Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 18th March 1944
TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)HQ NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SAOA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/593DATE : 18th March 1944OPREP No.593 for period ending 21.00 Hrs on 17/3/44REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 159 FROSINONEA: 12 Baltimores detailed to bomb FROSINONE town (G462576). One a/c failedto take-off. The remaining 11 were airborne by 1215 Hrs and with223 Sqdn leading set course from base at 1235 Hrs. The attack wascarried out in Two boxes line astern from 13100' at 1307 Hrs on a courseof 050°. A close pattern of bombs straddled town from G454377 to G459376followed by columns of brown smoke and dust. One 250 lb bomb hung-up andwas jettisoned at TRABACCO. On return the undercarriage of the 2nd a/cto land collapsed (NO personnel casualties) and this blocked the run-way.9 a/c were diverted to CANNE L/G where all were down by 1430 Hrs returningto base later. Visibility and weather conditions good in target areabut detailed results of bombing difficult to observe due to isolatedpatch of cloud over town at 10,000'. Enemy opposition NIL. 8 Spitfiresprovided area cover.B: (i) 8 Baltimores IV(ii) NIL(i) 3 Baltimores IIIA(ii) NILC: NIL.D: (i) 16.30 Hrs(ii) NIL(i) 6.30 Hrs(ii) NILE: (i) 25600 x .302400 x .3035600 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(i) 9600 x .30900 x .3032100 x .50(ii) & (iii) NILF: (i) 16 x 500 MC24 x 250 GP(ii) 15 x 500 MC23 x 250 GP(iii) 1 x 500 MC1 x 250 GP(iv) NIL(i) 6 x 500 MC9 x 250 GP(ii) As above(iii) & (iv) NILG: (1) NIL (ii) 1 Mk.IV (Cat.11)to V: NILW: (i) 6 Balts IV. 3 Balts IIIA. (ii) NIL(i) 1.00 Hour .30 Minutes (ii) NILZ: NILWahlin...? Capt.SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- SIO
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
- L/G
- Landing Ground.
- MC
- Medium Capacity (Bomb type). 57 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 18th March 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 594) detailing a mission flown on March 18th, 1944.
- Cat.11
- Category 11 Damage (Write-off/Destroyed).
Runway Crisis (The Crash):
Targeting (Frosinone):
Operational Friction:
Abbreviations: