Operation

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/584 DATE : 11th March 1944 OPREP No.584 for period ending 2100 Hrs 11/3/44 REF MAP ITALY 1:500,000 Sheets XXX 42/14 & 42/10 CHIETI & FIRENZE A: 2 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G at 1215 Hrs to drop RUSSIAN pamphlets at C1002 to C1607 and C1234 to C1630 and ITALIAN pamphlets at SULMONA - TERAMO - PENNE & LORETO. After R/V with 4 Spitfires at 1255 Hrs over PENNA POINT they flew at 10,000' to CASOLI and dropped HALF the RUSSIAN pamphlets from C1007 to C1001 at 1307 Hrs. a/c proceeded to SULMONA and dropped ITALIAN pamphlets at 1355 Hrs at D7353. At 1400 Hrs they dropped the remainder of ITALIAN pamphlets from D9033 to D9034. The a/c then proceeded towards the coast and dropped the remainder of the RUSSIAN pamphlets from C1033 to C1432 at 1410 Hrs. They turned out to sea and landed back at base at 1445 Hrs. H/A, intense, inaccurate from CHIETI area and from C1214. One a/c holed. B: (1) 2 Baltimores Mk.4 (11) NIL C: NIL D: (1) 5.00 Hours (11) NIL E: (1) 6400 x .30 600 x .303 1400 x .50 (11) & (111) NIL F: (i) RUSSIAN pamphlets (20000) (ii) ITALIAN pamphlets (30000) (iii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL G to V: NIL W: (i) 3 Mk.3. 1 Mk.3A. 2 Mk.4. (ii) NIL X: (i) 1.40 Hrs. .25 Mins. 1.30 Hrs. (ii) NIL Z: NIL. Wahlin...? Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-03-11

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Psychological Warfare ("Nickeling"): * The Mission: This was a specialized propaganda mission, known in RAF/SAAF slang as a "Nickeling" sortie. Instead of bombs, the aircraft carried 50,000 pamphlets. * Russian Pamphlets (The Osttruppen): The inclusion of 20,000 Russian pamphlets is historically significant. By 1944, the German Wehrmacht in Italy relied heavily on "Ost-Bataillone" (Eastern Battalions)—units composed of Soviet POWs, conscripts, and volunteers who had joined the Germans to escape the starvation of POW camps. These troops were often used for coastal defense, construction, and anti-partisan warfare in the rear areas (like Chieti and Teramo). The Allies dropped leaflets promising safe conduct and good treatment to encourage them to desert or surrender, knowing their morale and loyalty to the Reich were low. * Italian Pamphlets: The 30,000 Italian pamphlets were likely targeted at the civilian population in the Abruzzo and Marche regions (Sulmona, Teramo, Penne), encouraging resistance, sabotage, or simply countering Fascist propaganda. * Operational Details: * Route & Geography: The flight path covered a large swath of the Adriatic sector. * Penna Point: Punta della Penna, a prominent cape near the port of Vasto, used as a visual rendezvous point. * Casoli, Sulmona, Teramo, Penne, Loreto: These towns form a line running north through the mountainous spine of Central Italy. Hitting these widely spaced targets required precise navigation over rugged terrain. * Flak & Damage: Despite being a non-bombing mission, it was dangerous. The aircraft encountered "intense" heavy anti-aircraft fire (H/A) from the Chieti area, and "One a/c [was] holed". Propaganda missions often required flying straight and level at lower altitudes to ensure the leaflets dispersed correctly, making them vulnerable targets. * Section W (Non-Operational Flying): * The entries under Section W—"3 Mk.3, 1 Mk.3A, 2 Mk.4" flying for "1.40 Hrs, .25 Mins, 1.30 Hrs"—record non-operational flights conducted that day. These were likely air tests (after maintenance), training flights, or communication hacks, separate from the combat sortie described in Section A. The duration ".25 Mins" likely refers to a 15-minute test flight (0.25 of an hour). * Abbreviations: * H/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * R/V: Rendezvous. * L/G: Landing Ground. * SCORU: Scientific Operational Research Unit. 46 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is titled "SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 21/44" and is dated 12th March, 1944. It is signed by Lt. Col. A.C. Jandrell, D.F.C.