Operation

APPENDIX "S" 46A TO : HQ MAAF (attention 3rd SCORU) HQ MATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/761 DATE : 15th July, 1944 OPREP No. 761 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 14th July, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 105 FIRENZE A: 12 Baltimores airborne from PESCARA at 0847 hrs to attack FUEL DUMPS at TAVOLA (Q.640766, Q.627762, Q.634757). They set course from CASTIGLIONE at 0950 with an escort of 8 Spitfires and bombed at 1019 hrs from 14000' on a course of 190°. 1st box straddled target from .636758 to .632752, one explosion with black smoke observed. 2nd box overshot slightly from .637764 to .637757, with one direct hit on a large building at .637757. H.A.A. moderate and accurate from North of FIRENZE after bombing and also from BIBBIENA. Leader's A/c holed and observer slightly wounded - landed safely at CASTIGLIONE. One A/c developed engine trouble shortly before crossing bomb line on return journey and whilst coming back on his own was attacked by two fighters at 1115 hrs in the vicinity of ACCIAIOLI (L.4065) height 11000'. Approximately 15 hits were scored on centre portion of fuselage, damaging turret, wireless and inter-com, also severely damaging the serviceable engine. No markings observed on attacking A/C which were NOT painted except for yellow wing tips. The Pilot examined his A/C after landing and extracted spent ammunition which proved to be .50 calibre. The attacking A/C are presumed to be Mustangs. Baltimore escaped in cloud and made an emergency wheel up landing at TORTORELLA. A/C Cat II crew safe. Remaining 10 A/c landed back at base by 1129 hrs. No cloud in target area but 5 to 7/10th strata-cu. over mountains 12000' tops. B: (i) 5 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 7 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 12.55 hrs (ii) NIL (i) 17.40 hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 10 x 500 M.C. 15 x 250 G.P. (ii) As in (i) (iii) NIL (iv) NIL (i) 14 x 500 M.C. 21 x 250 G.P. (ii) 14 x 500 20 x 250 (iii) 1 x 250 (iv) NIL (Fused: 52 - 44 Nose) G: (i) NIL (ii) 1 Balt Mk IV Cat II (shot up by fighters) (i) NIL (ii) 1 Balt Mk V Cat II (Flak) H: Lieut. R. Gelb Observer in leader's A/C. Leg wounds, condition believed NOT serious. J to V: NIL F L : Major Meaker [Handwritten Note] (2) 47 W: (i) 2 Balts Mk IV (i) 1 Balt Mk V (i) 1 Marauder Mk III (ii) NIL (ii) NIL (ii) NIL X: (i) 0.40 Hrs (i) 1.30 Hrs (i) 1.00 Hrs (ii) NIL (ii) NIL (ii) NIL Y & Z: NIL [Signature] Hallick Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, SAAF.

