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C 330025 – EAST OF LANCIANO

Monday, 29 November 1943

Pilot: Lt WOOD. D.G. Wounded

Sortie Report (Form 541)

BA: RD & RR EAST of CASTEL FRENTANO - H305988BB: 1228 A HrsBC: Medium level bombing, 12000' Courses 030º and 355º24 x 500 MC 43 Det 27 Pistol36 x 250 GP do do (Rods)BD: First box slightly under-shot, bombs bursting at H305985 and endingnear RR. Second box hit Eastern portion of Target area, most bombsfalling between RR and RD as far as H306991 ~~XXXXX~~ N.R.O.BE: 30/40 bursts H/A/A LANCIANO area accurateBF: 3 a/c damaged - one badly which force landed at base - Observer andone A/G killed, Pilot and other A/G wounded, all by A/A. The otherA/G since died.Pilot: Lt WOOD. D.G. WoundedObserver: Lt NEL. C.G.B. KilledWOP/AG: F/SGT JAMES. T.L. KilledA/G: A/SGT ROBERTSON. J.F. Wounded (Since died)BG: Verticals and Obliques of bomb burstsBH: NIL.AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.437H LT/COL KOTZE LT CARTER 2/LTS PERKINS AND VAN ROOYEN545A CAPT JOB LT OWEN-HUGHES F/SGT JARVIS LT SHAW426J LT WOOD LT NEL F/SGT JAMES A/SGT ROBERTSON341L LT WILLMOT LT BORCHERDS 2/LT LOOTS F/SGT WALBRIDGE441F LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN A/SGT MACKAY916K LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY A/SGT BOWEN167S CAPT DUGMORE LT MASTERS 2/LT MAASDORP F/SGT ROGERS383W LT GREDER LT REES F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY445U LT ASKEW LT LAMBERT F/SGT GELDENHUYS LT V. SCHALKWYK387R LT RICHARDS LT KIRBY F/SGT ROBBERTSE A/SGT McCRINDLE586B LT FROST LT WHITE F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN181T LT HILL LT PIETERS F/SGT V.D.WESTHUIZEN A/SGT JENKINSON

Transcriber's Notes

BA
Target objective.
BA
Target identification.
BA
Target identification.
BB
Time of release.
BB
Time of release.
BB
Time of release.
A Hrs
Army Hours (Standard military time). Biographical Analysis: The Casualties of Aircraft 426J Section BF records a devastating event for the squadron. Aircraft 426J, piloted by Lt. D.G. Wood, was bracketed by accurate heavy flak over Lanciano. The explosion killed Lt. C.G.B. Nel (Observer) and F/Sgt. T.L. James (WOP/AG) instantly. Despite being wounded and his aircraft badly damaged, Wood successfully performed a forced landing at base. The fourth crew member, A/Sgt. J.F. Robertson (A/G), was wounded and succumbed to his injuries shortly after landing. This tragedy occurred only one day after the fatal takeoff crash of Lt. Robertson's crew, marking a period of extreme attrition for 21 Squadron. Operational Context: Castel Frentano (H305988) On 29 November 1943, Castel Frentano was a critical logistical node within the German Bernhardt Line (Reinhard Line). The target area was a vital intersection of road and rail infrastructure used for reinforcing the German center against the British Eighth Army's final assault across the Sangro River. The interdiction was intended to paralyze German lateral communications as the Bernhardt Line began to collapse under intense Allied air and ground pressure. Execution Constraints and Enemy Opposition
A Hrs
Army Hours; standardized military time used throughout the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO).
A Hrs
Army Hours (Standardized military time). Biographical Analysis
A Hrs
Army Hours; standardized military time used throughout the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO).

RD & RR: Road and Railroad.

Rd & RR: Road and Railroad.

Major Charles Stuart & Lieutenant B.F. Pawson: This lead crew was instrumental in the squadron's transition following the loss of the previous Officer Commanding. This sortie, Oprep 469, took place on December 1, 1943, following an intense period of attrition in late November.

Inspect the duty crew at 07.30 hours to ascertain that they are at their station and if they understand their duties. See that all necessary equipment e.g. Ambulance, Refuelling and Crash Tender, is in order.

Supervise the laying out of the Flare Path at 16.30 hours.

Duty Officers (Van Breda, Frost, Willmot, etc.): The roster of Duty Officers includes many of the same pilots recorded in the crew lists for strikes against the Bernhardt and Gustav Lines. This demonstrates that senior flight personnel carried heavy administrative "ground" duties in addition to their combat missions. Operational Context: Winterization at Tortorella The Routine Orders from December 5, 1943, highlight the severe environmental challenges facing 21 Squadron at its base in Tortorella.

A large handwritten "F" appears next to the sheet number "233," potentially a clerical classification for December administrative records.

A handwritten "G" appears before the sheet number "234," likely a clerical or intelligence filing indicator.

A small handwritten "46" is visible above the Oprep Reference Number "476," potentially a cross-reference to a specific mission packet or photographic strip.