Operation

APPENDIX "T" 251 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/670 DATE : 14th May, 1944 OPREP No.670 for period ending 21.00 hrs on the 13th May, 1944 MAP REF ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 160 CASSINO 12 Balts detailed to carry out a repeat attack on Gun Position near Atina. Formation airborne at 14.25 and bombed at 15.12 hrs from 13,000'. First box briefed to attack position at G.824368. Due to steep turn-off to evade intense accurate H/A/A, detailed observations difficult - general pattern undershot from G.829360 - 826367. Four A/c holed. Second box briefed to attack position at G.800363. Pattern also undershoot, finishing just short of target from G.803361 - 801364. Slight H/A/A. All A/c down by 16.00. 8/10th cloud 9,000' in area, but gap over target; visibility very hazy. B: (i) 8 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 4 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 12.40 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 6.20 hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 25600 x .30 2400 x .303 5600 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 12800 x .30 1200 x .303 2800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 256 x 40 (ii) as above (iii) & (iv) NIL All fused: 52 det 45 pist (i) 128 x 40 (ii) 124 x 40 (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) NIL (ii) 3 Cat I (i) NIL (ii) 1 Cat I to Z: NIL Hallick Capt. S.I.O., No 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-05-14

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Tactics vs. Flak (The "Steep Turn-off"): * Defensive Maneuvers: The report provides a visceral detail about the intensity of the German defenses: "Due to steep turn-off to evade intense accurate H/A/A [Heavy Anti-Aircraft]...". Standard bombing procedure required flying straight and level during the final run to ensure accuracy. Immediately after "bombs away," pilots would execute a violent turn (break) to throw off the aim of the flak batteries. * Consequences: While this maneuver saved lives, it made the Observer's job impossible: "detailed observations difficult." The crew couldn't lean over the bombsight to track the fall of shot while the aircraft was banking steeply under G-force. * Damage: The flak was indeed accurate: "Four A/c holed" in the first box alone. The table at the bottom confirms 3 Cat I (minor damage) in the first box and 1 Cat I in the second, totaling 4 damaged aircraft for the mission. * Battle of Atina (The Target): * Strategic Context: This was a "repeat attack" on the gun positions near Atina (G.824368), following up on the morning's raid (Sortie 669). Atina, located in the mountains north of Cassino, was a stronghold for German artillery covering the approaches to the Liri Valley. The persistence in attacking this specific grid square twice in one day highlights its importance to the ground offensive (Operation Diadem). * Bombing Results (Undershoot): * Pattern: Both boxes reported an "undershoot". This is a common error when bombing under heavy fire; the urge to release and "jink" (evade) can lead to dropping a fraction of a second early. * Weather Conditions: * Tactical Gap: The weather was challenging: "8/10th cloud 9,000' in area," but the formation found a "gap over target". This indicates skillful navigation and patience by the lead bombardier to find the specific hole in the clouds that allowed a visual run on the guns. * Abbreviations: * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * A/c: Aircraft. * Cat I: Category I damage (repairable at unit level). * pist: Pistol (fuse mechanism). * det: Detonator. 40 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 15th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 671) labeled APPENDIX "U" (page number 252), detailing the mission flown on the morning of May 14th, 1944.