Due to (9-10/10) cloud tops 10,000' over whole area it was impossible to identify target and after cruising around looki

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/574 DATE : 3 March 44 OPREP No.574 for period ended 2100 Hrs on 3rd March 1944 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 156 LITTORIA A: 12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G between 1415 and 1422 Hrs to bomb a GUN AREA with centre at F905375. They set course with an escort of 6 Spitfires for the mouth of the VOLTURNO River, then along the coast to ANZIO and NORTH to target. Due to (9-10/10) cloud tops 10,000' over whole area it was impossible to identify target and after cruising around looking for an opening the formation bombed through a gap at a point later beleived to be G080315 from about 13000' at 1535 Hrs. R.N.O. One a/c had a complete hang-up and returned with its bombs. In this area the formation encountered intense and accurate H/A/A fire coming through the clouds, 8 of the 12 a/c being hit. One a/c which had a tyre puntureed, swung on landing, and blocked the run-way, resulting in XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX in XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. Three a/c landing at CANNE L/G. The last a/c landing at 1710 Hrs, and total damage to formation was 1 Cat. 2, 7 Cat.1. B: (1) 10 Baltimores Mk.4 (11) NIL (i) 1 Balt. Mk.3A. (ii) NIL (i) 1 Balt Mk.5 (i) NIL C: NIL D: (1) 25.40 Hours (11) NIL (1) 2.30 Hrs (11) NIL (1) 2.50 Hrs (11) NIL E: (1) 32000 x .30 3000 x .303 7000 x .50 (11) & (111) NIL (1) 3200 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (11) & (111) NIL (1) 3200 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (11) & (111) NIL F: (1) 20 x 500 MC 30 x 250 GP (11) 2 x 500 MC 27 x 250 GP (111) & (iv) NIL (1) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (11) As in (1) (111) & (iv) NIL (1) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (11) As in (1) (111) & (iv) NIL All fused 52 Det, 44 Pist (Nose) 49 Det 28 Pist (Tail. G: (i) Nil (ii) 6 Cat.1, 1 Cat.2. (i) & (ii) NIL (i) NIL (ii) 1 Cat.1 to V: NIL W: (1) 1 Baltimore Mk.3 (ii) NIL X: (1) 1.00 hour. (ii) NIL Z: NIL Amendment to OPREP No.571, dated 2nd March, 1944: One of the missing a/c (No. 3 in the 1st Vic) landed at POMIGLIANO (NAPLES) at 1050 Hrs, badly damaged, Cat.2 with LT LONGMORE, (Pilot) F/SGT MACKAY (Air-gunner) and F/SGT THEUNISSEN (WT/AG), the latter slightly injured. LT KENDAL (Observer) baled out over bridgehead and is safe in our lines. The 2nd a/c (No.1 in the 2nd Vic) with 3 members of its crew is still missing - Personnel LT RICHARDS (Pilot), LT COCKBURN (Observer) and F/SGT MacCRINDLE (Air-gunner) F/SGT ROBBERTSE (WT/AG) baled and is safe in bridge-head. Wahlin...? Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-03-03

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Operational Ordeal (March 3rd - Sortie 574): * "Blind" Bombing & Flak Trap: This report details a grueling mission to the Anzio sector. Faced with "9-10/10 cloud" (almost total overcast), the formation couldn't see the primary target (Gun Area at F905375). They cruised around looking for a gap and eventually bombed a secondary target "later believed to be G080315" (roughly 15-20km southeast of the original target, near Sezze/Priverno). * Heavy Damage: While hunting for a hole in the clouds, they were sitting ducks for radar-directed flak. "Intense and accurate H/A/A fire coming through the clouds" resulted in 8 of the 12 aircraft being hit. This confirms the "badly shot-up aircraft" mentioned in the monthly summary (see 269-3__33.jpg). * Landing Chaos: One damaged aircraft had a "tyre punctured" and "swung on landing," blocking the single runway at Biferno. This forced three other aircraft to divert to the emergency strip at Canne L.G. The crossed-out text likely contained details of the blockage or perhaps a minor collision on the ground that was deemed unnecessary for the final report. * Crucial Amendment (The March 2nd Collision Resolved): * Solving the Mystery: The bottom section contains a vital "Amendment to OPREP No.571" regarding the missing aircraft from March 2nd. This clears up the fate of the crews involved in the mid-air collision: * Aircraft 1 (Lt. Longmore): Managed to limp back to Pomigliano (Naples) "badly damaged, Cat.2." The observer, Lt. Kendal, bailed out over the Anzio bridgehead and was safe. F/Sgt Theunissen was injured. * Aircraft 2 (Lt. Richards): This aircraft crashed. F/Sgt Robbertse (WT/AG) bailed out and was safe in the bridgehead (as noted in the daily diary). However, the pilot (Lt. Richards), observer (Lt. Cockburn), and gunner (F/Sgt MacCrindle) were listed as "still missing." Historically, they were killed in action. * Tactical Geography: * Littoria (Latina): The reference map sheet. This area was the heart of the reclaimed Pontine Marshes, flat terrain crisscrossed by canals, making navigation difficult but providing good fields of fire for German flak. * Pomigliano: A major Allied airbase near Naples, often used as a diversion field for crippled bombers returning from the north. * Abbreviations: * R.N.O.: Results Not Observed. * Cat.1 / Cat.2: Aircraft damage categories (Cat.1 = Repairable at unit; Cat.2 = Repairable at depot/requires major work; Cat.3 = Write-off). * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft. * L/G: Landing Ground. 38 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is titled "SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 19/44" and is dated 5th March, 1944. It is signed by Lt. Col. A.C. Jandrell, D.F.C.