APPENDIX "B"

Undated Other

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2
APPENDIX "B"
(Part B)
BA: MANOPPELLO RR STATION & Yds C051113
BB: 1442/1445 A Hrs
BC: Medium level bombing attack 360°/010° 10100/10400'
24 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol
36 x 250 GP do do
BD: Boxes bombed independently on their respective Leader, almost line
astern. Bombs from C051112 to C052116
4 direct hits on Railway track
One direct hit cross-roads C052116
Good concentration of bombs on Rd and nearby buildings
BE: NIL
BF: NIL
BG: Verticals and Obliques of bomb bursts
BH: 15/20 bursts H/A/A target area directed at 223 Sqdn
5 Railway trucks stationary in S. VALENTINO
4 " " " " C002058
10/12 M.T. stationary facing NORTH on Rd GUARDIAGRELE—MANOPPELLO
5 M.T. stationary CATEGNANO
Scattered M.T. on Rd facing NORTH C037135
Some M.T. moving SOUTH C050150
2 M.T. moving SOUTH B9905
AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.
643H MAJOR ORD LT HODGES F/SGT BODDICE CAPT HALL PL
441F LT FROST LT WHITE F/SGT CARVER A/SGT ALLAN
576C LT BUCHAN LT WALTJERS F/SGT ODENDAAL A/SGT STEWART
645J CAPT V.D RIET LT RICE F/SGT SAVAGE A/SGT SCOTT TL
412B LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT WILKEY A/SGT ECKEN
637C LT ASHTON LT ROSE F/SGT HARMSE A/SGT BROUGH
612T MAJOR DALLING DFC. LT MCARAVEY F/SGT FORRESTER A/SGT BECHLER BL
467D LT HILL LT PEITERS F/SGT V.D. WESTHUIZEN A/SGT JENEISCH
437E LT BENNETT LT HARLE 2/LT STRYDOM F/O GILDON
805U CAPT GEARY LT WELIE 2/LT DU PREEZ A/SGT REYNE VL
167S LT AITKEN LT LAMBERT F/SGT GELDENHUYS F/SGT CRANKSHAW
414F CAPT DIEU LT VANDE PUTTE F/SGT BAILEY F/SGT DU RAAT

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes:
* Intelligence Codes & Observations (Section BA-BH):
* BA (Target): Manoppello Railway Station & Yards. Coordinates C051113 refer to the Modified British System grid reference used on Italian theater maps.
* BC (Ordnance):
* 500 MC: 500 lb Medium Capacity bomb (standard high explosive).
* 250 GP: 250 lb General Purpose bomb.
* "49 Det 27 Pistol": Refers to the No. 27 Tail Pistol used for detonation.
* BH (Visual Reconnaissance):
* H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. The crew noted 15-20 bursts fired at the sister squadron (No. 223 Squadron) , which often flew in coordinated attacks with 21 Squadron.
* M.T.: Mechanical Transport (trucks/vehicles). The crew reported significant road traffic ("10/12 M.T. stationary facing NORTH"), indicating active German supply movement towards the front.
* S. Valentino: San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore, a nearby town.
* Guardiagrele: A town south of Chieti.
* Crew List & Historical Significance:
* Major Ord & Lt. Hodges (Aircraft 643H): Listed here as the Pilot Leader (PL). The diary later notes on Feb 24th/25th that both men were "R.T.U." (Returned to Union) at the end of their tour, marking this as one of their final missions.
* Capt. v.d. Riet (Aircraft 645J): Captain T.A.B. van der Riet is listed here. The diary records his death in action later that month (Feb 28th), where he was killed bailing out of a spinning aircraft.
* F/O Gildon (Aircraft 437E): Pilot Officer Gildon, listed here as a gunner, was the "only R.A.F. aircrew member still with the Squadron" according to the diary entry on Feb 11th, when he departed.
* Major Dalling DFC (Aircraft 612T): Major Dalling (Distinguished Flying Cross) led the Box (BL). He was also the mission leader for the morning raid on Sulmona earlier that same day (Appendix A).
* Formation Codes: The codes at the end of the crew lines likely denote formation positions: PL (Pilot Leader/Formation Leader), TL (Top Leader/High Flight?), BL (Box Leader), VL (Vee Leader/Vic Leader).

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Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is an "APPENDIX 'C'" containing "Squadron Routine Orders No. 7/44" dated 3rd February, 1944.