Operation

APPENDIX "P" 326 TO : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/718 DATE : 13th June, 1944 OPREP No. 718 for the period ending 1200 hrs on the 13th June, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 116 GUBBIO 12 Baltimores airborne from BIFERNO at 0838 hrs to attack a R/R BRIDGE near FABRIANO at S119168. One A/c returned after 55 minutes with engine trouble, after jettisoning load in sea 5 miles North of PENNA POINT. With an escort of 6 Spitfires, formation set course from PENNA POINT at 0902, and bombed in boxes line astern at 0942 from 11500' on a course of 340°. Concentrated pattern of whole formation resulted in a slight overshoot from S118168 - 117191, bombs falling in open country. Slight accurate H.A.A. from TOLENTINO Area - four A/c holed (Cat I). Weather: target clear and visibility good. All A/c down by 1055 hrs. B: (i) 7 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 5 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 14.55 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 11.40 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 28 x 500 M.C. (ii) 24 x 500 (iii) 4 x 500 (iv) NIL 45 x 500 fused : 49 - 27 Nose, 36 - 28 Tail 3 x 500 fused : 52 - 37 Tail (Delay) (i) 20 x 500 M.C. (ii) As above (iii) NIL (iv) NIL W: (i) NIL (ii) 3 Cat I (i) NIL (ii) 1 Cat I to Z: NIL Major Dalling DFC Hallick Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, SAAF.

1944-06-13

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Target: Fabriano (Strategic Interdiction): * Location: The target was a "R/R [Railroad] BRIDGE near FABRIANO". Fabriano is located in the Marche region, deep in the Apennines. It sits on the Ancona-Rome railway line, a critical lateral supply route for German forces attempting to shift resources between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts. * The Overshoot: The report notes a "Concentrated pattern... resulted in a slight overshoot.". This implies the bombardier's aim was good laterally (left/right), but the release was timed split-seconds too late, causing the entire bomb load to land in "open country" just past the bridge. This was a common frustration in level bombing, where a hesitation of a fraction of a second could mean a miss of hundreds of yards. * Mechanical Failure & Procedures: * Engine Trouble: One aircraft was forced to return early due to "engine trouble." * Jettisoning: The crew followed standard safety protocol by "jettisoning load in sea 5 miles North of PENNA POINT" before attempting to land. Landing a loaded bomber with a failing engine was suicidal; the extra weight and the risk of explosion in a crash were unacceptable. Penna Point (Punta Penna) was the standard "dumping ground" for aborted sorties launching from the Biferno/Vasto area. * Enemy Resistance (Flak Damage): * Tolentino Defenses: The formation encountered "Slight accurate H.A.A. [Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire] from TOLENTINO Area.". Tolentino is south of Fabriano, meaning they took fire while en route to or from the target. * Damage Report: Although the flak was "slight," it was "accurate." The report lists "four A/c holed (Cat I)." Category I damage refers to minor damage repairable at the unit level (patching bullet/shrapnel holes). However, having 4 out of 11 aircraft damaged shows that even "slight" German resistance remained potent. * Leadership: * Major Dalling DFC: The mission was led by Major Dalling DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross), whose signature appears at the bottom left. This continues the pattern of senior officers leading these deep penetration raids during the critical June 1944 offensive. * Abbreviations: * R/R: Railroad. * H.A.A.: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * Cat I: Category 1 Damage (Repairable). * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. 38 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 14th June, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 719) labeled APPENDIX "Q" (page number 327).