Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA: Celluloid Factory at C1118BB: 1030/1032 HrsBC: Medium level bombing attack 340°/360° 14000/1460018 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol136 x 30 IncendiariesNOTE: 4 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol) Brought back, observer did32 x 30 Incendiaries ) NOT bomb2 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol) Hang-up A/C J & G.24 x 30 Incendiaries )BD: Vics bombed independently on their respective leaders. Five a/c outof the 1st Box dropped short stick in target area (Hang-ups, a/cJ & G) The remaining a/c brought bombs back.2nd Box leader lost his bomb load when opening bomb doorsundershooting target C120167, two other a/c bombed on him. Two a/cdropped bombs on target C116184 to C117187. The last a/c broughtbombs back. Direct hits claimed on buildings C115187 (large cloudof white smoke)BE: H/A/A intense, accurate from NORTH of CHIETI and from around target.2 guns C1152032 guns C1051702 guns C1051782 guns C122202Guns along Rd C105179 to C113173NO enemy fighters encounteredBF: 4 a/c slightly holedBG: Verticals and Obliques of bomb burstsBH: 3 M.T. moving NORTH on bridge C148238. Some stationary M.T. atS. VALENTINO B9804AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.437 LT/COL JANDRELL DFC. CAPT CARTER 2/LT THOMPSON LT TE WATER POHL PL576O CAPT VISSER LT ELLIOTT LT POTGIETER LT V.D. WESTHUIZEN645J LT MUSGROVE LT GILDENHUYS LT V.SCHALKWYK A/SGT LEIPOLDT441F LT FROST LT WHITE F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN VL637C LT ASHTON LT ROSE F/SGT HARMSE A/SGT BROUGH467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN A/SGT MACKAY649A CAPT DE WET LT MELTZ LT DU PREEZ A/SGT PRENS BL445U LT V.D. MERWE LT JORDAAN F/SGT VERITY A/SGT PIENAAR167S LT HORN LT JENSEN 2/LT HEYNS A/SGT PECKITT612T LT BENNETT LT HARLE 2/LT STRYDOM P/O GILDON VL387R LT RICHARDS LT RABINOWITZ F/SGT ROBBERTSO A/SGT McCRINDLE414P LT HILL LT PIETERS F/SGT V.D.WESTHUIZEN A/SGT JENKINSON
Transcriber's Notes
- Incendiaries
- The loadout included "136 x 30 Incendiaries" alongside high explosive (500 MC) bombs. This specific mix was chosen for the "Celluloid Factory" target to ignite the flammable materials inside after the explosives breached the structures.
- Hang-ups
- The report details significant mechanical failures ("Hang-up A/C J & G"). A "hang-up" occurred when bombs failed to release from the racks. This was dangerous, as the aircraft had to return to base with live ordnance, often requiring a delicate landing. The note "Brought back, observer did NOT bomb" suggests human error or a decision to abort the run in one instance.
Ordnance and Tactics:
Target Intelligence (Section BE):
Personnel:
Lt Te Water Pohl: A distinctive South African surname.
Visual Reconnaissance (Section BH):