Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 22nd June, 1944
APPENDIX "AA"342TO : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SAOA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/730DATE : 22nd June, 1944OPREP No. 730 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 21st June, 1944REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 117 IESI12 Baltimores airborne at 1800 hrs to attack CHIARAVALLE R.R. BRIDGE(S462456). Attack took place at 1928 hrs from 12000' on a course of110° in clear visibility. 1st box dropped a short stick from S463455to S467454, lateral error to the right but stick ending amongst acluster of buildings. Second box unable to bomb on target owing tosteep turn, bombed a railway bridge at S483469, on a course of 085°.The stick fell to the right from S483464 to S492468. Direct hit onroad at S487466. H.A.A. slight inaccurate from MARINA area. Closeescort of 4 Spitfires. All A/c landed by 2030 hrs.B: (i) 6 Balts Mk IV(ii) NIL(i) 6 Balts Mk V(ii) NILC: (i) & (ii) NIL(i) & (ii) NILD: (i) 15.30 hrs(ii) NIL(i) 14.30 hrs(ii) NILE: (i) 19200 x .301800 x .3034200 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(i) 19200 x .301800 x .3034200 x .50(ii) & (iii) NILF: (i) 24 x 500 M.C.(ii) as in (i)(iii) & (iv) NIL(Fusing: 36 - 30 Tail)(i) 24 x 500 M.C.(ii) as in(i)(iii) & (iv) NILto V: NILW: (i) 2 Balts IV(ii) NIL(i) 1 Marauder Mk III(ii) NILX: (i) 1.15 Hrs(ii) NIL(i) 0.50 Hrs(ii) NILY & Z: NILFL Major de WetHallick Capt.S.I.O., 21 Squadron, SAAF.
Transcriber's Notes
- R.R
- Railroad.
- H.A.A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire.
- A/c
- Aircraft. 54 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 22nd June, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 731) labeled APPENDIX "BB" (page number 343).
- M.C
- Medium Capacity (High Explosive).
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
Defensive Fire:
Aircraft Anomalies (The Marauder Continues):
Leadership:
Major de Wet: The mission was led by Major de Wet (Flight Leader). Despite the mixed results (missing the primary bridge), his decision to have the second box attack a secondary target rather than bring the bombs back showed tactical flexibility, even if the result was only a hit on a road.
Abbreviations: