Operation

BA: RR M/Y COLLEFERRO 9170490 BB: 1126 A Hrs BC: Medium level bombing 325º/13000' 24 x 500 M.C. 47 Dets 28 Pistols 36 x 250 G.P. " " " BD: Target well identified - M/Y straddled. Few bombs seen to explode those seen hit M/Y and among buildings S.W. of M/Y (Refining plants) Small explosion seen among buildings with black smoke. Some bombs NOT own among employees houses. BE: NIL BF: NIL BG: Verticals of bomb bursts BH: Train moving NORTH 3 miles N.W. of target 25 RR trucks stationery SEZZE JUNCTION 12 MET moving NORTH TERRACINA - CISTERNA Approximately 20 MET moving SOUTH FROM COLLEFERRO Large amount of dust from S. FELICE 12 a/c moved across track of own formation SOUTH of GAETA approximately 1115 A Hrs. CISTERNA LITTORIA aerodrome has runway EAST to WEST, turning basins each end, buildings in N.W. corner, dispersal areas with blast shelters SOUTH of runway. A/C seen NOT counted. 3 black specks thought NOT to be rocks between PONZA and ZANNONE. Freighter standing off ANZIO PT. AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 356Z MAJ. STUART LT PAWSON SGT FREESTONE LT HALL 445U LT HARGRAVE LT REES F/SGT JENSEN F/SGT VALENTINE 240O CAPT DUGMORE LT MASTERS F/SGT MAASDORP F/SGT ROGERS 167P CAPT SMIT LT KAY 2/LT PURDON A/SGT SCHOOMBIE 383W LT ROBERTSON LT HANNING F/SGT DU PLESSIS F/SGT LEISCHING 181T LT BENNETT LT HARLE F/SGT STRYDOM SGT JENKINSON 437H MAJ ORD LT HODGES F/SGT WALKER F/SGT DEVENISH 467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDALL F/SGT THEUNISSEN SGT MACKAY 426J LT FROST LT NEL F/SGT CARTER SGT ALLEN 341L LT WILLMOTT LT BORCHERDS F/SGT LOOTS S/SGT WALBRIDGE 545A LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT KIDNEY SGT AIREY 586B LT WYPER 2/LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON SGT MARAIS

1943-11-02

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes Expanded Abbreviations * BA / BB / BC / BD / BE / BF / BG / BH: Standard Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) reporting codes for Target, Time, Weapons, Narrative, Enemy Opposition, Losses, Photography, and General Observations. * RR M/Y: Railroad Marshalling Yard. * M.C. / G.P.: Medium Capacity / General Purpose (bomb types). * Dets / Pistols: Detonators and mechanical firing mechanisms (Pistols). * S.W. / N.W. / S.E. / S. / E. / W.: Southwest / Northwest / Southeast / South / East / West. * MET: Motor Enemy Transport. * a/c / A/C: Aircraft. * MAJ / CAPT / LT / 2/LT: Major / Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant. * F/SGT / SGT / A/SGT / S/SGT: Flight Sergeant / Sergeant / Acting Sergeant / Staff Sergeant. Observations on Individuals * Major Charles Stuart: Leading the formation (FL) in aircraft 356Z. Stuart was a senior operational leader in 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F., frequently commanding the unit's largest tactical raids during the push toward Rome. * Major Ord: Leading a sub-formation (Box Leader) in aircraft 437H. Ord was another veteran pilot whose presence as a box leader ensured stable formation bombing in the face of variable Mediterranean weather. * Lieutenant Longmore: Flying in aircraft 467D. Longmore is noted in squadron orders from late October as requiring a dental parade, highlighting the mundane administrative needs of crews even during peak operational tempo. Location Information and Historical Context * Colleferro, Italy: Located approximately 30 miles southeast of Rome. In 1943, it was a critical industrial center, home to a large explosives and chemical plant (the "Refining plants" mentioned in BD). Today, Colleferro remains an industrial hub, notably involved in the aerospace industry. * Cisterna di Latina (Cisterna Littoria): The observation (BH) of the aerodrome and its East-West runway provided critical intelligence. Cisterna was a major battleground later in the campaign during the breakout from the Anzio beachhead. * Anzio and the Pontine Islands: The mention of a freighter off Anzio and "black specks" near Ponza and Zannone illustrates the squadron’s incidental role in maritime reconnaissance. This intelligence was vital for Allied naval planning as they prepared for future amphibious operations. * Tactical Interdiction (The Drive on Rome): On November 2, 1943, Allied forces were engaged in breaking the Bernhardt Line. No. 21 Squadron's Martin Baltimore bombers were tasked with severing the rail links (marshalling yards) that allowed the German 10th Army to reinforce their mountain defenses with supplies from the Rome area. * Precision and Collateral: The narrative (BD) highlights the effort to be precise, noting that bombs hit the industrial yards and refining plants while avoiding "employees houses," a common concern in tactical bombing of populated industrial zones. 38 The date written in the 'Date' column to verify the correct document is 3 Nov. 43.