Bombs

APPENDIX "XX" 282 TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) HQ NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/697 DATE : 31st May, 1944 OPREP No. 697 for the period ending 1300 hrs on the 30th May, 1944 REF MAP : YUGOSLAVIA 1:100,000 SHEET 75 DRVAR 12 Baltimores airborne from Biferno at 1000 hrs to attack PREKAJA Village (L012282). One A/c turned back before rendez-vous point with oil leak in port engine and jettisoned 3 x 250 lbs. at sea. Remaining A/c. picked up an escort of 7 Spitfires at VIS and at 1143 hrs bombed from 9500' on a course of 300° a small town believed to be the target. Bombs from both boxes merged into a concentrated pattern covering the whole of the village, with numerous direct hits on houses and on a factory on the northern edge. Whole target shrouded in brown and black smoke. Photographs identify the target bombed as the town of DRVAR. Visibility good, no cloud. No enemy opposition. All A/c. landed at 1245 hrs. B: (i) 5 Balts. Mk IV. (ii) NIL. (i) 7 Balts. Mk. V. (ii) NIL. C: (i) & (ii) NIL. (i) & (ii) NIL. D: (i) 13.45 Hrs. (ii) NIL (i) 17.15 Hrs. (ii) NIL. E: (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL. F: (i) 10 x 500 M.C. 15 x 250 G.P. (ii) as in (i). (iii) NIL. (iv) NIL. 12 x 250 fused 52-37 Tail (6 and 12 Hrs. delay) Remainder fused 49-27 Nose, 36-28 Tail. (i) 14 x 500 M.C. 21 x 250 G.P. (ii) 12 x 500 M.C. 18 x 250 G.P. (iii) 3 x 250 G.P. (iv) NIL. to Z. NIL. Hallick Capt. S.I.O. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. FL Major de Wet

1944-05-31

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Operation Rösselsprung (The Attack on Drvar): * Strategic Context: This mission (Sortie 697) on May 30, 1944, is of immense historical significance. The target map reference is SHEET 75 DRVAR. Just days earlier, on May 25th, the Germans had launched Operation Rösselsprung (Operation Knight's Move), a combined airborne and ground assault on Drvar aimed at capturing Marshal Tito, the leader of the Yugoslav Partisans. * Mistaken Identity: The squadron was briefed to attack PREKAJA Village but ended up bombing a "small town believed to be the target." Post-strike photography confirmed they had actually bombed "the town of DRVAR" itself. By May 30th, Tito had already escaped (narrowly evading capture on May 25th), but the town was still the epicenter of fierce fighting between Partisans and German troops. Bombing Drvar directly ("numerous direct hits on houses and on a factory") likely destroyed positions now held by the German occupation force, effectively turning the town into a ruin to deny it to the enemy. * Tactics and Ordnance: * Time-Delay Fuses: The use of "12 x 250... (6 and 12 Hrs. delay)" fuses was a specific area-denial tactic. By seeding the rubble of Drvar with bombs set to explode hours later, the Allies made it extremely dangerous for German troops to consolidate their hold on the town or use it as a supply hub. * Ordnance Mix: The heavy load of 500 M.C. (High Explosive) and 250 G.P. bombs was intended for destruction of structures ("factory on the northern edge") rather than just anti-personnel work. * Mission Profile (Vis Rendezvous): * The Vis Connection: Once again, the mission involved a rendezvous with "7 Spitfires at VIS.". This reinforces the critical role of the island of Vis as the only Allied foothold in the Adriatic, allowing fighter escorts to link up with bombers for deep strikes into the Balkans. * Mechanical Failure: One aircraft aborted early due to an "oil leak in port engine" and had to jettison bombs at sea. This reduced the striking force to 11 aircraft. * Leadership: * Major de Wet: The handwritten note identifies Major de Wet as the Flight Leader. * Abbreviations: * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * G.P.: General Purpose. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * A/c: Aircraft. * Mk: Mark (Model). 73 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 31st May, 1944 in the "Date" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 698) labeled APPENDIX "YY" (page number 283), detailing the mission flown on the afternoon of May 30th, 1944.