Operation

APPENDIX "F" 33 TO: HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) HQ MATAF (attention 2nd Command 23rd SCORU) SADA SAAF From: S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. Ref: 21S/748 Date : 4th July, 1944 OPREP No 748 for period ending 21.00 hrs 3rd July, 1944 Ref Map: ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 89 RAVENNA A. 12 Balts airborne from PESCARA at 14.46 hrs to bomb PORTO DI CORSINI (M6346). Attack took place at 1606 hrs from 12,600' on a course of 0°. First box pattern fell from M633463 to M629461; second box under- shot from M634464 to M628460. Some hits on wharves on both sides of harbour and on a building on the Northern bank. No enemy opposition. Visibility hazy. All aircraft down by 1712 hrs. Escort of 8 Spits was provided. B. (i) 6 Balts Mk IV (ii) NIL (i) 6 Balts Mk V (ii) NIL C. (1) & (ii) NIL (1) & (ii) NIL D. (i) 14.00 hrs (ii) NIL (i) 14.00 hrs (ii) NIL E. (i) 19,200 x .30 1,800 x .303 4,200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 19,200 x .30 1,800 x .303 4,200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F. (i) 12 x 500 MC 18 x 250 GP (ii) as in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 12 x 500 MC 18 x 250 GP (ii) 11 x 500 MC 15 x 250 GP (iii) 1 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (iv) NIL Fused : 12 x 500 -- 36 det 27 pist Nose 36 det 28 pist Tail Remainder -- 52 det 44 pist Nose 36 det 28 pist Tail G to V. NIL W. (i) 2 Balts Mk IV (ii) NIL (i) 2 Balts Mk V (ii) NIL (i) 5 Marauders Mk III (ii) NIL X. (i) 1.15 hrs (ii) NIL (i) 0.45 hrs (ii) NIL (i) 6.10 hrs (ii) NIL Y to Z. NIL [Signature] Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-07-04

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Target: Porto Corsini (Follow-up Strike): * Persistent Pressure: This sortie (No. 748) was the second attack of the day on Porto Corsini (the first being Sortie 747 in the morning, see previous file). Returning to the same target in the afternoon was a common tactic to catch repair crews or extinguish fires, though here the goal was likely to finish the job on the port facilities. * Results: The report notes "Some hits on wharves on both sides of harbour and on a building on the Northern bank.". Hitting wharves was critical to deny the enemy the ability to offload barges or small coastal freighters, forcing them to use less efficient beaches or rail heads further north. * Ordnance Fusing Details: * Technical Specifics: The fusing section is quite detailed: "12 x 500 -- 36 det 27 pist Nose / 36 det 28 pist Tail." This refers to the No. 27 and No. 44 pistol components used in British bomb fuses (like the No. 36 detonator). The "pistol" was the mechanism that initiated the detonator upon impact (or delay). The "36 det" refers to the standard No. 36 detonator. The different nose/tail combinations allowed for instantaneous detonation (to shatter concrete wharves) or slight delay (to penetrate buildings). * Operational Tempo (The Marauder Factor): * Training Volume: The squadron's conversion effort is visible in section W and X. While 12 Baltimores flew the combat mission, "5 Marauders Mk III" logged "6.10 hrs" of flight time. This matches the previous day's effort, showing a consistent training schedule running parallel to combat operations. The Baltimore training flights (2 Mk IVs and 2 Mk Vs) flying short durations (1.15 hrs and 0.45 hrs) were likely test flights or currency checks for pilots not on the main raid. * Abbreviations: * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer (Capt. Hallick). * SCORU: Statistical Control and Operations Research Unit. * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * G.P.: General Purpose. * pist: Pistol (Fuse component). * det: Detonator. * Spits: Spitfires. * Balts: Baltimores. 34 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 5th.JULY 1944. in the "Date" field. It is a Sortie Report (Appendix "G") labeled 34 in the top right corner.