Attack took place at 11.25 Hrs. from 13000' on a course of 270°. Both

APPENDIX "MM" 358 TO: HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) HQ NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF. FROM: SIO 21 Squadron SAAF. REF: 21S/741 Date: 1st.July 1944. OPREP No. 741 FOR PERIOD ENDING 13.00 Hrs. 30th.June 1944. Ref.Map:Italy 1-100.000 Sheet 99.FAENZA. A. 13 Baltimores (one returned with bomb-load soon after take off owing to hydraulic trouble & another turned back owing to U.S. turret) airborne from Pescara at 09.30 Hrs. to bomb FAENZA M/YARDS (M312248). Set course at 10.05 Hrs with a close escort of 12 Spitfires and leading 6 Baltimores of 13 Royal Hellenic Squadron who however turned back before target. Attack took place at 11.25 Hrs. from 13000' on a course of 270°. Both boxes merged into one pattern overshooting into town and slightly to the left of M/Yards. Explosion with orange smoke observed. Bombs of one A/C hung up over target & were jettisoned at sea. No. 5 in the second box was seen to jettison bomb load over target, an explosion being felt immedia- -tely afterwards and the A/C went down in flames, crashing in FAENZA town. One parachute seen to open. No enemy opposition. Visibility hazy. Remaining A/C landed to base at 12.26 Hrs. The A/C which turned back before target jettisoned bomb-load at sea owing to long delay fuse. B. (i) 7 Balt.Mk iv (ii) Nil. (i). 6 Balt.Mk v. (ii) Nil C. (i) & (ii) Nil. (i) & (ii) Nil. D. (i) 17.00 Hrs (ii) Nil (i) 16.25 Hrs. (ii) Nil. E. (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) Nil. (iii) 3200 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) Nil. (iii) Nil. F. (i) 14 x 500 M.C. 21 x 250 G.P. (ii) 10 x 500 15 x 250 (iii) 2 x 500 3 x 250 (iv) Nil Fused 36-27 Nose, 36-28 Tail, except 3x250 52-37 Tail (delay). (i) 12 x 500 M.C. 18 x 250 G.P. (ii) as in (i) (iii) Nil. (iv) Nil. G. (i) & (ii) Nil. (i) 1 Baltimore Mk.V Cat.iii. (ii) Nil. H. Lt. Elliott-Wilson Pilot. Lt. Stewart Observer WO.11 Posthumus Wop. A/G. F/Sgt. Brice Straight Gunner. J to Z. Nil. Hallick Captain SIO 21 Squadron SAAF.

1944-07-01

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Tragedy at Faenza (A Mysterious Loss): * The Incident: This mission report details a catastrophic loss of aircraft No. 5 in the second box. The description suggests a malfunction rather than enemy action: "No. 5 in the second box was seen to jettison bomb load over target, an explosion being felt immediately afterwards and the A/C went down in flames, crashing in FAENZA town.". * The Cause: The phrase "explosion being felt immediately" after jettisoning suggests a premature detonation of the bombs just as they left the bay, or perhaps a collision with another aircraft's bomb stream, though "jettison" implies an emergency procedure. Since "No enemy opposition" was reported, flak or fighters are ruled out as the primary cause. * Casualties: The crew of the lost aircraft (Cat.iii - Complete Write-off) is listed in Section H: * Pilot: Lt. Elliott-Wilson. * Observer: Lt. Stewart. * Wop. A/G: WO.II Posthumus. * Straight Gunner: F/Sgt. Brice. * Survival: Only "One parachute seen to open," painting a grim picture for the survival of the other three crew members. * Combined Operations (The Hellenic Squadron): * Multinational Force: The mission was a joint operation with the "13 Royal Hellenic Squadron," flying Baltimores alongside the SAAF. This unit was part of the exiled Greek Air Force operating under RAF command. * Abort: The Greek contribution faltered; the 6 Hellenic Baltimores "turned back before target," likely due to the same haze or mechanical issues that plagued the formation. * Mechanical Attrition: * Abort Rates: The strain on the aircraft is evident. Of the 13 SAAF Baltimores that launched, one returned with "hydraulic trouble," and another returned due to a "U.S. [Unserviceable] turret.". * Target: Faenza (Overshoot): * Collateral Damage: The bombing results were poor and destructive to the civilian infrastructure. "Both boxes merged into one pattern overshooting into town... slightly to the left of M/Yards.". Faenza, famous for its ceramics (faience), suffered heavy damage during the war. * Ordnance Handling: * Jettisoning at Sea: The aircraft that aborted with long-delay fused bombs had to "jettison bomb-load at sea." Landing with long-delay fuses was prohibited because the chemical timers could be unstable or activated by the shock of landing, turning the aircraft into a time bomb on the runway. * Abbreviations: * M/Yards: Marshalling Yards. * U.S.: Unserviceable. * Wop. A/G: Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. * Cat.iii: Category 3 Damage (Write-off/Destroyed). * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * G.P.: General Purpose. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. 70 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 1st.July 1944. in the "Date" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 742) labeled APPENDIX "NN" (page number 359). There is a handwritten "END" below the page number, indicating the conclusion of the June 1944 War Diary appendices.