Sortie Report (Form 541)
BA: LORETA FACTORY AREA - E985256BB: 1218 A HrsBC: Medium level bombing, 360°/025°, 13000ft22 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol33 x 250 GP do doBD: Cloud covered whole area except for small break over target which wasidentified from SOUTH. Full results NOT visible. Pattern startedSOUTH of factory area with a few bombs in S.W. corner of town, andextended under cloud into factory area where majority considered fell,as one or two seen first beyond factory area. One large spurt of fireseen in central factory area.BE: NILBF: NILBG: Verticals and Obliques of bomb burstsBH: NILAIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.| | | | | | ||---|---|---|---|---|---|| 437N | LT/COL KOTZE | CAPT CARTER | 2/LT THOMPSON | LT TE WATER POHL | FL || 412B | LT HEWITT | LT HORWITZ | F/SGT KIDNEY | A/SGT BOWEN | || 578G | LT MURMAN | LT COCKBURN | F/SGT ODENDAAL | A/SGT STEWART | || 341L | LT WILLMOT | LT BORCHERDS | 2/LT LOOTS | A/SGT EARP-JONES | VL || 441F | LT ASHTON | LT STUART | F/SGT HARMSE | A/SGT BROUGH | || 356Z | CAPT V.D.RIET | LT RIVE | F/SGT SAVAGE | A/SGT SCOTT | || 649Q | CAPT W.I.DALLING DFC | LT McARAVEY | F/SGT FORRESTER | A/SGT BUCHLER | BL || 414P | LT HILL | LT PIETERS | F/SGT V.D.WESTHUIZEN | A/SGT JENKINSON | || 545A | CAPT DIEU | LT VAN DER PUTTE | F/SGT BAILEY | F/SGT DU RANT | || 167S | CAPT JOB | LT MAUDE | F/SGT GRATTON | A/SGT LEISCHING | VL || 240G | LT ROWE | LT JANSEN | 2/LT HEYNS | A/SGT PECKITT | (Returned eary) || 387R | LT RICHARDS | LT RABINOWITZ | F/SGT ROBBERTSE | A/SGT McCRINDLE | |
Transcriber's Notes
- FL
- Formation Leader (Lt/Col Kotzé, the O.C.).
- VL
- Vic Leader (Leading a 3-plane element).
- BL
- Box Leader (Leading a 6-plane section).
Belgian Crew (Capt. Dieu / Lt. Van der Putte): The crew of aircraft 545A features Capt. Dieu (Pilot) and Lt. Van der Putte (Observer). This is a notable pairing of the Belgian volunteers within the squadron. Lt. Van der Putte had only recently reported for duty on January 9th (file 269-1__5.jpg), so this was one of his first operational missions.