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DI PALENA STATION (H087682)

Saturday, 13 November 1943

Sortie Report (Form 541)

BA : STAZ DI PALENA H087682BB: From 1545 A Hrs to 1550 A HrsBC: Medium level bombing. 13200/15000' Co. 040º/030º23 x 500 MC 43 Det 27 Pistol31 x 250 GP do do (Rods)3 x 250 GP 52 Det 37 Pistol ( 6 Hour Delay)2 x 250 GP do do (12 Hour Delay)BD: Weather clear with haze over target and 1/10 cloud over mountain tops. Target identified and leader did dummy run owing to sun striking perspex on run up. Second box carried and bombed. First box bombed later. Bombs fell in short sticks, H088678 - 092677 - majority fell Just SOUTH of station with slight overshoot. Direct hits on RR. near Rd and RR junction. Bursts also seen WEST of RR Rd N.E. of station.BE: NILBF: 1 A/C sustained small hole in Observers perspex at J0068 at 1604 A Hrs. Cause unknown. NO E/A visible. Spitfire cover still with formationBG: Obliques and verticals of bomb burstsBH: 6 MET moving NORTH on Rd N.W. PESCOCOSTANZO, 10 MET area H0969 close together facing NORTH - later moving. 6/10 MET moving SOUTH towards VILLA SAN MARIA. Fires seen in villages ATELETA, QUADRI, ALFEDENA, ROCCARASO, and CAPRACOTTA and 12 among hills WEST of QUADRIAIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.167S CAPT SMIT LT KAY LT PURDON A/SGT SCHOOMBIE181T LT BENNETT LT HARLE 2/LT STRYDOM P/O GILDEN356Z LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL A/SGT STEWART387R LT RICHARDS LT DE CONNICK F/SGT ROBBERTSE A/SGT McCRINDLE181Y LT HILL LT PIETERS F/SGT V.D. WESTHUIZEN A/SGT JENKINSON240O LT ROBERTSON LT HANNING F/SGT DU PIESANIE A/SGT LEISCHING467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN A/SGT MACKAY426J CAPT JOB LT OWEN-HUGHES F/SGT JARVIS F/SGT JAKES441F LT FROST LT NEL F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN545A LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY A/SGT BOWEN916K LT WITTE LT RUSHFORTH W/SGT EATON A/SGT MARAIS

Transcriber's Notes

STAZ DI PALENA
Stazione di Palena (Palena Railway Station).
A Hrs
Army Hours (Standard military time).
Co
Course.
RR
Railroad.
Rd
Road.
A/C
Aircraft.
E/A
Enemy Aircraft.
MET
Motor Enemy Transport.

Expanded Abbreviations

Lieutenant Robertson and Lieutenant Hanning: Operating aircraft 240O. This crew was a consistent part of the squadron's operational core during the Sangro offensive. Tragically, they were killed just fifteen days later in a takeoff accident at Tortorella on November 28, 1943.

Ateleta, Quadri, Alfedena, Roccaraso, and Capracotta: These villages, reported as "smoking" or "on fire," represent the front-line and immediate rear areas of the German Bernhardt Line. Historical Context

The "Maximum Effort" against the Bernhardt Line: This mission on November 13, 1943, was the second strike of the day against the Palena logistical hub. In total, 21 Squadron struck this target at least five times in three days to ensure the mountain rail link remained unusable for German reinforcements moving toward the Sangro River.