1944-07-15

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Friendly Fire Incident (The "Mustang" Attack): * Combat Tragedy: This report (Sortie 761 on July 14th) describes one of the most harrowing incidents for the squadron: a "friendly fire" attack by Allied fighters. A Baltimore developed engine trouble and fell behind the formation. While isolated, it was bounced by two fighters near Acciaioli (south of Florence). * Identification: The attackers had "yellow wing tips" but no other markings. After landing, the pilot found .50 calibre slugs in his airframe—the standard armament of American-built fighters like the P-51 Mustang. The report concludes with the chilling realization: "The attacking A/C are presumed to be Mustangs." * The Toll: The lone Baltimore was riddled with 15 hits, losing its turret, radio, and inter-com. The pilot managed to hide in clouds and made a "wheel up landing" (belly landing) at Tortorella. The aircraft was a Category II (major damage) write-off, though the crew survived. * Target: Tavola Fuel Dumps: * Repeat Strike: This was a follow-up to the previous day's attack on the headquarters and fuel stores at Tavola. The first box was highly successful, observing an "explosion with black smoke" (burning fuel). * Flak Opposition: The German defense remained fierce. "H.A.A. [Heavy Anti-Aircraft] moderate and accurate from North of FIRENZE [Florence]... and also from BIBBIENA.". These batteries were part of the outer defenses of the Gothic Line. * Casualties: * Lieut. R. Gelb: The observer in the lead aircraft, Lieut. R. Gelb, was wounded in the leg by flak. His condition was reported as "NOT serious," but his injury underscores the vulnerability of the observer/bombardier sitting in the transparent glass nose of the Baltimore. * Flight Leadership: * Major Meaker: The mission was led by Major Meaker, a senior flight commander whose name appears frequently in successful lead roles. * Geographic Locations: * Acciaioli: Now known as Acciaiolo, a small hamlet south of Florence in the commune of Galluzzo. It was near the "bomb line" at the time. * Castiglione: Likely Castiglione della Pescaia or a nearby landing ground used as an emergency strip. * Tortorella: Part of the Foggia airfield complex in southern Italy, where the crippled Baltimore made its crash landing. * Abbreviations: * OPREP: Operational Report. * SCORU: Statistical Control and Operations Research Unit. * MAAF: Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. * MATAF: Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force. * SAOA: Senior Air Officer Administration. * H.A.A.: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * Cat II: Category II Damage (Major damage requiring repair at a depot or write-off). * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * G.P.: General Purpose. * F L: Flight Leader. * A/C: Aircraft. * R/V: Rendezvous. 48 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is a continuation of the previous report (Sortie 761) and is referenced by the date 15th July, 1944 in the primary header of the preceding page. This specific continuation sheet (archival page 48) is labeled as (2) and 47 in the top right margin. Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Document Context and Structure: * Continuity: This document is the second page (indicated by the parenthetical "(2)") of OPREP [Operational Report] No. 761. It concludes the technical data for the mission flown on July 14, 1944, which was characterized by the tragic "friendly fire" attack on a crippled Baltimore by Allied Mustangs. * Archival Labeling: The page bears the handwritten number 47 in the margin, which is the internal sequence number for this specific appendix within the July 1944 war diary records. * Operational Statistics (Conversion Progress): * Non-Combat Flights: Sections W and X record non-operational flying time for the period. While the bulk of the squadron was engaged in the high-stakes raid on Tavola, limited training and maintenance test flights continued: * Balts [Baltimores] Mark IV & V: Logged 0.40 Hours and 1.30 Hours respectively. These were likely "air tests" following repairs or short local flights for pilots not on the morning's battle order. * Marauder Mark III: Logged 1.00 Hour of flight time. This reflects the continued effort to transition to the Martin B-26 Marauder. The low hours for this specific day compared to earlier in the month suggests that the "friendly fire" incident and the resulting emergency landings at Tortorella likely disrupted the scheduled training program for the afternoon. * The Diarist (Capt. Hallick): * Role: The report is signed by Capt. Hallick, the S.I.O. [Squadron Intelligence Officer] of 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. [South African Air Force]. The Intelligence Officer was responsible for debriefing crews immediately after they landed, verifying target coordinates, and assessing damage—a duty that would have been particularly somber on this day given the wounding of Lieut. Gelb and the loss of a Baltimore to friendly fighters. * Historical Context (The Foggia Complex): * Tortorella: The previous page mentions a "wheel up landing at TORTORELLA". Tortorella was one of the many airfields comprising the massive Foggia Airfield Complex in the Apulia region of Southern Italy. It served as a primary base for the 321st Bombardment Group (USAAC) and frequently as an emergency haven for damaged Allied aircraft returning from the front lines near Florence. * Abbreviations Expanded: * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * Mk: Mark (Model version). * Balts: Martin Baltimore light bombers. * Hrs: Hours. * NIL: None / Zero. 49 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 15th July, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (Appendix "T") labeled 48 in the top right corner.