TORTORELLA

R.A.F. Form 441 A. SORTIE REPORT (Part A.) Sheet No. 1 Oprep. Ref. No. 441 Date. 11 Nov 43 Squadron. 21 SAAF No. of Aircraft. 12 Baltimores 3 Mk.3, 2 Mk.3A, 7 Mk.4 Aircraft No. ) Aircraft Letter. ) See over Captain. MAJ. ORD Crew. LT HODGES Formation Leader Time Up. 1202 A Hrs. 1st A/C Time Down. 1358 A Hrs. Last A/C Total Time. 22.00 Hrs. Aerodrome or L.G. TORTORELLA Type of Cloud. St.Cu Amount of Cloud. 10/10 Near Base. 7/10 - 8/10 over target Base of Cloud. 4000' Tops 7000/9000' Visibility. Fair through cloud breaks General Weather. Cloudy Map or Chart Reference. ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 153 Target or Duty. GUNS, TROOPS & M.E.T. - STAZ DI PALENA (H087682) | Height. | Place. | Narrative. | |---|---|---| | — | BASE | A/B | | 6500 | FOGGIA | S/c VILLA SAN MARIA | | 15000 | TARGET AREA | Made two circuits to identify target owing to visibility being hampered by cloud | | 14300 | TARGET | On bombing run. Co. 330º M. | | 14000 | TARGET | S/c BASE | | 7000 | BASE | Over Base | | - | | Landed | | | | Last A/C Landed | (Sgd) [unclear signature] for Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1943-11-11 TORTORELLA

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes Expanded Abbreviations * R.A.F.: Royal Air Force. * SAAF / S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * Oprep. Ref. No.: Operational Report Reference Number. * Mk.: Mark (designating the version of the aircraft). * MAJ / LT: Major / Lieutenant. * A/C: Aircraft. * L.G.: Landing Ground. * St.Cu: Stratocumulus (cloud type). * M.E.T.: Motor Enemy Transport. * STAZ DI: Stazione di (Italian for "Station of"). * A/B: Airborne. * S/c: Set course. * Co.: Course. * SIO: Senior Intelligence Officer. * Sgd: Signed. Observations on Individuals * Major J. Ord: Served as the Formation Leader for this 12-aircraft strike. Ord was one of the most experienced pilots in 21 Squadron, frequently leading the formation during the high-tempo operations following the loss of the unit's previous commander on November 3rd. * Lieutenant Hodges: Acted as the observer/navigator for Major Ord. The Ord/Hodges pairing was a staple of the squadron's lead crews, often responsible for the complex navigational decisions required in the mountainous Italian terrain. Location Information and Modern Geography * Stazione di Palena (Palena Station): The target coordinate (H087682) refers to the railway station serving the town of Palena. While the town of Palena is located in the Province of Chieti, the station itself is situated on the high plateau of the Quarto Santa Chiara. * Modern Name: Today, Palena Station remains a stop on the historic "Trans-Siberian of Italy" (Sulmona-Isernia) railway line, largely used for tourist excursions through the Majella National Park. * Tortorella Landing Ground (Foggia No. 2): The squadron's home base in the Foggia plain. Now primarily agricultural land, it is located near the modern Foggia "Gino Lisa" Airport. * Villa Santa Maria: A navigational waypoint in the Abruzzo region used to align the formation for the bomb run. Historical Context * The Bernhardt Line Campaign: On November 11, 1943 (Armistice Day), 21 Squadron was engaged in tactical interdiction against German logistical hubs. Palena Station was a vital node for German troops and motor transport (M.E.T.) supplying the front lines of the Bernhardt Line. * Weather and Tactical Difficulty: The report underscores the constant struggle with the Italian autumn weather. 10/10 cloud (total overcast) at base and 7/10 to 8/10 over the target required Major Ord to make "two circuits" at 15,000 feet to positively identify the target before bombing from 14,300 feet. * Operational Endurance: The "Total Time" of 22.00 hours represents the cumulative flying hours for all twelve Martin Baltimore bombers involved in the mission. Despite the technical and meteorological challenges, the SAAF crews maintained a relentless pressure on German supply lines during the slow Allied advance toward Rome. 51 The date written in the 'Date' column on the corresponding Part A report to verify this image is 11 Nov 43.