Operation

BA: TROOPS AND GUNS - C353009. BB: 1330 Hrs LT BC: Medium level bombing, attack: Height 11500' Course 210º 36 x 250 GP 43 Dets 27 Pistols (Rods) 24 x 500 MC do do BD: Visibility was very good and although smoke over target it was clearly identified. Squadron attacked in boxes of six. No.1 box bombed from C364014 - 360011 scoring hits on a secondary road. No.2 box pattern started at C355014 where many direct hits were observed on the main road. Ten bursts were seen in Target area. BE: NIL BF: NIL BG: Obliques and Verticals from 11500' on Course 210º. Speed 220 m.p.h. (I.A.S.) BH: 20 M.T. moving NORTH WEST on main Rds. at C 344014 15 M.T. stationary facing SOUTH badly dispersed at C 349010 At 1350 Hrs Ju.88 was observed at 26,000' over MANFREDONIA area on approximately North-Westerly Course with two Spitfires after it. AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 240O CAPT DUGMORE, LT MASTERS, 2/LT MAASDORP, F/SGT ROGERS 383W LT GREDER, LT REES, F/SGT GREYLING, A/SGT AIREY 167S CAPT V. BREDA, LT NAUDE, F/SGT GRATTON, P/O GILDON 387R LT RICHARDS, LT KIRBY, F/SGT ROBBERTSE, A/SGT MCCRINDLE 181T LT HILL, LT PIETERS, F/SGT V.D.WESTHUIZEN, A/SGT JENKINSON 181Y CAPT DIEU, LT ROSE, F/SGT BAILEY, F/SGT DU RANT 586B CAPT SAUNDERS, P/O SMALLMAN, LT POTGIETER, A/SGT EARP-JONES 545A LT ASKEW, LT LAMBERT, F/SGT GELDENHUYS, LT V. SCHALKWYK 426J LT WOOD, LT NEL, F/SGT JAMES, A/SGT ROBERTSON 578G CAPT JOB, LT OWEN-HUGHES, F/SGT JARVIS, LT SHAW 916K LT WITTE, LT RUSHFORTH, F/SGT EATON, A/SGT MARAIS 341L LT LONGMORE, LT KENDAL, F/SGT THEUNISSEN, A/SGT MACKAY

1943-11-26

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes Expanded Abbreviations * BA / BB / BC / BD / BE / BF / BG / BH: Standardized Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) reporting codes for Target, Time, Weapons, Narrative, Enemy Opposition, Own Losses, Photography, and General Observations. * LT: Local Time. * GP / MC: General Purpose / Medium Capacity (bomb types). * Dets / Pistols: Detonators and mechanical firing mechanisms. * m.p.h. (I.A.S.): Miles Per Hour (Indicated Air Speed). * M.T. / Rds.: Motor Transport / Roads. * Ju.88: Junkers Ju 88 (German multi-role combat aircraft). * MAJ / CAPT / LT / 2/LT / P/O: Major / Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant / Pilot Officer. * F/SGT / A/SGT: Flight Sergeant / Acting Sergeant. Observations on Individuals * Captain J.T. Dugmore: Acted as the Formation Leader in aircraft 240O. Dugmore was a veteran leader who consistently coordinated with ground forces, as evidenced by the "time on target" circuit flown to hit at exactly 1330 Hrs. * Captain Jean Dieu: A Belgian pilot serving with the South African Air Force, flying aircraft 181Y. Dieu was a recurring lead pilot during the intense interdiction strikes of late November. * Lieutenant H.C. Longmore: Flying in aircraft 341L. Longmore’s prolific operational record is a hallmark of these diaries, showcasing the high-tempo duty cycles of SAAF crews in the Desert Air Force (DAF). Location Information and Historical Context * Mozzagrogna (C353009): This hilltop village in the Abruzzo region was a linchpin of the German Bernhardt Line (winter defensive line). Situated on a ridge overlooking the Sangro River, it was the focus of intense Allied efforts to establish a bridgehead for the advance toward Lanciano. * Modern Context: Today, Mozzagrogna remains a quiet hilltop municipality. The roads and ridge described in the report are part of the historic landscape of the Costa dei Trabocchi. * Coordinated Interdiction: This was the squadron's second strike of the day against the same target, following an earlier mission led by Major Stuart. The systematic destruction of "main" and "secondary" roads was intended to trap German heavy equipment and artillery on the ridge, preventing their withdrawal or reinforcement. * Aerial Duel (BH): The sighting of a Junkers Ju 88 at 26,000 feet being chased by Spitfires over Manfredonia illustrates the shifting air superiority in the theater. While 21 Squadron's Martin Baltimore bombers operated at medium altitudes (11,500 feet), the high-altitude interceptors of the RAF were actively clearing the skies of Luftwaffe reconnaissance and bombers. * Weaponry: The use of "Rods" (nose extensions) on the 250lb GP bombs was critical for strikes against "Troops and Guns," ensuring the bombs exploded above ground to maximize fragmentation damage to personnel and unarmored targets. 76 The verification date for the target image 276-2__76.jpg is 27th Nov 43.