Operation

BA: RD. 0367032 - 369031 - 362019 - 359020 (SCORCIOSA) BB: 1258 A Hrs. BC: Medium level bombing 11000'/12500' 030º 24 x 500 MC 43 Det 27 Pistol 36 x 250 GP do do (Rods) BD: Target clearly seen. Bombs fell in medium stick from C360018 - 0364025 - narrow pattern 50/100 yards either side of road. 6 direct hits on rd seen. Two thirds of bombs on Western side of road. Small fire with white smoke started C363026. One report of approximately 50 MET on road 100/200 yards apart covered by bomb bursts BE: 8/10 bursts H/A/A accurate for height only. 4 Spitfires strafed and NO more bursts reported BF: NIL BG: Obliques and verticals of bomb bursts BH: 4 flashes ARTY C355007 Smoke seen Southern portion FOSSACESIA Layer of smoke over mountains H0580 AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 356Z MAJOR STUART LT PAWSON W/C FREESTONE LT HALL 181Y LT ROBERTSON LT HANNING F/SGT DU PIESANIE F/SGT VALENTINE 383W LT GREDER LT REES F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY 240O CAPT DUGMORE LT MASTERS 2/LT MAASDORP F/SGT ROGERS 445U CAPT V. BREDA LT NAUDE F/SGT GRATTON P/O GILDON 181T LT HILL LT PIETERS F/SGT V.D. WESTHUIZEN A/SGT JENKINSON 341L LT WILLMOT LT BORCHERDS 2/LT LOOTS F/SGT WALBRIDGE 426J LT WOOD LT NEL F/SGT JAMES A/SOT ROBERTSON 578G LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL A/SOT STEWART 441F LT FROST LT WHITE F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN 916K LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY A/SOT BOWEN 545A CAPT JOB LT OWEN-HUGHES F/SGT JARVIS LT SHAW

1943-11-27

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes Expanded Abbreviations * BA / BB / BC / BD / BE / BF / BG / BH: Standard Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) Sortie Report section codes for Target, Time, Weaponry, Narrative, Enemy Opposition, Losses, Photography, and General Observations. * RD: Road. * MC / GP: Medium Capacity / General Purpose (bomb types). * Det / Pistol: Detonator and the mechanical firing mechanism. * MET: Motor Enemy Transport. * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak). * ARTY: Artillery. * MAJ / CAPT / LT / 2/LT / P/O / W/C (W/O): Major / Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant / Pilot Officer / Warrant Officer. * F/SGT / A/SGT (A/SOT): Flight Sergeant / Acting Sergeant. Observations on Individuals * Major Charles Stuart: Acting as Formation Leader in aircraft 356Z. Stuart had assumed command of No. 21 Squadron following the mid-air collision earlier in November that killed the unit's Officer Commanding, Lieutenant Colonel Jack Britz. * Lieutenant H.C. Longmore: Not listed on this specific crew manifest, though he flew the morning mission on this same date. * Captain Jean Dieu: A Belgian pilot serving with the South African Air Force, though his name is not present on this afternoon manifest, he was a regular lead pilot during this period. Location Information and Modern Context * Scorciosa (359020): A hamlet (frazione) within the municipality of Fossacesia in the Abruzzo region. * Modern Context: Today, Scorciosa remains a quiet agricultural locality. The roads targeted (now SP91 and surrounding routes) still follow the basic ridge-line layout described in the grid coordinates. * Fossacesia: Mentioned in BH as having smoke in its southern portion. This hilltop town is famous for the 12th-century Abbazia di San Giovanni in Venere, which overlooks the Sangro River valley. Historical Context * The Sangro River Offensive: This mission on November 27, 1943, was part of a massive Allied air effort to support the British Eighth Army's breakthrough of the Bernhardt Line. * Tactical Success: The report notes a highly successful strike, with "6 direct hits on road seen" and a convoy of "approximately 50 MET" (Motor Enemy Transport) caught in the bomb bursts. This indicates the squadron effectively interdicted a German column attempting to reinforce or withdraw from the Sangro ridge. * Air-Ground Coordination (BE): A rare and vivid tactical detail describes four Spitfires strafing German Flak positions after the bombers were targeted by Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. This immediate suppression allowed the Martin Baltimore bombers to egress safely without further opposition. * Weaponry: The 250lb General Purpose bombs were fitted with "Rods"—nose extensions designed to trigger the detonator above the ground to maximize fragmentation damage against soft targets like troops and unarmored vehicles. * German Scorched Earth: The "layer of smoke over mountains" (BH) likely refers to the ongoing German policy of burning villages as they retreated toward the Gustav Line, a tactic observed by SAAF crews throughout the Abruzzo campaign. 80 The date written in the 'Date' column to verify the correct document is 28 Nov 43.