Operation

(page obscured) : H.Q. NAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) APPENDIX "V" (obscured) : H.Q. MATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) 95 (obscured) : SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/568 DATE : 29 Feb 44 OPREP No.568 for period ending 1100 Hrs to 2100 Hrs LT 28 Feb 44 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 141 CHIETI (obscured) : 12 a/c took off in two boxes from BIFERNO L/G from 1443 to 1450 Hrs and bombed the CHIETI Cellulose Factory C115185 at 1539 Hrs from 15000' on a course of 010°/025°. A cover of 4 Spitfires was provided over target area. 11 of the a/c returned to base, the last landing at 1653 Hrs. The remaining a/c was seen to bomb and shortly afterwards fall out of the formation. A message later received from the Army advised that this a/c had crashed at H3595 (later corrected as H357912) and 4 parachutes were seen to open. Three of the crew landed near ATESSA where they were being cared f for by the 13th CORPS. A further message advised that the Pilot (CAPT V.D. RIET) had been killed, NO details being given. Visibility over target was good but cloudy en-route. Heavy intense and accurate A/A was encountered soon after crossing the bomb-line, particularly along the GUARDIAGRELE - CHIETI road, from immediately WEST of the target and from the PESCARA valley. Several of the 11 a/c were holed, two being Cat.XX 1. on return. Bombing results generally were NOT well observed due to evasive action through the A/A, but it appears the entire formation undershot, short sticks commencing with direct hits on station C113171, extending along Western edge of railway, and ending at C115185 just short of factory (obscured) (i) 11 Baltimores Mk.4 (i) 1 Baltimore 3A. (ii) NIL (ii) NIL (obscured) NIL (obscured) (i) 20.50 Hours (i) 2.00 Hrs (ii) NIL (ii) NIL (obscured) (i) 35200 x .30 (i) 3200 x .30 3300 x .303 300 x .303 7700 x .50 700 x .50 (ii) 10-15 x .50. (ii) NIL (iii) 3200 x .30, - 300 x .303 - 700 x .50 (iii) NIL (obscured) (i) 22 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pist. (i) 2 x 500MC 49 Det 27 Pis 33 x 250GP do do 3 x 250GP do do (ii) 22 x 500 : 32 x 250 (1 hang-up) (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL (iii) & (iv) NIL (obscured) (i) One destroyed (i) NIL (ii) 2 Cat.1 (ii) NIL (obscured) No.47505V. CAPT VAN DER RIET. T.A.B. Pilot, Killed (NO details.) (obscured) to Z: NIL (Signature) S.A. Boshoff Lt for Capt. S.I.O. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-02-29

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes: * The Loss of Capt. van der Riet: * The Event: This report documents the mission on February 28th where Captain T.A.B. van der Riet was killed. The OPREP states "NO details being given" regarding his death, but the War Diary entry for Feb 29th later clarified the horrific nature of the accident: he struck the propellers while bailing out of the spinning aircraft. * The Survivors: The report confirms that "4 parachutes were seen to open" and "Three of the crew landed near ATESSA." These survivors were Lt. Musgrove, Lt. Gildenhuys, and A/Sgt Leipoldt (names confirmed in Appendix K and Crew Lists). * Crash Location: The crash site coordinates H357912 place the wreck near Atessa, well south of the target area. This indicates the crippled bomber managed to limp back across the "bomb line" into friendly territory held by the British 13th Corps before the crew was forced to bail out. * Tactical Environment: * Spitfire Cover: "A cover of 4 Spitfires was provided over target area." This fighter escort was likely provided by No. 2 Squadron SAAF or No. 4 Squadron SAAF, which often supported bomber operations in this sector. * Flak: The "Heavy intense and accurate A/A" along the Guardiagrele - Chieti road forced the formation to take "evasive action," which spoiled their aim ("entire formation undershot"). * Ordnance Expenditure: * Machine Guns: Section (ii) under ammo expenditure notes "10-15 x .50" fired. This implies that one of the gunners fired a short burst from the turret, possibly testing guns or firing at a ground target, as no enemy fighters were encountered. * Personnel: * Capt Van der Riet: Listed with service number 47505V. * S.A. Boshoff: The Intelligence Officer signing the report. * Abbreviations: * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * Cat.1: Category 1 Damage (repairable on site). * Pist.: Pistol (fuse). * GP: General Purpose Bomb. * MC: Medium Capacity Bomb. 51 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is an "APPENDIX 'W'" Operational Report (OPREP). The date in the header "Date" column is 1 Mar 44. Note: The report covers the period ending 29th Feb 44.