Direct hits claimed on two gun positions at G.684199 and G.680200.

APPENDIX "U" 252 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/671 DATE : 15th May, 1944 OPREP No. 671 for period ending 12.00 Hrs on the 14th May, 1944 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 160 CASSINO 12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G at 09.13 hrs to bomb gun positions West of PONTECORVO (G.682201 & G.715198). Attack took place at 10.05 hrs in good visibility. First box attacked gun position G.682201 from 12,800' on a course of 265°. Stick fell from G.685199 to G.680200 with slight lateral error to the left of the target. Direct hits claimed on two gun positions at G.684199 and G.680200. Second box attacked gun position G.715198 from 12,700' on a course 265°. Majority of bombs straddled target area from G.718198 to 713198. Direct hits on a building at the end of the pattern. H.A.A. from target area intense and accurate. Effective evasive action carried out. No enemy fighters reported. Area cover was provided. 3/10th alto-cu en route 7,000' base 8,000' tops 1/10th Alto-cu 1,000' base 10,000' target area. All A/C landed back by 11.02 hrs. B: (i) 7 Balts Mk IV (ii) NIL (i) 5 Balts Mk V (ii) NIL C: (i) & (ii) NIL (i) & (ii) NIL D: (i) 12.15 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 8.45 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 22,400 x .30 2,100 x .303 4,900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 16,000 x .30 1,500 x .303 3,500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 216 x 40 lb frag (52 det 45 pist) 1 x 250 lb G.P. 52 det 44 pist Nose 49 det 28 pist Tail (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 160 x 40 lb frag (52 det 45 pist (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL to V: NIL W: (i) 1 Balt MkIII (ii) NIL (i) 0.25 Hrs (ii) NIL Z: NIL Hallick Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

1944-05-15

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Tactical Success (Straddling the Guns): * Direct Hits: The report claims "Direct hits claimed on two gun positions at G.684199 and G.680200". This is a highly successful result for medium bombers attacking small, dug-in targets like artillery. The term "straddled" (used for the second box) means the bomb pattern covered the target from one side to the other, ensuring maximum probability of damage. * Target Location: The coordinates G.682201 and G.715198 place these guns squarely in the defensive belt west of Pontecorvo, part of the Hitler Line which the Allies were hammering to support the breakthrough at Cassino. * Defensive Intensity: * "Intense and Accurate": The flak (H.A.A.) is described as "intense and accurate". Despite this, the pilots performed "Effective evasive action," and crucially, there are no casualties or damage listed in sections V or Z. This contrasts with the previous day's mission where four aircraft were holed, suggesting the evasive tactics were improved or the pilots were lucky. * Mixed Ordnance Load: * Fragmentation + GP: The payload is primarily "40 lb frag" bombs for anti-personnel effects against the gun crews. However, the first box also carried a single "1 x 250 lb G.P." bomb. This single larger bomb might have been included to destroy a specific hardened structure (like a command bunker or ammo store) identified within the gun battery complex. * Mechanical Failure: * Abort: One aircraft (1 Balt MkIII) returned early after just 0.25 Hrs (15 minutes). This immediate return suggests a critical failure right after takeoff (e.g., landing gear retraction failure or engine loss). Note the variant is listed as a Mk III, an older model compared to the Mk IV and Mk V flying the rest of the mission. * Abbreviations: * L/G: Landing Ground. * H.A.A.: Heavy Anti-Aircraft. * G.P.: General Purpose. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * Alto-cu: Altocumulus clouds. 41 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 15th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 672) labeled APPENDIX "V" (page number 253), detailing the mission flown on the afternoon of May 14th, 1944.