Operation

APPENDIX "U" 49 TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) HQ MATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SADA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/763 DATE : 16 th July, 1944 OPREP No. 763 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 15th July, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 118 ANCONA A: 12 Baltimores off from PESCARA at 1635 to attack GUN POSITIONS near ANCONA. One A/C returned after 30 minutes with engine trouble and the reserve was dispatched, but failed to contact formation. Formation bombed at 1724 from 11500' on a course of 340°. Pattern of first box resulted in slight left error through edge of target area. Second box experienced difficulty in turning on to briefed pin point and attempted to bomb a siding, bombs overshooting into open country. Slight inaccurate H.A.A. from target area. Fighter area cover provided. Weather: Target clear, visibility fair to hazy. 11 A/C down by 1810. B: (i) 5 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 8 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 9.30 Hrs. (ii) NIL (i) 12.00 Hrs. (ii) NIL E: (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 25600 x .30 2400 x .303 5600 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 10 x 500 M.C. 15 x 250 G.P. (ii) 8 x 500 9 x 250 (iii) & (iv) NIL (Fusing: 52 - 44 Nose) (i) 16 x 500 M.C. 24 x 250 G.P. (ii) 16 x 500 23 x 250 (iii) & (iv) NIL G to V: NIL W: (i) 1 Balt IV (ii) NIL (i) 6 Marauders III (ii) NIL X: (i) 1.30 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 7.10 Hrs (ii) NIL Y & Z: NIL Hallick Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, SAAF.

1944-07-15

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * The Battle for Ancona (Climax): * Strategic Context: This afternoon raid (Sortie 763) on July 15th, 1944, took place while the Polish II Corps was heavily engaged in the final push to capture Ancona. The port was essential for shortening Allied supply lines as the front moved north toward the Gothic Line. * Tactical Failure: The mission was plagued by difficulties. One aircraft aborted due to engine trouble, and a reserve aircraft "failed to contact formation," likely due to the strict radio silence or the difficulty of finding a moving formation in "fair to hazy" conditions. * Bombing Inaccuracy: The report records a secondary failure during the attack: "Second box experienced difficulty in turning on to briefed pin point [target] and attempted to bomb a siding, bombs overshooting into open country.". Bombing a rail "siding" was a spur-of-the-moment decision by the lead air observer when the primary target was missed, but the overshoot meant no tactical damage was achieved. * Fighter Area Cover: * Heightened Vigilance: Following the tragic friendly fire incident involving Mustangs just 24 hours earlier (see Sortie 761, File 47), the note that "Fighter area cover [was] provided" carries significant weight. Maintaining visual contact and proper identification procedures with the Spitfire escorts was now a matter of extreme sensitivity for the bomber crews. * Ordnance and Fusing: * Instantaneous Impact: All bombs were "Fused 52 - 44 Nose," using the standard No. 44 Pistol. This setting caused the bombs to explode on the surface to maximize the blast and fragmentation effect against the exposed personnel and equipment of the German gun batteries, rather than cratering the earth. * Marauder Transition Progress: * Consistent Training: Despite the high combat tempo, Section W and X show "6 Marauders III" logged "7.10 Hrs" of training. This indicates that nearly half the squadron's aircrew were likely engaged in conversion training on any given day, a grueling schedule that combined frontline combat in the Baltimore with learning a more complex, heavy bomber in the afternoons. * Geographic Note: * Ancona: The capital of the Marche region. The "siding" mentioned likely belonged to the Adriatic railway line which the Germans were desperately trying to use for the evacuation of heavy equipment before the Polish troops cut the city off. * 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. 51 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 17th July, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (Appendix "V") labeled 50 in the top right corner.