D.H. seen on GALLETO buildings but results generally

APPENDIX "E" 186 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/620 DATE : 7th April 44 OPREP No.620 for period ending 2100 Hrs on 6/4/44 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 138 TERNI 12 Baltimores airborne at 1535 Hrs to attack the HYDRO-ELECTRIC Stns at PAPIANO and GALLETO (3 miles S.S.E. of TERNI) After R/V with 223 Sqdn (Leading) formation set course at 1608 Hrs and bombed in two boxes at 1650 Hrs from 13000' on a course of 025°. First box undershot, s.e. end of pattern finishing in target; while second box overshot with sticks starting in target. D.H. seen on GALLETO buildings but results generally difficult to observe due to smoke from bombing of 223 Sqdn. All a/c down at base by 1810 Hrs. 8 Spitfires close escort. Weather and visibility fair in target; 3/10 cloud at 10000'. NO enemy opposition. B: (i) 1 Balt. 111A. (ii) NIL (i) 7 Balts 1V. (ii) NIL (i) 4 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 2.30 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 17.30 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 10.00 Hrs. (ii) NIL E: (i) 3200 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 12800 x .30 1200 x .303 2800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 14 x 500 MC 21 x 250 GP (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL (All fused: 47 Det 27 Pist NOSE - 49 Det 28 Pist TAIL) (i) 8 x 500 MC 12 x 250 GP (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL G to V: NIL W: (i) 1 Mk.111. 1 Mk.1V. (ii) NIL X: (i) .20 Hrs, .20 Mins. (ii) NIL Y & Z: NIL S.L. Boshoff Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-04-06

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Mission Correlation (Terni Hydro-Electric Strike): * The Appendix: This document is Appendix "E" referenced in the War Diary entry for April 6th, 1944 (see file 269-4__3.jpg). It provides the tactical details of the raid on the Papiano and Galleto hydro-electric stations. * Strategic Context: These power stations, located near the Marmore Falls (Cascata delle Marmore) outside Terni, were critical components of the Italian industrial infrastructure. The Terni region was known as the "Manchester of Italy" due to its steelworks and arms factories. Additionally, the Italian railway system was heavily electrified; destroying these stations aimed to paralyze both war production and rail transport. * Tactical Execution: * Bombing Results: The report describes a "bracketing" effect: the "First box undershot... while second box overshot". Despite this, they confirmed "D.H. (Direct Hits) seen on GALLETO buildings". * The Smoke Problem: The observation of results was hampered by "smoke from bombing of 223 Sqdn". This was a common issue in coordinated multi-squadron raids; if the preceding wave hit the target, the subsequent waves often had to aim at the smoke or use timed runs, reducing accuracy. * Altitude: The attack was conducted from 13,000 feet, a standard altitude to stay above light flak while maintaining reasonable accuracy. * Fleet Modernization: * The aircraft composition listed in Section B shows a significant presence of the new Baltimore Mark V (4 aircraft), alongside the workhorse Mark IV (7 aircraft) and a solitary, aging Mark IIIA (111A). This snapshot illustrates the squadron in the middle of a transition phase, operating three different variants of the same bomber simultaneously. * Abbreviations: * S.S.E.: South-South-East. * R/V: Rendezvous. * D.H.: Direct Hit. * 111A: Mark IIIA (Roman numeral III typed as 111). * 1V: Mark IV. * MC: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * GP: General Purpose. 17 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 7th April 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 621) labeled APPENDIX "F", detailing the mission flown on April 7th, 1944.