All A/C landed

APPENDIX "B" 29 To: HQ MAAF (attention 23rd. SCORU) HQ MATAF (attention 2nd. Command Unit 23rd. SCORU) SADA SAAF. From: SIO 21 Squadron SAAF. Ref: 21S/744 Date: 2nd.July 1944. OPREP No. 744 FOR PERIOD ENDING 21.00 Hrs. 1st.JULY 1944. Ref Map: ITALY 1-100.000 Sheet 117 IESI. A. 12 Baltimores airborne from PESCARA at 14.15 Hrs to bomb Road brige near IESI (S 398362). Attack took place at 15.11 Hrs. from 12000' on a course of 360°. First box pattern from S 399358 to S 399362, one direct hit on Southern entrance of bridge. Second box straddled Northern end of bridge from S 398363 to S 398367, one direct hit on Northern entrance of bridge. No enemy opposition. Weather clear over target. All A/C landed by 16.05 Hrs. Area cover was provided by Spitfires. B. (i) 5 Balt.Mk.iv. (ii) Nil (i) 7 Balt.Mk.v. (ii) Nil. C. (i)&(ii) Nil. (i)&(ii) Nil. D. (i) 08.45 Hrs. (ii) Nil (i) 12.15 Hrs. (ii) Nil. E. (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii)&(iii) Nil (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii)&(iii) Nil F. (i) 10 x 500 MC. 15 x 250 GP. (ii) as in (i) (iii) & (iv) Nil. Fused 36-27 Nose 36-28 Tail, except 4x250 GP 52-37 Tail(dela (i) 14 x 500 MC. 21 x 250 GP. (ii) 12 x 500 MC. 16 x 250 GP. (iii)&(iv) Nil. G to V. Nil. W. (i) 5 Marauder Mk.iii. (ii) Nil. X. (i) 07.55 Hrs. (ii) Nil. Y & Z. Nil. Hallick Captain, S.I.O. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.

1944-07-02

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Date Discrepancy: While the report was typed and submitted on 2nd July 1944 (as per the header date), the "OPREP... FOR PERIOD ENDING... 1st.JULY 1944" confirms this report details the afternoon raid of July 1st (Sortie 744). This aligns with the War Diary entry (Page 2) describing the same event. * Precision Strike (Jesi Bridge): * The Target: The objective was the "Road brige [bridge] near IESI" (Jesi). Jesi was a critical node on the logistical route inland from Ancona. * Tactical Perfection: The bombing results described are textbook: "one direct hit on Southern entrance" and "one direct hit on Northern entrance.". By destroying both access points (or the abutments), the bridge is rendered useless to enemy transport columns without necessarily needing to drop the entire span, though typically such hits would cause collapse. This effectively trapped any German traffic on the wrong side of the river Esino. * Flight Path: The attack course was 360° (due North), perpendicular to the east-flowing river, maximizing the chance of "straddling" the long, narrow target. * Specialized Fusing (Time Delay): * Denial of Repair: Section F contains a cut-off note: "except 4x250 GP 52-37 Tail(dela[y]". This indicates that four of the General Purpose bombs were fitted with No. 37 Long Delay Tail Fuses. These chemical or clockwork fuses could be set to detonate hours (likely 6-12 hours based on previous documents) after impact. This tactic turned the bombed-out bridge into a minefield, preventing German engineers from immediately repairing the damage or clearing the rubble. * Marauder Activity: * Conversion Training: Section W records flight time for "5 Marauder Mk.iii." totaling "07.55 Hrs.". This non-combat flying confirms the diary's note that the squadron was conducting Marauder conversion training "concurrently with ops." * Abbreviations: * SADA: Senior Air Officer Administration (Typo in original, usually SAOA or SAAF). * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * G.P.: General Purpose. * A/C: Aircraft. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. 30 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 2nd.July 1944. in the "Date" field. It is a Sortie Report (Appendix "C") labeled 30 in the top right corner.