B. : (i) 12 Marauders III (ii) Nil

"M" 182 TO : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION 23rd SCORU) H.Q. T.A.F. ITALY ( ATTENTION SCORU) S.A.O.S. S.A.A.F. FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. REF. : 21S/ 828 DATE : 15th SEPTEMBER, 1944 OPREP NO. 828 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HRS. ON THE 14th SEPTEMBER '44 REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 101 RIMINI. OPS. NO. 91 to 93 /21/M. A. : 12 Marauders in three boxes off from PESCARA by 1125 hrs. to attack a strongpoint area near RIMINI (centre at R.835950) One A/C returned with load after 25 minutes due to engine trouble. Remaining eleven bombed at 1225 hrs. from 11000ft each A/C carrying 192 x 20lbs. frag. cluster bombs. All three boxes, with well dispersed patterns, covered an area about 1000 yards square well within the pin points briefed. 42 x 20 hung up - brought back. Slight inaccurate H.A.A. from Target. B. : (i) 12 Marauders III (ii) Nil C. : (i) & (ii) Nil D. : (i) 22.25 hrs (ii) Nil E. : (i) 45600 x .50 (ii) & (iii) Nil F. : (i) 2304 x 20 (ii) 2070 x 20 (iii) & (iv) Nil G to V. : Nil W. : (i) 2 Marauders III (ii) Nil X. : (i) 1.40 hrs. (ii) Nil Y to Z : Nil (Signed) S. L. Boast Lt. for Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.

1944-09-15

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations Expanded: * H.Q.: Headquarters. * M.A.A.F.: Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. * SCORU: Section Central Operational Research Unit. * T.A.F.: Tactical Air Force. * S.A.O.S.: South African Operational Section. * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * OPREP: Operational Report. * HRS / hrs / Hrs: Hours. * OPS. NO.: Operation Number. * A/C: Aircraft. * lbs: pounds. * frag.: fragmentation. * ft: feet. * H.A.A.: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak). * Lt.: Lieutenant. * Capt.: Captain. * Observations about Individuals: * Lieutenant S. L. Boast: Acting as the S.I.O. for this report, Boast confirms the high precision of this raid, noting that the "well dispersed patterns" covered the target area exactly as briefed. * Aborted Pilot: While not named, the report notes one pilot successfully managed an "engine trouble" emergency shortly after takeoff, returning the bomb load safely to base. * Location and Modern Names: * Pescara: The squadron’s home base during this period. The airfield site is now the Abruzzo Airport (Aeroporto d’Abruzzo). * Rimini: A major coastal city and a key anchor of the German Gothic Line. * Target Area (R.835950): This specific grid reference places the strongpoint in the foothills southwest of Rimini. This area, today near the San Fortunato ridge, was a heavily fortified defensive position overlooking the city. * Historical Theatre Context: * Operation Olive – The Final Push for Rimini: This mission on September 14, 1944, took place during the climatic phase of the Allied assault on the Gothic Line. The capture of the ridges southwest of Rimini was essential for the city's eventual fall on September 21st. * The Use of Frag Clusters: The mission utilized a staggering payload of 2,112 20lb fragmentation bombs. These "cluster bombs" were highly effective against soft targets, exposed personnel, and light vehicles, designed to clear German defenders from trench systems and open strongpoints. * Martin B-26 Marauder III Tactics: Bombing from 11,000 feet required high visibility and steady flight. The report highlights the technical proficiency of the squadron’s navigators and bomb aimers, who achieved nearly 100% coverage within the "briefed pin points". * Mechanical Friction: The "hang up" of 42 bombs and the engine failure that forced one aircraft back were common occurrences in the high-tempo environment of the Italian campaign, where aircraft were cycled through multiple sorties per day. 24 Target File Verification: The date written in the 'DATE' column of this operational report is 16th SEPTEMBER, 1944.