Operation

APPENDIX "Z" 257 TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) HQ NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/675 DATE : 17th May, 1944 OPREP No.675 for period ending 1200 hrs on the 16th May, REF MAP: ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 160 CASSINO 12 Balts airborne at 0920 from BIFERNO to attack a Troop Area with centre at G704280 (one mile West of ROCCASECCA). Load consisted of 40 lb frag bombs and formation bombed in boxes at about 10.10 from 11,500' on a course of 315°. Whole formation straddled target in a long pattern from G710278 - 700290. Very intense accurate H/A from ARCE and CEPRANO areas. Six A/c damaged Cat I. All A/c landed by 1125. No cloud over target area, but hazy. B: (i) 7 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 5 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 13.10 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 9.10 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 224 x 40 (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL (All bombs fused: 52 Det 45 Pist) (i) 160 x 40 (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL to V: (i) NIL (ii) 3 Cat I. (i) NIL (ii) 3 Cat I Z: NIL Hallick Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. (Handwritten note): F L Major Dalling D.F.C

1944-05-17

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * The Gauntlet of the Liri Valley (Arce & Ceprano): * Heaviest Damage Yet: The report records a sobering statistic: "Six A/c damaged Cat I". Having 50% of the formation damaged in a single sortie indicates the squadron flew into a wall of flak. * The Source: The fire came from ARCE and CEPRANO. These towns were critical road junctions on the Via Casilina (Highway 6), the main German retreat route north of Cassino. Consequently, the Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht had concentrated their heaviest anti-aircraft artillery here to protect the withdrawal of the 10th Army. The description "Very intense accurate H/A" (Heavy Anti-Aircraft) reflects the desperation of the German defense as the Gustav Line crumbled. * Targeting Troops (Roccasecca): * Soft Targets: The target was a "Troop Area... one mile West of ROCCASECCA". Roccasecca sits on the high ground overlooking the Liri Valley. * Ordnance: The loadout of "40 lb frag bombs" (384 bombs total dropped) was designed to saturate the area with shrapnel, targeting infantry concentrations and soft-skinned vehicles rather than hardened bunkers. * Leadership: * Major Dalling D.F.C.: The flight leader was Major Dalling, recently awarded the D.F.C. (Distinguished Flying Cross). His continued leadership of these high-risk missions into the teeth of the strongest flak belts in Italy demonstrates the high operational tempo required during the critical week of the Cassino breakthrough. * Abbreviations: * H/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Non-standard; usually H.A.A.). * Cat I: Category I damage (repairable). * A/c: Aircraft. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * Pist: Pistol (fuse). * Det: Detonator. 46 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 17th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 676) labeled APPENDIX "AA" (page number 258), detailing the mission flown on the afternoon of May 16th, 1944.