Operation

BA: ARMED RECCE RDS: (1) CASERTA - BENEVENTO - AVELLINO - NAPLES (2) AVELLINO - 0.1049 - VALLATA - N.8073 (3) AULETTA - EBOLI - 0.1049 - AVIGLIANO (4) SAPRI - BRIENZA and SAPRI N.W. to Bomb Line. BB: From 2107 Hrs LT to 2247 Hrs LT BC: Medium level bombing on various courses from 5000/12000 feet. 48 x 250 G.P. 43 Det. 27 Pistol with rods-6 jettisoned off coast - considered near SAPRI but unable to pin-point coast. BD: New and isolated MET movement, some with headlights, were attacked from N.5574 along road to S474 causing an explosion. Bombs aimed at 4 MET at 0.4232 - near misses but grass explosions seen. SAPRI town received one stick along WEST. One stick hit road WEST of AVELLINO, near likely MET at 0.3106. 0.3987 bombs hit road near 2 lights. Small bridge received hit at 0.2739. 5 MET near bridge at T.5468. 4/5 MET moving NORTH - long stick. MET moved off after bursts. BE: 7/8 H/A/A bursts inaccurate and 25 S/Ls SOUTH of NOLA area. Some caught a/c but evaded by diving. BF: NIL. BG: NIL. BH: Heavy haze over coastal area C. SCALEA to C. PALINURA - one a/c unable to pin-point coast. Jettisoned bombs in sea, considered off SAPRI and returned to Base. AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 586B CAPT SAUNDERS LT BOOYSE F/S MOORE SGT EARP-JONES 290C LT/COL. BRITZ. DFC. P/O SMALLMAN 2/LTs HARRISON & PICKUP 206J LT WOOD LT NEL F/S JAMES SGT ROBERTSON 291U LT BENNETT LT HARLE F/S STRYDOM P/O GILDEN 221Y LT EATON LT GOULD F/S FREESTONE F/S VAN ROOYAN 256S CAPT SMIT LT KAY 2/LTs PURDON & WRIGHT 387R LT RICHARDS LT DECONNICK F/S ROBERTSE SGT MCGRINDLE 195G LT MURMAN LT OWEN-HUGHES F/S ODENDAAL SGT STEWART

1943-09-13

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded * RECCE RDS: Reconnaissance of Roads. * Hrs LT: Hours Local Time. * G.P.: General Purpose (explosive bombs). * Det / Pistol: Components of the bomb fuzing system. * MET: Mechanical Enemy Transport (motorized vehicles/convoys). * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * S/Ls: Searchlights. * a/c: Aircraft. * C. SCALEA / C. PALINURA: Capo Scalea and Capo Palinuro (geographic landmarks). * LT/COL / CAPT / LT / 2/LT / P/O: Lieutenant Colonel, Captain, Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant, Pilot Officer. * F/S / SGT: Flight Sergeant, Sergeant. * DFC: Distinguished Flying Cross. Personnel and Command Observations * Lieutenant Colonel J.F. Britz, D.F.C.: As the Commanding Officer of No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F., Britz’s personal participation in this night mission (flying aircraft 290C) emphasizes the high-stakes nature of the Salerno interdiction campaign. His D.F.C. signifies recognized valor in earlier actions. * Captain Saunders: Leading the mission in aircraft 586B, Saunders was a seasoned tactical lead for the squadron during the pivotal move from Sicily to mainland Italy. * Evasive Maneuvers: The report notes in Section BE that aircraft caught in searchlight beams south of Nola were forced into aggressive diving maneuvers to escape, a realistic look at the hazards of night intruder work. Location and Tactical Reality * The Salerno Front: The mission targeted four primary road corridors designed to isolate German reinforcements from reaching the Salerno beachhead. Targets included Caserta, Benevento, Avellino, and Eboli. Modern names for these cities remain unchanged in current-day Italy. * Sapri and Lagonegro: The sighting of MET near a small bridge at Lagonegro (Lagonegro) and bombing of the town of Sapri (Sapri) illustrate the squadron's focus on mountainous chokepoints in the southern Lucanian region. * Coastal Haze Challenges: Section BH describes a "heavy haze" between Capo Scalea and Capo Palinuro so thick it prevented one crew from identifying the coast, forcing a jettison of their 1,500 lb bomb load into the sea. Historical Context: The Crisis at Salerno (D+4) * September 12/13, 1943: This night mission took place during the most desperate phase of Operation AVALANCHE. By this time, the German 10th Army was launching fierce counter-attacks intended to collapse the Allied bridgehead. * Interdiction Success: The sighting of "New and isolated MET movement" moving Northward confirms that the constant pressure from SAAF Martin Baltimores was successfully disrupting German mobility, forcing them to move in small, vulnerable batches under the cover of night. * The Searchlight Net: The presence of 25 searchlights south of Nola indicates a sophisticated and dense Axis air defense net protecting the land routes leading into the Naples/Caserta hinterland. 209 The date written in the 'Date' column of target file 276-1__209.jpg is 13/14 Sep.