Stick fell in area S583333, as

APPENDIX "W" 51 TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) HQ MATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SADA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/765 DATE : 17th July, 1944 OPREP No. 765 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 16th July, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 118 ANCONA A: 12 Baltimores airborne from PESCARA at 1315 hrs to bomb GUN AREA S623407 - S630397 - S622394 - S615405 and to drop pamphlets in area S510405. Attack took place at 1405 hrs. First box bombed from 12,500' on a course of 360°, overshoot and lateral error to the left in area S599415. Second box owing to confusion in the identification of CAMERANO and OSIMO Towns, made a left hand weave after crossing coast and released bombs from 12300' on a course of 310° on what was believed at the time to be the briefed target. Stick fell in area S583333, as confirmed by photographic evidence, about 1000 yds inside the bomb line. Results not observed in both cases. H.A.A. slight inaccurate after turn off target. Visibility hazy. All A/c landed by 1457 hrs. Area cover was provided by Spitfires. B: (i) 5 Balts Mk IV (ii) NIL (i) 7 Balts Mk V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 7.05 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 9.55 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 10 x 500 M.C. 15 x 250 G.P. (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL (Fusing: 52 - 44 Nose) (i) 14 x 500 M.C. 21 x 250 G.P. (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL G to V: NIL W: (i) 5 Marauders Mk III (ii) NIL X: (i) 5.40 Hrs (ii) NIL Y & Z: NIL Hallick Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, SAAF.

1944-07-17

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Psychological Warfare and Tactical Failure (Ancona): * The Mission: This sortie (No. 765) on the afternoon of July 16th, 1944, combined a kinetic strike on German "GUN AREA[s]" with a psychological warfare component: dropping "pamphlets" over enemy lines. Pamphlets typically encouraged German desertion or informed them of the hopelessness of their position as the Polish II Corps closed in on Ancona. * Identification Errors: The mission was a tactical failure due to navigation errors. The report describes "confusion in the identification of CAMERANO and OSIMO Towns.". From 12,000 feet in "hazy" visibility, these two hilltop towns look remarkably similar. This confusion led the second box to perform a "left hand weave" (an erratic course correction) that resulted in bombs falling "about 1000 yds inside the bomb line.". * Friendly Fire Risk: Landing bombs inside the "bomb line" meant they fell in territory nominally controlled by Allied forces (or in the "no man's land" between the armies). This was a high-risk error that could have resulted in friendly casualties among the advancing Polish troops. * Target Geography (The Marche Region): * Camerano and Osimo: Both are strategic heights south of Ancona. Osimo, in particular, was the site of a brutal, house-to-house battle that lasted until July 6th, and the surrounding area remained heavily contested as the Germans conducted a fighting withdrawal. * Ancona Sector: By the time of this raid, the Polish II Corps was within miles of the city. The German 278th Infantry Division was struggling to maintain a coherent line while being constantly hammered from the air. * Marauder Transition Status: * Training Volume: Section W and X show "5 Marauders Mk III" flew for "5.40 Hrs". While slightly lower than previous days, it indicates that even during a double-sortie day for the Baltimores, the squadron maintained its relentless push to certify pilots on the new B-26 Marauder. * Defensive Fire: * Evasive Success: The formation encountered "H.A.A. [Heavy Anti-Aircraft] slight inaccurate" only after the turn off the target. This suggests that the confusion and the "weave" might have actually helped throw off the German gunners' predicted fire solutions, though it cost the squadron its bombing accuracy. * Abbreviations Expanded: * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer (Capt. Hallick). * OPREP: Operational Report. * SCORU: Statistical Control and Operations Research Unit. * MAAF: Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. * MATAF: Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force. * SADA: Likely Senior Air Officer Administration (S.A.O.A.). * H.A.A.: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak). * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * G.P.: General Purpose. * A/C: Aircraft. * NIL: None. 53 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 17th July, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (Appendix "X") labeled 52 in the top right corner.