Operation

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/579 DATE : 8th March 1944 OPREP No.579 for period from 1300 to 2100 Hrs on 7th March 1944 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 150 ROMA. A: 12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G between 1344 - 1354 Hrs with the intention of bombing ZAGAROLO RR Stn (G025582) from 12000'. The route briefed was to R/V with 223 Squn at VINCHIATURO, but due to 10/10 cloud over base and vicinity the formation flew S.E. to the SAN SEVERO area before finding a gap to climb through. Here 223 Sqdn was encountered (already above cloud) and the whole formation set course over 10/10 cloud (15000' Tops) for AVEZZANO, 21 Sqdn leading. The latter vicinity was reached approximately 1445 Hrs at 18,300' (340 Cent) when it was observed that the target area was totally obscured. In some places Cu. Nim. towering to 25000'. At 1450 Hrs the formation set course for base which was also found obscured, but a break in the FOGGIA area allowed all a/c to land by 1607 Hrs. On the formation leader's instructions, two a/c of the formation jettisoned their bombs in the sea at about J9048 at 1530 Hrs as a precaution against landing with a bomb load by two operationally inexperienced pilots. B: (1) 11 Baltimores Mk.4 (ii) NIL (1) 1 Mk. 5 (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (1) 24.45 Hours (ii) NIL (1) 2.15 Hours (ii) NIL E: (1) 35200 x .30 3300 x .303 7700 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (1) 3200 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (1) 22 x 500 MC 33 x 250 GP (ii) As in (1) (iii) & (iv) NIL (1) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (ii) NIL (iii) & (iv) NIL (1) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (ii) NIL (iii) & (iv) NIL G to V: NIL. Wahlin...? Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.