom 13000'. First box, owing to mistaken identity, bombed areaQ30700 on a course of 310°, just South of VINCI. No results observedSecond box bombed briefed target on a course of 030°, stick fromQ634762 to Q636767, two explosions with white and brown smoke. H.A.A.intense and accurate from POGGIBONSI to target and until bomb linecrossed. 5 A/C out of 10 holed. One pilot wounded in right handand knee before bombing run, carried on and returned with formation -landed safely. Visibility very hazy. All A/C landed back by 10.45 hrsB: (i) 4 Balts Mk IV(ii) NIL(i) 7 Balts Mk V(ii) NILC: (i) & (ii) NIL(i) & (ii) NILD: (i) 10.00 Hrs(ii) NIL(i) 16:50 Hrs(ii) NILE: (i) 12800 x .301200 x .3032800 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(i) 22400 x .302100 x .3034900 x .50(ii) & (iii) NILF: (i) 8 x 500 M.C.12 x 250 G.P.(ii) As in (i)(iii) & (iv) NILFused: 52 - 44 Nose, 36 - 28 Tailexcept 2 x 500: 36 - 27 Nose, 36 - 28 Tail)(i) 14 x 500 M.C.21 x 250 G.P.(ii) 12 x 500 M.C.18 x 250 G.P.(iii) & (iv) NILG: (i) NIL(ii) 1 Balts Cat I (Flak)(i) NIL(ii) 3 Balts Cat I (Flak)H: Lieut Brunette Pilot - Wounded, condition believed NOT serious.J to V: NILW: (i) 8 Marauders Mk III(ii) NILX: (i) 6.05 Hrs(ii) NILY & Z: NILHallick Capt.S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- SADA
- Likely S.A.O.A. (Senior Air Officer Administration). 41 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 9th July, 1944. in the header section. It is a page of "SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS" (Appendix "M") labeled 41 in the top right corner.
- R/V
- Rendezvous.
- H.Q
- Headquarters.
- H.A.A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft.
- M.C
- Medium Capacity.
- G.P
- General Purpose.
- Cat I
- Category 1 Damage (Repairable at unit level).
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer (Capt. Hallick).
A "Rough Do" (Casualties and Damage):
Navigation and Targeting Errors:
Marauder Conversion Surge:
Geographic Context:
Abbreviations: