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Operation No. 430

250 FT LONG M/V (REPORTED SMOKING) IN POSITION 43° 30 N. AND 16°30 NEAR SPLIT (YUGOSLAVIA)

Over target: 1618 hrs Landed: 1730 hrs Pilot: LT/COL BRITZ. DFC

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Duty
Medium level bombing ATTACK ON A M/V IN A BAY NEAR SPLIT (YUGOSLAVIA) | Height. | Place. |
R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A.)Sheet No. 1Oprep. Ref. No. 430Date. 1st Nov 43Squadron. 2nd Operation 21 SAAFNo. of Aircraft. 12 Baltimores8 Mk.4; 3 Mk.3A; 1 Mk.3Aircraft No. )Aircraft Letter. ) As per listCaptain. LT/COL BRITZ. DFCCrew. LT BOOYSETime Up. 1501 A Hrs 1st A/CTime Down. 1730 A Hrs Last A/CTotal Time. 27 HoursAerodrome or L.G. TORTORELLAType of Cloud. —Amount of Cloud. —Base of Cloud. —Visibility. Hazy over Islands otherwise goodGeneral Weather. GoodMap or Chart Reference.CHIETI 1:500,000NE/42/14Target or Duty. Medium level bombingATTACK ON A M/V IN A BAY NEAR SPLIT (YUGOSLAVIA)| Height. | Place. | Narrative. ||---|---|---|| — | BASE | A/B || 5000 | FOGGIA | Rendezvous with fighters, 4 P40's || 5000 | " | s/c 019º M Direct to Target || 11500 | SPLIT BAY | BOMBS DROPPED ON SHIPPING IN BAY || 9000 | Target Area | s/c 199º M Direct to Base || 3000 | BASE | || | BASE | Landed || | | Last A/C Landed (Flag Path) |(Sgd) [unclear] Capt.SIO 21 Squadron, SAAF

Transcriber's Notes

R.A.F
Royal Air Force.
Oprep. Ref. No
Operational Report Reference Number.
SAAF
South African Air Force.
LT/COL
Lieutenant Colonel.
LT
Lieutenant.
DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross.
A/C
Aircraft.
L.G
Landing Ground.
M/V
Merchant Vessel.
A/B
Airborne.

Expanded Abbreviations:

s/c: Steered course.

Observations on Individuals:

Lieutenant Colonel J.F. "Jack" Britz, D.F.C.: The Officer Commanding (OC) of No. 21 Squadron, SAAF. Britz was a highly decorated leader who frequently led his crews personally on dangerous operations, as seen in this cross-Adriatic strike.

Location Information and Modern Context:

Historical Context: