First box attacked

APPENDIX "CC" 260 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/677 DATE : 18th May, 1944 OPREP No. 677 for period ending 1100 hrs on the 17th May, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 160 CASSINO A: 13 Balts off from BIFERNO by 0912 to attack gun positions near ROCCASECCA. One A/c returned after 25 mins with inter-com. trouble. Formation proceeded to MIGNANO and then to target. First box attacked position at G716254 from 12000 ft on a course of 330° at 1003 hrs. Bombs straddled target from G717250 to G711256. Second box attacked position at G703236 from 12000' on a course of 343° at 1003 hrs. Pattern extended from G705235 to G702243 covering target. One explosion at G703237. Heavy A.A. intense and very accurate from target area. Only one A/c returned without any holes. No. 1 box leader went down over target, two parachutes being seen of which one tore up. Another Baltimore of the same box crash landed at TRIOLO on the way back, with the observer and W.O.P. wounded by A.A. splinters. The remaining A/c landed back at base by 1117 hrs. 9/10 cloud over target 12500' base. Area cover was provided by Spitfires. B: (i) 6 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 7 Balts V (ii) NIL C: (i) 8.35 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 11.40 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) NIL (iii) 3800 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) NIL (iii) NIL F: (i) 6 x 250 G.P. 160 x 40 G.P. (ii) 6 x 250 64 x 40 (iii) 32 x 40 (iv) 32 x 40 (7 x 250 fused 52 det 44 pist Nose, 49 det 28 pist Tail Remainder: 52 det 45 pist ) (i) 1 x 250 G.P. 216 x 40 G.P. (ii) 1 x 250 184 x 40 (iii) 32 x 40 (iv) NIL G: (i) 1 Balt IV (missing) (ii) 3 Balts IV Cat I 1 Balt IV Cat II (i) NIL (ii) 6 Balts V Cat I H: Missing : 47421V Major Job, R.A., Pilot 102430V Capt. Hall, R.T., Air Gunner 26671V Lt. Stuart, R.N.P., Observer 32797V 2/Lt. Poucher, K.A. W.O/A.G. Wounded : 54240V Lt Edmayr, W., Observer 202503V W.O.I. Ferreira, J.L. W.O/A.G. J to Z: NIL FL Major Job

1944-05-18

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Black Day for 21 Squadron (Loss of Major Job): * The Incident: This report documents a devastating mission during the climax of the Battle of Monte Cassino. The Squadron lost its frequent flight leader, Major R.A. Job. The narrative records the grim detail: "No. 1 box leader went down over target, two parachutes being seen of which one tore up.". Seeing a parachute fail ("tore up") was a horrific sight for the trailing crews, indicating almost certain death for that crewman. * Casualty List: The "Missing" section lists the entire crew of the lead aircraft: Major Job (Pilot), Capt. Hall (Air Gunner), Lt. Stuart (Observer), and 2/Lt. Poucher (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner). * Crash Landing: A second aircraft from the same box was so badly damaged by flak ("A.A. splinters") that it crash-landed at Triolo (an airfield south of the Biferno base), with the Observer (Lt. Edmayr) and W.O.P. (W.O.I. Ferreira) wounded. * The "Valley of Death" (Flak Intensity): * Damage Ratio: The intensity of the German defense at Roccasecca (protecting the retreat from Cassino) is illustrated by the statistic: "Only one A/c returned without any holes.". Out of 12 aircraft attacking (one aborted early), one was lost, one crash-landed (Cat II), nine were damaged (Cat I), and only one escaped unscathed. * Context: This mission took place on May 17th, the day before the Polish flag was finally raised over the ruins of the Monte Cassino monastery (May 18th). The Germans were throwing up everything they had to cover their withdrawal along Highway 6. * Ordnance: * Mixed Load: The squadron used a mix of 250lb G.P. (General Purpose) bombs for hardened targets and hundreds of 40lb G.P. (Frag) bombs for anti-personnel effects, attempting to smash both the gun pits and the crews manning them. * Abbreviations: * W.O.P. / W.O/A.G.: Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. * W.O.I.: Warrant Officer Class I. * Cat I / II: Damage Categories (Repairable / Major Repair). * R.A., R.T., R.N.P., K.A.: Initials of the personnel. * G.P.: General Purpose. 49 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 18th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 678) labeled APPENDIX "DD" (page number 261), detailing the mission flown on the afternoon of May 17th, 1944.