After bombing moderate H/A/A accurate for the second box, (First box evasive tactics climbing and turning successful)

BA: Block Road Junction at H029479 (ALFEDENA) BB: 1004 A Hrs. BC: Medium Level Bombing. 12600'. Course 255º. Speed 210 I.A.S. 36 x 250 G.P. 49 Dets 27 Pistols (Nose fused) 23 x 500 M.C. 49 Dets 27 Pistols (Nose fused) 24000 Pamphlets (Copy attached) 1 x 500 M.C. hung up. BD: Formation hit target in very good pattern from H035477 to 027480 causing terrific explosion with smoke rising to 4000 feet. Two lesser fires were also started. Some buildings in village received direct hits. BE: Moderate and inaccurate H/A/A and intense and inaccurate L/A/A before bombing. No A/A from Target. After bombing moderate H/A/A accurate for the second box, (First box evasive tactics climbing and turning successful) BF: 15 aircraft in No. 2 box received a total of 50 holes from H/A/A. All repairable by Unit. 2 aircraft from No. 1 box received minor damage from H/A/A. Two aircraft collided about six minutes after bombing at 13000 ft over area H2060 and spun in. One parachute seen. One a/c was seen to hit ground and burn. (1) FW 474X LT/COL. BRITZ. DFC. Pilot LT. BOOYSE Observer 2/LT. HARRISON WOP/Gunner 2/LT. PICKUP Top Gunner (11) AW 951YY CAPT. DIEU (Belgian) Pilot P/O. EDMEADES Observer F/SGT. OSWALD WOP/Gunner A/SGT. BREEDT Top Gunner ALL MISSING. BG: Obliques and Verticals taken during bombing run. BH: Fairly heavy general movement of M/T seen on roads. AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 474X LT/COL. BRITZ. DFC. LT BOOYSE 2/LTs HARRISON & PICKUP 383W LT GREDER LT MCARAVEY F/SGT GREYLING SGT GRATTON 387R LT RICHARDS LT DE CONNICK F/SGT ROBBERTSE SGT MCCRINDLE 167P CAPT SMIT LT KAY 2/LT PURDON SGT SCHOOMBIE 916K LT FROST LT LAMBERT F/SGT CARTER SGT ALLEN 951YY CAPT DIEU P/O EDMEADES F/SGT OSWALD SGT BREEDT 437H MAJ. ORD LT HODGES F/SGT WALKER SGT DEVENISH 341L LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL SGT STEWART 467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN SGT MACKAY 586B CAPT SAUNDERS P/O SMALLMAN LT POTGEITER SGT EARP-JONES 441F LT WITTE 2/LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON SGT MARAIS 545A LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY SGT AIREY

1943-11-03

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes * Expanded Abbreviations: * I.A.S.: Indicated Air Speed. * G.P. / M.C.: General Purpose / Medium Capacity (bomb types). * Dets / Pistols: Detonators and mechanical firing mechanisms (Pistols). * H/A/A / L/A/A: Heavy / Light Anti-Aircraft fire. * a/c: Aircraft. * LT/COL / MAJ / CAPT / LT / P/O / 2/LT: Lieutenant Colonel / Major / Captain / Lieutenant / Pilot Officer / Second Lieutenant. * F/SGT / SGT / A/SGT: Flight Sergeant / Sergeant / Acting Sergeant. * WOP/Gunner: Wireless Operator and Air Gunner. * M/T: Motor Transport. * Observations on Individuals and Historical Tragedy: * Lieutenant Colonel J.F. "Jack" Britz, D.F.C.: The Officer Commanding (OC) of No. 21 Squadron. This report documents a dark day in the squadron's history. Britz, leading in aircraft 474X, was involved in a mid-air collision shortly after the successful bombing run. * Captain Dieu: A Belgian pilot flying aircraft 951YY. He was the other pilot involved in the collision. * The Loss: The report starkly notes "ALL MISSING" for the eight men involved in the collision. The loss of the Squadron Commander and an entire second crew was a devastating blow to the unit’s morale and leadership. * Captain J. Booyse: Though listed as Britz's observer on the missing aircraft, he signed the Part A report as the SIO. This indicates he may have been a last-minute substitute on the flight or signed the paperwork in his capacity as SIO following the event. * Location and Context: * Alfedena, Italy: A strategic road junction in the Apennines. The bombing was highly successful, creating a "terrific explosion" and smoke seen for miles, achieving the objective of blocking German supply routes. * Mid-Air Collision (Area H2060): The collision occurred at 13,000 feet while the formation was reforming or egressing. Only one parachute was seen, underlining the sudden and violent nature of the accident. * Operational Intensity: The mission also involved dropping 24,000 pamphlets, a form of psychological warfare common during the Italian campaign to weaken the resolve of German troops or communicate with the local population. 40 The date written in the 'Date' column to verify the correct document is 3 Nov 43.