Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 28th DECEMBER, 1944
APPENDIX "G"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.W.I.O. 3 SA WING S.A.A.F.FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.REF : 21S/ 890DATE : 28th DECEMBER, 1944OPREP NO. 890 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HRS. ON THE 27.12.44.REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 51 TREVISO.OPERATION NO. 134/21.12 Marauders airborne from Iesi at 1042 Hrs. to attack the TREVISO ENGINE SHEDS at Q. 629758. After meeting their escort of 6 Mustangs over FANO they set course for target at 1117 hrs. in two boxes of six A/C. First Box bombed at 1157 hrs. from 12000' on a course of 010° stick starting with two or three D/H's on track and overshooting in built up area North of Railway lines ( Q.629759 - Q. 630762). Several D/H's on buildings and much brown smoke resulted. Two near misses with 250 lbs. (spinners) on Engine Sheds were also observed. The second box bombed at 1158 hrs. from 11000' on a course of 056°. Bombs fell in a long pattern straddling R/R lines with two direct hits or very near misses on semi-circular Engine Shed and various hits on M/Yards and buildings stick ending at Q.630762. No enemy opposition. Weather in target clear, visibility good. All A/C landed by 1308 hrs.(W) (i) 12 Marauders III (ii) Nil(X) (i) & (ii) Nil(Y) (i) 28.00 Hrs. (ii) Nil(Z) (i) 40800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) Nil(P) (i) 72 x 500 GP 48 x 250GP (ii) 72 x 500, 48 x 250 (iii) & (iv) -Fused Nose 27-49, Tail 28-36Note:- 400 Lbs of window dropped in target area.(U) to (V) : Nil(W) (i) 3 Marauders (ii) Nil(X) (i) 1.45 Hrs. (ii) Nil(Y) & (Z) : NilNOTE:- Reference Oprep No. 888. 26.12.44 - No trace of missing airmen - search abandoned at dusk on 25.12.44.(Signature: Halliwell) Halliwell CAPT.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- 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
- S.A.A.F
- South African Air Force
- C.M.F
- Central Mediterranean Force
- OPREP
- Operational Report
- A/C
- Aircraft
- D/H's
- Direct Hits
- R/R
- Railroad
Abbreviations Expanded:
Observations about Individuals:
Information about the Location:
Historical Theatre Context:
Operation Interdiction (Pancake/Strangle Remnants): This mission, Operational Number 890, targeted the "Engine Sheds"—the heart of the locomotive maintenance system for the German 10th Army. By late December, the SAAF was focused on an "aerial siege" to prevent German resupply before the expected 1945 spring offensive.