Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 14th SEPTEMBER, 1944
"L"181TO : 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/827DATE : 14th SEPTEMBER, 1944OPREP NO. 827 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HRS ON THE 13th SEPTEMBER '44REF. MAP ITALY, 1:100,000 SHEET 101 RIMINI.OPS. NO. 85 to 90 /21/MA. : 24 Marauders in Boxes of 4 A/C each airborne from PESCARA during the day to attack enemy strongpoints near RIMINI, each A/C carrying 10 x 250 frag. bombs. First three boxes at 0940 hrs and at 1040 hrs. bombed an area around p.p. R.835950. First Box straddled Northern Portion with an excellently spaced pattern; 2nd Box all bombs in N.E.section; 3rd Box bombed an area about 1000 yrds N.W. of briefed p.p. by mistake – Direct Hits on large buildings. Slight inaccurate H.A.A. from Target Area. Two A/C returned with load due to Bomb Door trouble.Next three Boxxs off by 1510 hrs. to attack an area around R. 835 950, bombing at approximately 1620 hrs. All Bombs of all three boxes in Northern Portion of Target. Moderate accurate H.A.A. encountered. Eight A/C holed. Leader of last Box hit over target immediately after bombing and A/C started spinning, eventually crashing in sea 5 miles S.E. of RIMINI. It was later confirmed by forward Troops that 4 Chutes opened, two landing in enemy territory and two among our own troops. Details being awaited.B. : (i) 24 Marauders III (ii) NilC. : (i) & (ii) NilD. : (i) 48.10 hrs. (ii) NilE. : (i) 106400 x .50 (ii) Nil (iii) 3800 x .50F. : (i) 240 x 250 (ii) 220 x 250 (iii) & (iv) NilG. : (i) 1 Marauder III (ii) 8 Marauders III damaged.H. : Missing – Lt. Gvd. H. Whitehouse and F/Sgt. J.E.Carter(Pilots)Lt. C.van Trotsenburg (Observer); W/O's N.H.Swale,H.E.Horscroft and J.Wilson ( Airgunners)J to V : NilW. : (i) 1 Marauder III (ii) NilX. : (i) 20 Minutes (ii) NilY to Z : Nil(Signed) S. L. BoastLt. for Capt.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- H.Q
- Headquarters.
- M.A.A.F
- Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
- SCORU
- Section Central Operational Research Unit.
- T.A.F
- Tactical Air Force.
- S.A.O.S
- South African Operational Section.
- S.A.A.F
- South African Air Force.
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
- OPREP
- Operational Report.
- A/C
- Aircraft.
- H.A.A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak).
Abbreviations Expanded:
frag.: fragmentation.
p.p.: pinpoint (target coordinates).
Observations about Individuals:
Lieutenant G. v.d. H. Whitehouse and Crew: This report (OP No. 827) documents the tragic loss of Marauder HD 591 and its six-man crew. The detailed account of the aircraft spinning into the sea after being hit by "moderate accurate" flak became the subject of a major intelligence investigation to determine if the men captured by the Germans or those reaching Allied lines survived.
Location and Modern Names:
Historical Theatre Context: