| TORTORELLA |

P 34 R.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 Capt SIO 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.

1944-01-20 | TORTORELLA |

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

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. * Tactical Adjustment (Attack Heading): The most significant difference between the two raids is the approach vector. * Morning (Sortie 522): Attacked on a heading of 010° (North). * Afternoon (Sortie 523): Attacked on a heading of 070°M (East-North-East). * Analysis: Major Ord (the afternoon leader) deliberately changed the axis of attack. By approaching via Pratola Peligna, the bombers could follow the valley floor from the west, lining up better with the station and avoiding the hills that caused the morning's bombs to miss. This demonstrates the squadron's ability to learn and adapt tactics within hours. * Major Ord: Once again, Major Ord (with Lt. Hodges) stepped in to lead the corrective mission. His high operational tempo in January 1944 marks him as the squadron's "go-to" leader for difficult or critical targets. * Weather Window: While the base at Foggia was socked in with "8/10" cloud and "heavy haze," the target area at Popoli was "Good - clear over target" with "20 miles" visibility. This micro-climate variation in the mountains was crucial for visual bombing. 48 Verification: Target File Verification: This document is the reverse side (Part B) of the Sortie Report for January 20th, 1944 (Sortie No. 523). Although there is no specific "Date" column on this side, the target "POPOLI RR STN" and the "Time over Target" of 1356 A Hrs match the Part A document from the previous image (269-1__47.jpg) dated Jan 20, 1944.