Operation

APPENDIX "I" 37 IMMED TO: HQ. MAAF (attention 23rd. SCORU.) HQ. MATAF (attention 2nd. Command 23rd. SCORU.) SADA. SAAF. FROM: S.I.O. 21 Squadron SAAF. REF: 21S/751. DATE: 6th.JULY 1944. OPREP NO. 751 FOR PERIOD ENDING 13.00 Hrs 6th.JULY 1944. REF.MAP: ITALY 1-100.000 Sheet 100 FORLI. A. 12 Baltimores (one returned early owing to engine trouble after jettisoning bomb load out to sea) airborne from PESCARA at 09.05 Hrs. to bomb railway line between FAENZA & FORLI. They set course from PERUGIA at 10.05 Hrs. with a close escort of 8 Spitfires, and attacked target at 10.36 Hrs from 12.000' on a course of 360°. First box undershot but second box carried on, straddling railway line, whole pattern from M.390196 to M.389210, with one or two direct hits on railway line. H.A.A. slight accurate from MARRADI area, also from S.SOFIA area. Target clear of cloud, visibility fair. All A/C.landed by 11.52 Hrs. B. (i) 4 Balt. Mk.iv. (ii) Nil (i) 8 Balt. Mk.v. (ii) Nil. C. (1)&(ii) Nil. (1)&(ii) Nil. D. (i) 10.40 Hrs. (ii) Nil (i) 19.30 Hrs. (ii) Nil. E. (i) 12800 x .30 1200 x .303 2800 x .50 (ii)&(iii) Nil (i) 25600 x .30 2400 x .303. 5600 x .50 (ii)&(iii) Nil. F. (i) 8 x 500 MC. 12 x 250 GP. (ii) as in (i) (iii)&(iv) Nil (i) 16 x 500 MC. 24 x 250 GP. (ii) 14 x 500 MC 21 x 250 GP. (iii) 2 x 500 MC. 3 x 250 GP. (iv) Nil Fused; 36-27 Nose, 36-28 Tail except 2x500 & 1x250 52-37 Delay. G to Z. Nil. Hallick Captain, S.I.O. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.

1944-07-06

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Target: The Faenza-Forli Line: * Strategic Interdiction: The target for Sortie 751 was the "railway line between FAENZA & FORLI.". This was a key segment of the Bologna-Ancona rail artery. Cutting this line forced the Germans to offload supplies onto trucks, consuming precious fuel and exposing them to strafing fighter-bombers. * Results: The report indicates mixed success: "First box undershot but second box carried on, straddling railway line... with one or two direct hits.". Even a single direct hit on a rail line could close the track for 12-24 hours. * Navigation and Routing: * Rendezvous Point: The formation "set course from PERUGIA at 10.05 Hrs.". Flying inland to Perugia before turning north towards the Adriatic coast was likely a tactic to mislead German radar about the final target or to link up with the "close escort of 8 Spitfires." * Attack Heading: The attack was made on a course of 360° (due North), cutting perpendicularly across the railway line to maximize the chance of a "straddle." * Defensive Fire (Flak Traps): * Active Defense: The report notes "H.A.A. [Heavy Anti-Aircraft] slight accurate from MARRADI area, also from S.SOFIA area.". Marradi and Santa Sofia are towns located in the Apennine foothills south of the target. The Germans positioned flak batteries in these passes to engage bombers crossing the mountains before they reached the flat plains of the Romagna. * Safety Protocol (Jettisoning): * Engine Trouble: One aircraft aborted early due to engine trouble. The pilot followed strict safety procedure by "jettisoning bomb load out to sea" before attempting to land. Landing a Baltimore with a full bomb load and one failing engine was extremely dangerous. * Abbreviations: * IMMED: Immediate (Priority level). * SADA: Likely S.A.O.A. (Senior Air Officer Administration). * H.A.A.: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak). * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * G.P.: General Purpose. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer (Capt. Hallick). * S.SOFIA: Santa Sofia (Town in Italy). 38 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 6th July, 1944 in the "Date" field. It is a Sortie Report (Appendix "J") labeled 38 in the top right corner.