Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 2nd June, 1944
APPENDIX "B"305TO : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU)H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU)SAOA SAAFFROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAFREF : 21S/702DATE : 2nd June, 1944OPREP No. 702 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 1st June, 1944REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 160 ROMA12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G at 1430 hrs to bomb entrenchedpositions on both sides of R/R line at F841531 and F837514. Weathergood but visibility in target area impaired by dust, smoke and haze.Area cover was provided. First box attacked F841531 at 1540 hrs from11000' on a course of 355°. Stick from F846530 to F845534. Noobserved results. Second box attacked F837514 at 1540 hrs from11000' on a course of 330°. Stick from F836514 to F832512. Noobserved results. A.A. intense and accurate from target area beforeduring and after bombing. Several A/C holed, one with 80 holes,belonging to the second box. Another A/C of second box missing, lastseen losing height under control towards GAETA. Remaining A/C landedat 1638 hrs.B: (i) 4 Balts Mk IV(ii) NIL(i) 8 Balts Mk V(ii) NILC: (i) & (ii) NIL(i) & (ii) NILD: (i) 8.20 Hrs(ii) NIL(i) 16.10 Hrs(ii) NILE: (i) 12800 x .301200 x .3032800 x .50(ii) & (iii) NIL(i) 25600 x .302400 x .3035600 x .50(ii) NILF: (i) 16 x 500 M.C.(ii) As in (i)(iii) & (iv) NIL(Fused: 52 - 44 Nose, 36 - 28 Tail)(i) 32 x 500 M.C.(ii) As in (i)(iii) & (iv) NILW: (i) 1 Balt Mk IV (Cat 1)(i) 4 Balts Mk V (Cat 1)1 Balt Mk V missing(All due to Flak)No. P.6674V Lt Mackay, C.H. PilotNo. 542504V Lt Edmayr, G. ObserverNo. 282503V W/O I Ferreira, I.L. W.O.P. GunnerNo. 580167V W/O I Nielsen, F.J.P. Straight GunnerCov: NIL(i) 1 Balt MkIV(ii) NIL(i) 0.10 Hrs(ii) NILZ: NILFL Lt Col Jandrell DFCHallick Capt.S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- L/G
- Landing Ground.
- A/C
- Aircraft. 17 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 3rd June, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 703) labeled 306 in the top right corner.
- M.C
- Medium Capacity (High Explosive).
- Cat
- Category (Damage classification).
- W/O I
- Warrant Officer Class I.
- W.O.P
- Wireless Operator (also seen as WT/AG).
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer.
The Battle for Rome (Targeting the Retreat):
The Loss of Lt. Mackay's Crew:
Abbreviations: