Moderate H/A/A light and

APPENDIX "O" 198 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/631 DATE : 15th April 1944 OPREP No.631 for period ending 1200 Hrs on 15/4/44 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 146 SULMONA 12 Baltimores airborne at 1017 Hrs from BIFERNO L/G to attack a RR bridge at B954043 immediately EAST of TORRE. Each a/c carried 4 x 500 bombs, one of which was fused with a 12 Hour delay. Formation set course at 1050 Hrs and after one dummy run bombed in two boxes line astern at 1138 Hrs from 8500' on a course of 088°. Whole formation overshot target actual target but pattern extended across railway line and through large buildings beyond (B955045 - 962051). An explosion resulted among buildings at B960050, followed by large fire and thick black smoke which was still visible 20 - 30 miles from target. Moderate H/A/A light and few bursts of H/A/A encountered. Weather clear and visibility good in target area. All a/c landed by 1150 Hrs. B: (i) 6 Balts 1V (ii) NIL (i) 6 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 9.30 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 9.30 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 24 x 500 MC (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 24 x 500 MC (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL (36 fused 49 Det 27 Pist NOSE - 49 Det 28 Pist Tail 12 fused 12 Hours delay 52 Det 37 Pist Tail G to Z: NIL.. S.L. Boshoff Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-04-15

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Tactical Innovation (Delayed Action Bombs): * The "Time Bomb" Tactic: The report specifies that "Each a/c carried 4 x 500 bombs, one of which was fused with a 12 Hour delay". This refers to the No. 37 Long Delay Pistol noted in Section F ("52 Det 37 Pist Tail"). * Strategic Purpose: Mixing delayed-action bombs with standard high explosives was a brutal but effective area denial tactic. The immediate explosions would cut the rail line, while the delayed bombs would bury themselves in the rubble or crater. Hours later, when German repair crews (often Organisation Todt or forced laborers) were working to fix the track, the delayed bombs would detonate. This not only caused casualties among the engineers but also psychologically paralyzed repair efforts, forcing the enemy to wait hours or days before approaching the damage. * Targeting & Execution (Torre de' Passeri): * Location: The target was a "RR (Railroad) bridge... immediately EAST of TORRE" on the Sulmona map sheet. This identifies the location as Torre de' Passeri, a crucial chokepoint on the Rome-Pescara railway line that runs through the Pescara River valley. * The "Dummy Run": The formation performed a "dummy run" before bombing. This maneuver allowed the bombardier to check the wind drift and line up the target without releasing ordnance, ensuring greater accuracy on the second pass. It was risky, as it alerted the flak gunners, but necessary for hitting small targets like bridges. * Results: Despite the precision attempts, the formation "overshot... actual target," but the spread of the stick still cut the railway line and hit "large buildings beyond". The "thick black smoke... visible 20 - 30 miles from target" suggests they hit a fuel store or ammunition cache in the railyard buildings. * Defensive Fire: * Flak: The crew reported "Moderate H/A/A (Heavy Anti-Aircraft)" and "few bursts of H/A/A". The phrasing "Moderate H/A/A light" might be a typo for "Moderate Light A/A and few bursts of Heavy A/A," indicating a mix of 20mm/37mm quick-firing guns and larger 88mm batteries. * Abbreviations: * RR: Railroad. * MC: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft. * Pist: Pistol (Bomb fuse mechanism). * Det: Detonator. * SCORU: Scientific Operational Research Unit. 30 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 15th April 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a duplicate copy of Sortie Report No. 631 (Appendix "O"), identical in content to the previous file (269-4__29.jpg) but serves as a confirmation copy for the War Diary.