The formation approached from the S.E. made a dummy run and came out of cloud through a gap, turned in and bombed at 133

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/580 DATE : 8th March 44 OPREP No.580 for period ending 2100 Hrs 8/3/44 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 150 ROMA. A: 12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G between 1229 and 1240 Hrs to bomb supply dumps in the vicinity of ZAGAROLO RR Stn (area G021585, 016584, 020577, 023576) After R/V with 12 Baltimores of 223 Sqdn at VINCHIATURO the formation flew to target via AVEZZANO and returned the same way. 10/10 Cu and Strato-Cu was encountered en-route 12000' tops, decreasing to 6/10 to 7/10 over target. The formation approached from the S.E. made a dummy run and came out of cloud through a gap, turned in and bombed at 1337 Hrs from 14000-15000' on a course of 105/120°. 1st Box bombed from G030583XXXX G010584 to G023583. 2nd box bombed from G020583 to G020578. Good pattern but no results observed. 1 x 250 GP hang-up. NO enemy opposition. All a/c landed back by 1433 Hrs. 2 M.T. burning at G010585, probably as a result of bombing by fighter bombers shortly before formation attacked. B: (1) 11 Mk.4 (ii) NIL (i) 1 Mk.3A (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (1) 21.05 Hours (ii) NIL (i) 1.55 hours (ii) NIL E: (1) 35200 x .30 3300 x .303 7700 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (1) 3200 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (1) 22 x 500 MC 33 x 250 GP (ii) 22 x 500 MC 32 x 250 GP (iii) & (iv) NIL Fuses:- 44 Pist 52 Det (In nose) 28 Pist 49 Det (in tail) (1) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (ii) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (iii) & (iv) NIL G to V: NIL Final amendment to OPREP No.571 of 2nd March 1944. The full crew of No.3 a/c have now returned to base. The WT/AG of No.1 (who baled out over bridgehead) is in hospital near Naples suffering from XXXXX. The following flying times to be added to Mk.4's:- 3.45 Hours. Ammunition from No.3 a/c has been recovered, i.e. 3200 x 30, 300 x .303, 700 x .50. S.L. Boshoff SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-03-08

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Operational Details (March 8th - Zagarolo Raid): * Target: The squadron returned to the Zagarolo Railroad Station area for the second time in two days (see Sortie 578 on March 7th). The specific aim points ("supply dumps in the vicinity") suggest intelligence had identified the station as a logistics node for the German forces. * Tactics (Dummy Run): Facing "6/10 to 7/10" cloud cover over the target, the formation "made a dummy run," then came out of the cloud through a gap, turned, and bombed. A dummy run is a risky maneuver, exposing the aircraft to flak for longer, but it ensures the bombardier has verified the target and wind drift before the live drop. * Results: "Good pattern but no results observed." However, they noted "2 M.T. (Motor Transport) burning... probably as a result of bombing by fighter bombers shortly before". This illustrates the layered nature of the Allied air campaign: fighter-bombers (likely P-40s or P-47s) hitting individual vehicles, followed by medium bombers (Baltimores) area-bombing the depots. * Technical Issue (Hang-up): * "1 x 250 GP hang-up": One 250lb bomb failed to release. As noted in previous entries, returning with a hung bomb was hazardous. The fact that it's explicitly recorded in the "Results" section underscores the danger it posed to the crew and ground staff. * The March 2nd Collision - Final Closure: * Amendment to OPREP 571: The bottom section provides the final update on the mid-air collision from March 2nd. * Aircraft No. 3 (Lt. Longmore's Crew): "The full crew of No.3 a/c have now returned to base". This is excellent news; previously, it was noted they landed at Pomigliano (Naples). Their return to the squadron unit at Biferno means they were fit to fly or transport back. * The Wireless Operator: The WT/AG of "No.1" (likely a typo for the other aircraft, or referring to F/Sgt Theunissen or Robbertse depending on the specific crew list numbering) who bailed out is "in hospital near Naples suffering from shock" (word crossed out but readable as shock or similar trauma). * Recovery: Remarkably, even the ammunition from the damaged No. 3 aircraft was recovered ("3200 x .30, etc."). In a war of attrition, every bullet counted. * Abbreviations: * R/V: Rendezvous. * M.T.: Motor Transport (Trucks/Vehicles). * Cu: Cumulus clouds. * Strato-Cu: Stratocumulus clouds. * WT/AG: Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. 43 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is titled "SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 20/44" and is dated 9th March, 1944. It is signed by Lt. Col. A.C. Jandrell, D.F.C.