Sortie Report (Form 541)
P 34R.A.F. Form 441 A.SORTIE REPORT(Part A)| [Header Columns] | [Content] ||---|---|| No. | 1 || Oprep. Ref. No. | 523 || Date | 20 Jan 44 || Squadron | 21 SAAF || Type of Aircraft | 12 Baltimores (1 Mk.3A, 11 Mk.4) || Aircraft No. | See over || Aircraft Letter | || Captain | MAJOR ORD || Crew | LT HODGES || | Formation Leader || Time Up | 1305 A Hrs 1st a/c || Time Down | 1449 A Hrs last a/c || Total Time | 20.00 Hours || Aerodrome or L.G. | TORTORELLA || Type of Cloud | St.Cu. FOGGIA-S.SEVERA | St.Cu to sea ||---|---|---|| Amount of Cloud | 8/10 cleared to heavy haze on return. | 9/10 || Base of Cloud | 4000' Tops | 4000' Tops || Visibility | 5/10 local. 20 miles over target | || General Weather | Good - clear over target | || Map or Chart Reference | ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 146 SULMONA ||---|---|| Task or Duty | POPOLI RR STN. - G857965 ||---|---|| Time | Height | Place | Narrative ||---|---|---|---|| 1305 | | BASE | a/b || 1322 | 2500 | BASE | S/c TERMOLI || 1340 | 10500 | TERMOLI | S/c CASOLI || 1350 | 13600 | CASOLI | S/c PRATOLA PELIGNA || 1355 | 13500 | PRATOLA PELIGNA | S/c TARGET || 1356 | 12300 | TARGET | On bombing run Co.070°M. || 1356 | 12000 | TARGET | S/c CASOLI || 1403 | 9300 | CASOLI | S/c BASE || 1431 | 2000 | BASE | Over Base || 1439 | | BASE | Landed || 1449 | | | Last a/c landed |[Signature Block](Signed) [Signature unreadable - similar to "Lt Thompson"?]Lt for CaptSIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.PART B (on reverse) to be completed according to relevant pro-forma in H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. Instruction 34.HQP/1,500,000/4-42 P.T.O.
Transcriber's Notes
Sortie Report 523 (Popoli - Second Attempt): This report details the second raid on Popoli Railway Station on January 20th, 1944. The morning raid (Sortie 522, led by Capt. Dalling) had failed due to a "short bombing run" and an overshoot. This afternoon mission was launched immediately to correct that failure and destroy the target.