Operation

BA: CUT ROAD AT H 428712 BB: From 1355 Hrs to 1410 Hrs BC: Did NOT attack as unable to identify target through cloud. 18 x 250 G.P. 43 Dets 27 Pistols (with Rods) jettisoned from 4000 feet in sea (K2030) at 1433 Hrs. BD: N.A. BE: 40 plus bursts H/A/A over target area, accurate for height, inaccurate for direction. BF: NIL BG: NIL BH: NIL AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 356Z MAJ. STUART LT PAWSON P/O FREESTONE LT HALL (FL) 445U LT HARGRAVE LT REES F/SGT JENSEN F/SGT VALENTINE 181Y MAJ. COULL LT. ROSE F. F/SGT PERKINS F/SGT VAN ROOYEN 240O CAPT DUGMORE LT MASTERS F/SGT MAASDORP F/SGT ROGERS (VL) 387R LT BENNETT LT HARLE F/SGT STRYDOM SGT JENKINSON 383W LT ROBERTSON LT HANNING F/SGT DU PLESSIS F/SGT LEISCHING 586B CAPT SAUNDERS P/O SMALLMAN LT POTGIETER SGT EARP-JONES (BL) 441F LT FROST LT NEL F/SGT CARTER SGT ALLEN 545A LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL SGT STEWART 437H LT WILLMOTT LT BORCHERDS F/SGT LOOTS F/SGT WALBRIDGE (VL) 916K LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY SGT AIREY 167P LT WITTE 2/LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON SGT MARAIS

1943-11-03

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes Expanded Abbreviations * BA / BB / BC / BD / BE / BF / BG / BH: Standardized Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) reporting codes for Target, Time, Weapons, Narrative, Enemy Opposition, Own Losses, Photography, and General Observations. * G.P.: General Purpose (bomb type). * Dets / Pistols: Detonators and mechanical firing mechanisms (Pistols). * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak). * N.A.: Not Applicable. * MAJ / CAPT / LT / P/O / 2/LT: Major / Captain / Lieutenant / Pilot Officer / Second Lieutenant. * F/SGT / SGT: Flight Sergeant / Sergeant. * FL / VL / BL: Flight Leader / Vice Leader / Box Leader. Observations on Individuals * Major Charles Stuart: Leading the formation (FL) in aircraft 356Z. Stuart was a senior operational leader in 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F., who took command of this mission following the tragic loss of the Squadron Commander earlier that same day. * Major Coull and Captain Dugmore: Both senior pilots acted as sub-formation leaders (Box and Vice Leaders), illustrating the experienced backbone of the squadron during a period of high operational stress. * Pilot Officer Smallman: Serving as the observer in aircraft 586B. Smallman typically flew as the observer for the late Lieutenant Colonel Britz, but his presence on this afternoon flight confirms he was not aboard the aircraft involved in the morning's fatal collision. Location Information and Historical Context * The Target (Cut Road at H428712): This coordinate pinpointed a strategic road segment in the Molise region of Italy. Interdiction of these roads was vital to prevent German reinforcements from moving toward the Winter Line. * Operational Frustration: This was the "2nd Operation" of November 3, 1943. Coming hours after the mid-air collision that killed the unit's Officer Commanding, the mission's failure to bomb due to 10/10 cloud cover added to the day's grim atmosphere. * Jettisoned Ordnance: The report notes that 18 bombs were jettisoned into the sea (K2030) at 14:33 Hrs from 4,000 feet. This was standard procedure for landing grounds like Tortorella, as landing with heavy ordnance was hazardous, especially if the aircraft was damaged or the runway was affected by the season's rain. * Heavy Anti-Aircraft Fire: Despite the target being obscured by clouds, German batteries were active, firing over 40 bursts of heavy flak (H/A/A). The report notes they were "accurate for height," indicating they likely had radar-predicted fire or pre-set altitudes for typical Allied bomber approaches. 42 The date written in the 'Date' column to verify the correct document is 5th Nov 43.