Operation

APPENDIX "EE" 262 To : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) From : O.C. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. Ref : 21S/679 Date : 18th May, 1944 Oprep No 679 for period ending 21.00 hrs 18/5/44 Ref Map : ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 160 CASSINO A : 12 Baltimores (one returned after 55 mins owing to engine trouble) took off from BIFERNO at 09.13 hrs to bomb GUN POSITIONS near ROCCASECCA. 1st box attacked gun positions at G663297 from 13,000 feet at 10.00 hrs on a course of 350 degs. Owing to cloud, the target was only seen late and stick overshot with line error to right at G666294 to G666300. Second box attacked gun positions at G734278 from 12,500 feet at 10.00 hrs on a course of 20 degs. Good run up but patches of cloud prevented accurate observation of results. Stick fell from G731275 to G736283. No enemy opposition 5/10ths St/Cu in target area at 8,000 feet. Hazy. All A/C landed by 11.00 hrs. B : (i) 7 Balts Mk IV (ii) NIL (i) 5 Balts Mk V (ii) NIL C : (i) & (ii) NIL (i) & (ii) NIL D : (i) 11.55 hrs (ii) NIL (i) 9.10 hrs (ii) NIL E : (i) 22,400 x .30 2,100 x .303 4,900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 16,000 x .30 1,500 x .303 3,500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F : (i) 160 x 40 lbs 52 det 45 pist 12 x 250 lbs G.P. 250's FUSED : 52 det 44 pist Nose 49 det 28 pist Tail (ii) 160 x 40 lbs 6 x 250 (iii) 6 x 250 (iv) NIL (i) 152 x 40 lbs 52 det 45 pist 1 x 250 lbs G.P. (ii) As in (i) (iii) NIL (iv) NIL G to Z NIL FL. Lt Col Jandrell, D.F.C. Hallick Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-05-18

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * The Fall of Monte Cassino (May 18, 1944): * Context: This mission was flown on the morning of May 18, 1944, a pivotal date in the Italian campaign. At 10:20 AM—roughly the same time this formation was bombing gun positions near Roccasecca—Polish troops raised their flag over the ruins of the Monte Cassino monastery, signaling the final breach of the Gustav Line. * Strategic Role: The squadron's target, Roccasecca, lay directly on the German retreat route (Highway 6). By hammering the artillery in this sector, 21 Squadron was facilitating the pursuit of the retreating German 10th Army as the Allied breakout gathered momentum. * Tactical Execution: * Mixed Results: The first box struggled with visibility ("target was only seen late"), resulting in an overshoot. This highlights the difficulty of visual bombing in the mountainous terrain where cloud layers ("5/10ths St/Cu") often obscured targets until the last second. The second box had a "Good run up" but results were unobserved. * Lack of Opposition: Remarkably, the report notes "No enemy opposition". This stands in stark contrast to the previous day's "intense" flak that downed Major Job. The lack of flak suggests the German anti-aircraft batteries at Roccasecca had either been destroyed, suppressed, or were already dismantling to retreat north to the Hitler Line. * Ordnance: * Mixed Payload: The loadout reflects a tactical shift. Instead of just frag bombs, the aircraft carried a significant number of 250 lb G.P. bombs (e.g., "12 x 250 lbs G.P." in the first box's total) alongside the 40lb frag bombs. This heavier punch was likely intended for interdiction—destroying bridges or cratering roads to slow the German retreat—rather than just anti-personnel suppression. * Leadership: * Lt. Col. Jandrell: The flight was led by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Jandrell, D.F.C.. His presence at the front for consecutive missions during this critical week underscores the "maximum effort" required to support Operation Diadem. * Abbreviations: * St/Cu: Stratocumulus clouds. * G.P.: General Purpose. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * pist: Pistol (fuse). * det: Detonator. * O.C.: Officer Commanding. 51 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 20th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 680) labeled APPENDIX "FF" (page number 263), detailing the mission flown on the morning of May 19th, 1944.