Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 31st AUGUST, 1944
APPENDIX "T"125TO : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION 23rd SCORU): H.Q. T.A.F. ITALY ( ATTENTION SCORU): S.A.O.S. S.A.A.F.FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.REF. : 21S/ 811DATE : 31st AUGUST, 1944OPREP NO. 811 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 1400 HRS. ON THE 30 : 8 : 44REF. MAP:- ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 109 PESAROOPS. NO. 33-34-35/21/M.A. : 11 Marauders in three boxes airborne from PESCARA 1025 1106 and 1144 hrs respectively to attack a gun area with a centre point at S. 045775 ( 5 miles S.W. of PESARO). Each A/C carried 6 x 500 and 4 x 250 fragmentation bombs and first box of 4 A/C straddled eastern half of target at 1128 hrs., with an explosion at beginning of pattern. Second box bombed at 1213 hrs., a wide pattern crossing centre of briefed area. Third box recalled by Control after 45 mins. as enemy was withdrawing. Slight inaccurate H.A.A. from target area.Weather: Target clear and visibility good.All A/C down by 1303 hours.B. : (1) 11 Marauders III (ii) NilC. : (ii) & (iii) Nil (i) 17.35 hrs.D. : (i) 43.40 hrs. (ii) NilE. : (i) 41800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NilF. : (i) 66 x 500 ) Fused:- 52 — 44 Nose44 x 250 ) 36 — 30 Tail(ii) 48 x 50032 x 250(iii) & (iv) NilG TO Z : NIL(Signed) S.L. Boschoff Lt. for Capt.S.I.O., 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- H.Q. M.A.A.F
- Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
- SCORU
- Special Central Operational Reporting Unit.
- T.A.F
- Tactical Air Force.
- S.A.O.S. S.A.A.F
- South African Operational Section, South African Air Force.
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
- OPREP
- Operational Report.
- S.W
- South West.
- A/C
- Aircraft.
- H.A.A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire.
Abbreviations Expanded:
Observations about Individuals:
Location and Modern Names:
Historical Theatre Context:
Operation Olive (The Gothic Line Assault): This report documents three distinct operations (33, 34, and 35/21/M) on August 30, 1944. This date saw the final, desperate German efforts to hold the eastern sector of the Gothic Line against the surging Eighth Army.