Operation

APPENDIX "V" 253 TO : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/672 DATE : 15th May, 1944 OPREP No. 672 for the period ending 21.00 hrs on the 14th May, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 160 CASSINO 12 Balts off by 1400 hrs to attack GUN POSITIONS, East of Pontecorvo. One A/C (2nd box leader) returned after 15 mins, due to inter-com trouble and the remaining eleven A/C bombed position G/15198 at 1455 hrs on a course of 300 degs from 12,000 ft. Stick fell in a long pattern from G719199 to G712202, lateral error to the right and a slight overshoot. No results are claimed. Heavy AA from target area-slight and inaccurate. Weather over target area was clear, with 7/10 Cu, 8,000 ft base, 10,000 ft tops. All A/C landed by 1545 hrs. Spitfires provided area cover. B: (i) 7 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 5 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL (i) 10.15 (ii) NIL (i) 8.20 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 22,400 x .30 2,100 x .303 4,900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 16,000 x .30 1,500 x .303 3,500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 1 x 250 G.P. (52 Det 44Pist Nose 49 Det 28Pist Tail) 216 x 40 G.P. (52 Det 45 Pist) (ii) 1 x 250 176 x 40 (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 160 x 40 G.P. (52 Det 45 Pist) (ii) 156 x 40 G.P. (iii) & (iv) NIL to V: NIL W: (i) 1 Balts Mk III (ii) NIL (i) .40 mins (ii) NIL Z: NIL (Handwritten) F.L. Major Dalling DFC S.L. Boshoff Lt.. Capt S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-05-15

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Mission Friction (Intercom Failure): * The Incident: The mission strength was reduced early when "One A/C (2nd box leader) returned after 15 mins, due to inter-com trouble". * Significance: Losing an intercom was a critical failure. The pilot could not communicate with the navigator/bombardier in the nose or the gunners in the turret. More importantly, losing a box leader (the 2nd box leader) disrupted the formation's cohesion. The remaining aircraft in that box would have to scramble to form up on a deputy leader or tag onto the first box, likely contributing to the loose bombing pattern described later. * Bombing Analysis (Overshoot): * The Result: The remaining 11 aircraft attacked gun positions at G.15198 (likely G.715198, correcting for typo). The report notes a poor result: "Stick fell in a long pattern... lateral error to the right and a slight overshoot. No results are claimed." * Causes: The "long pattern" suggests the aircraft didn't drop simultaneously (toggle failure or poor formation keeping). The overshoot and lateral error indicate issues with the bombsight setup or wind correction drift, possibly exacerbated by the confusion of losing the box leader. * Ordnance (Mixed Load): * Payload: The loadout included huge numbers of small bombs: "216 x 40 G.P." and "160 x 40 G.P.". These "40 G.P." are likely the same 40lb fragmentation bombs used in previous days (labeled here as GP). The inclusion of single 250lb G.P. bombs again suggests a target mix of exposed personnel (frag) and hardened bunkers (250lb). * Personnel: * Major Dalling DFC: The handwritten note identifies Major Dalling DFC as the Flight Leader. Despite his experience and recent decoration (Distinguished Flying Cross), the mission results were disappointing, illustrating the vagaries of war where equipment failure and weather can thwart even the best leadership. * S.L. Boshoff: The report is signed by Lt. S.L. Boshoff, now apparently signing as "Capt" (Acting Captain), or perhaps the form was pre-printed for a Captain and he signed above it. * Abbreviations: * Cu: Cumulus clouds. * G.P.: General Purpose. * A/C: Aircraft. * Pist: Pistol (fuse). * Det: Detonator. * DFC: Distinguished Flying Cross. 42 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 16th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 673) labeled APPENDIX "W" (page number 254), detailing the mission flown on the morning of May 15th, 1944.