All A/c down by 1315 hrs.

APPENDIX "FF" 263 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/680 DATE : 20th May, 1944 OPREP No. 680 for Period ending 2100 hrs on the 19th May, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 160 CASSINO 12 Balts. airborne from BIFERNO at 1102 Hrs to attack GUN POSITIONS near ROCCASECCA. First box briefed to bomb position at G702237, each A/c carrying 6 x 250 G.P.; second box 0706230, each A/c with 4 containers of 40 lb G.P. Formation set course at 1129 and arrived in target area at 1200 hrs. Actual pinpoints obscured by 10/10th cloud, remainder of area 6 - 8/10th, 10 - 14000 ft. Formation returned to base and seven A/c jettisoned bomb load in sea at 200° TREMITI ISLAND 10 miles at about 1230 hrs. One container hung up, remainder brought back. Slight inaccurate H/A/A from target. All A/c down by 1315 hrs. B: (i) 7 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 5 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 15.20 hrs (ii) NIL (i) 11.20 hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 22,400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 16,000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 24 x 250 G.P. 56 x 40 G.P. (ii) NIL (iii) 6 x 250 56 x 40 (iv) NIL (i) 12 x 250 G.P. 96 x 40 G.P. (ii) NIL (iii) 6 x 250 96 x 40 (iv) NIL Fusing 250: 52 det 44 pist Nose 49 det 28 pist Tail 40: 52 det 38 Pist Nose to Z: NIL Hallick Capt S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-05-20

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Weather Abort & Safety Procedures (Jettisoning): * Total Obscuration: The target near Roccasecca was completely hidden by "10/10th cloud" (complete overcast). Visual bombing rules strictly prohibited dropping blindly to avoid friendly fire incidents, especially with Allied troops advancing rapidly after the fall of Cassino. * The Tremiti Drop: Unable to attack, the squadron executed a standard safety protocol: "seven A/c jettisoned bomb load in sea at 200° TREMITI ISLAND 10 miles." The Tremiti Islands are located in the Adriatic Sea, north of the Gargano Peninsula. This designated jettison zone allowed aircraft to land without the danger of live explosives, which was particularly important given the rough landing strips. The report notes "One container hung up," meaning it failed to release, forcing that crew to land with live ordnance—a terrifying prospect. * Strategic Context (The Pursuit): * Roccasecca: Even on May 19th (mission date), Roccasecca remained the primary target. This indicates that while the Gustav Line had been breached (Cassino fell May 18th), the Germans were still using the artillery positions around Roccasecca to delay the Allied advance up the Liri Valley. * Ordnance: * Mixed Loadout: The mission utilized a specific mix: The First Box carried heavier 250 lb G.P. bombs (for hard targets like bunkers), while the Second Box carried containers of 40 lb G.P. (frag bombs for soft targets/troops). This suggests a coordinated effort to suppress the personnel with the second wave after the first wave cracked the fortifications. * Abbreviations: * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * G.P.: General Purpose. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * pist: Pistol (fuse). * det: Detonator. 52 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS NO. 47/44 dated 20th May, 1944 in the header section. It is labeled APPENDIX "GG" (page number 264).