Operation

APPENDIX "N" 245 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/665 DATE : 12th May, 1944 OPREP No. 665 for period ending 13.00 Hrs on the 11th May, 1944 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 160 CASSINO 12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO at 09.03 Hrs to attack gun positions West of Pontecorvo (G.662177 & G.682201). They flew to target via IGNANO and PONTECORVO and each box carried out a seperate attack on either position. 4/10th cloud in target area in patches 7,000' base. The first box found its briefed target (G.662177) obscured by cloud and at 10.04 Hrs bombed dug in positions at G.690128 from 12,000' on a course of 270°, with no apparent results. The 2nd box attacked the briefed target (G.682201) but owing to a slight error to the left the pattern fell along the edge of the gun positions from G.683200 to G.680201. One near miss with a 250 lb. on a gun pit. One direct hit on a building at G.679201. Heavy A.A. moderate and accurate for the second box from Ceprano and from whole area between target and Frosinone. - 2 A/C holed Cat I. Area cover was provided by 16 Spitfires. All A/C landed by 10.51 Hrs. B: (i) 8 Balts Mk IV (ii) NIL (i) 4 Balts Mk V (ii) NIL C: (i) & (ii) NIL (i) & (ii) NIL D: (i) 13.20 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 6.40 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 25,600 x .30 2,400 x .303 5,600 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 12,800 x .30 1,200 x .303 2,800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 30 Containers of 40 lbs. Frag (3 bombs in each container) Fused 52 DET 45 Pist. 3 x 250 G.P. Det 44 Pist. Nose 36 Det 28 Pist. Tail (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 16 Containers of 40lbs. Frag. (3 bombs in each container) Fused 52 Det 45 Pist. (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL to V: NIL (i) NIL (ii) 2 Balts Cat I. (i) NIL (ii) NIL W: (i) 1 Balt Mk IV. (ii) NIL (i) 0.45 Hrs (ii) NIL Z: NIL (Signature illegible)....Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-05-12

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Operation Diadem (Breaking the Gustav Line): * Context: This raid was flown on May 12th, 1944, the morning immediately following the launch of Operation Diadem (which began at 23:00 on May 11th). The target, "gun positions West of Pontecorvo," places the squadron directly over the Hitler Line (Senger Line), the German defensive switch-line located just behind the main Gustav Line. * Close Air Support: The mission was a classic interdiction strike aimed at suppressing German artillery that was pounding the Allied troops (likely the French Expeditionary Corps or British XIII Corps) attempting to cross the Garigliano and Rapido rivers. * Weaponry (Fragmentation Clusters): * Anti-Personnel Load: Unlike previous missions using 500lb high explosives to destroy buildings, this mission carried "Containers of 40 lbs. Frag". These were cluster munitions designed to burst open and scatter smaller fragmentation bombs over a wide area. This loadout was specifically chosen to kill or wound the crews of the "dug in positions" and "gun pits" mentioned in the report, rather than trying to destroy the guns themselves (which are small, hard targets). * The "Death Valley" (Liri Valley Defenses): * Heavy Flak: The report notes "Heavy A.A. moderate and accurate... from Ceprano and from whole area between target and Frosinone". The Liri Valley was one of the most heavily defended airspaces in Italy, often called "Death Valley" by aircrews. The fact that two aircraft were "holed Cat I" (minor damage) confirms the intensity of the flak barrage protecting these vital defensive lines. * Abbreviations: * Cat I: Category I damage (minor, repairable at unit level). * Frag: Fragmentation bombs. * G.P.: General Purpose bombs. * A.A.: Anti-Aircraft fire. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. 33 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 12th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 666) labeled APPENDIX "O" (page number 246), detailing the mission flown on the afternoon of May 11th, 1944.