Operation

APPENDIX "Z" 341 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/729 DATE : 21st June, 1944 OPREP No. 729 for the period ending 1500 hrs on the 21st June, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 109 PESARO 12 Baltimores airborne at 1135 to attack FOSSOMBRONE R.R. BRIDGE at S.041555. After R/V with a close escort of 4 Spitfires at ORTONA, formation set course at 1210 and bombed in boxes line astern from 12500' on a course of 290° at 1245 hrs. Due to leader experiencing trouble with bomb doors during run-up, three further A/c of the first box jettisoned bombs on leader 4 miles N.W. of target in open country Remaining two bombed target; results obscured by cloud, but possible overshoot into town. Pattern of second box difficult to observe due to 6-7/10 cloud at 11000 in target area - estimated left error of a about 100 yds in open country. Slight H/A/A (accurate for 1st box) from IESI and target area. All A/c down by 1405 Hrs. B: (i) 6 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 6 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 15.00 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 15.00 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 24 x 500 M.C. (ii) 16 x 500 (iii) 8 x 500 (iv) NIL (Fusing: 36 - 30 Tail) (i) 24 x 500 M.C. (ii) 12 x 500 (iii) 12 x 500 (iv) NIL to Z: NIL Hallick Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, SAAF. FL Major Dalling D.F.C

1944-06-21

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Mechanical Failure & Command Chain Reaction: * Bomb Door Malfunction: The mission was severely compromised by a technical glitch in the lead aircraft. The report notes: "Due to leader experiencing trouble with bomb doors during run-up...". * "Bombing on Leader": The incident illustrates the double-edged sword of the "bomb on leader" tactic. Because the wingmen were trained to release their bombs the moment the leader did (to ensure a tight pattern), when the leader was forced to jettison his load "4 miles N.W. of target" due to the door fault, "three further A/c of the first box jettisoned bombs on leader" automatically. This wasted nearly half the formation's ordnance in "open country" before they even reached the target. * Collateral Damage Risk (Fossombrone): * "Overshoot into Town": For the two aircraft that did manage to bomb the target, the results were ominous: "possible overshoot into town.". Fossombrone is a historic town on the Metauro River. With "6-7/10 cloud" obscuring the view, the risk of hitting civilian structures instead of the bridge was extremely high. * Change in Rendezvous (Ortona): * New Landmark: Unlike previous missions that rendezvoused at Penna Point, this formation met their Spitfire escort at ORTONA. Ortona, captured by Canadians in December 1943 after brutal house-to-house fighting ("Little Stalingrad"), served as a key coastal marker further north as the front line advanced. * Leadership: * Major Dalling D.F.C.: The mission was led by Major Dalling D.F.C. (signed as FL - Flight Leader). The mechanical failure in his aircraft effectively scrubbed the first box's attack, a frustrating outcome for an experienced commander. * Abbreviations: * R.R.: Railroad. * R/V: Rendezvous. * N.W.: North West. * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * A/c: Aircraft. 53 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 22nd June, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 730) labeled APPENDIX "AA" (page number 342).