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Operation No. 889

Aircraft: F Time: 21:00 hrs

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Date
27th DECEMBER, 1944
APPENDIX "F"FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.TO : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION OPERATIONS RECORDS)H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. ( SCORU)S.A.O.A. ADV. H.Q. S.A.A.F. C.M.F.3 SA WING W.I.O. S.A.A.F.REF : 21S/ 889DATE : 27th DECEMBER, 1944OPREP NO. 889 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HRS. ON THE 26.12.44.REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 50 PADOVA.OPERATION NO. 133/21.12 Marauders airborne from IESI L/G at 1143 Hrs. to bomb CASTEL FRANCO VENETO M/Yards (0.3977). Formation set course from FANO at 1217 hrs. in two boxes of six, escorted by 6 Mustangs. Attack took place at 1302 Hrs. from 13200' / 12800' on courses of 243° and 310° respectively. First box straddled the western end of the M/Yards with direct hits on buildings North and South of R/R Line and large explosion with orange smoke at G. 383771. Bombs of the leader of the second box fell 8 to 10 seconds after release, causing the whole box to overshoot by about 2000 yards in open field.H/A/A slight inaccurate when crossing coast North of Venice on return. Visibility good weather clear. All A/C landed by 1435 hr(W) (i) 12 Marauders III (ii) Nil(X) (i) & (ii) Nil(Y) (i) 33.00 Hrs (ii) Nil(Z) (i) 40800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) Nil(P) (i) 72 x 500 GP 48 x 250 GP (ii) 72 x 500, 48 x 250 (iii) & (iv) NilFused:- Nose 27-49 Tail 28-36NOTE:- 360 lbs of window dropped.(U) to (V) : Nil(W) (i) 1 Marauder III (ii) Nil(X) (i) 2.30 Hrs. (ii) Nil(Y) & (Z) : Nil(Signature: Halliwell) Halliwell CAPT.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

S.I.O
Squadron Intelligence Officer
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force
H.Q
Headquarters
M.A.A.F
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
M.A.T.A.F
Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force
SCORU
South African Corps of Records
S.A.O.A
South African Officer in Charge of Administration
ADV. H.Q
Advanced Headquarters
C.M.F
Central Mediterranean Force
W.I.O
Wing Intelligence Officer

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