Operation

APPENDIX [Obscured] 229 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/662 DATE : 9th May, 1944 OPREP No.662 for period ending 2100 Hrs on 9th May 1944 NIL. (Signature illegible)....Capt. SIO 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.

1944-05-09

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Operational "NIL" Return: * Context: This document reports "NIL" operations for the period ending 21:00 on May 9th, 1944. * Diary Discrepancy: This report presents an interesting administrative contradiction when compared to the main War Diary entry for May 9th (File 269-5_3.jpg). The diary initially states "No operations," matching this "NIL" report (OPREP 662). However, the diary text continues to describe a failed mission ("10/10 cloud prevented bombing") and a crash ("Baltimore ran off the runway"), citing Sortie Report No. 664. * Likely Explanation: It is probable that OPREP 662 (this document) was filed to cover a cancelled morning operation or the general lack of successful bombardment due to the "10/10 cloud," while the aborted mission and crash were detailed in the subsequent report (No. 664). * Weather Conditions: * Cloud Cover: The "10/10 cloud" mentioned in the diary (meaning the sky was completely overcast) would have made the visual bombing required by Baltimores impossible. In the pre-GPS era, if the bombardier could not see the target through the bombsight, the formation had to return with their bombs or jettison them in the sea ("safe" areas). * Administrative Details: * Reporting Chain: The report is addressed to H.Q. MAAF (Mediterranean Allied Air Forces) and H.Q. NATAF (Northwest African Tactical Air Force), specifically for the attention of the 23rd SCORU (Scientific Operational Research Unit). SCORU analyzed bombing accuracy and operational data to improve tactics. Even "NIL" reports were vital for their statistical models of sortie rates and weather attrition. * Abbreviations: * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * SAOA: Senior Administrative Officer (Air). * SCORU: Scientific Operational Research Unit. * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. 16 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 10th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 663) labeled APPENDIX [Obscured] (handwritten "229 A" at the top), detailing the period ending on 9th May, 1944.