Operation

(page obscured) : H.Q. NAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) APPENDIX "U" (obscured) : H.Q. MATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) 94 (obscured) : SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/567 DATE : 28 Feb 44 OPREP No.567 for period ending 1100 Hrs LT 28 Feb 44 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 141 CHIETI (obscured) : 12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G from 0917 Hrs to bomb CHIETI RR station (C113171) Attack was scheduled for 1000 Hrs but the leader finding it was impossible to gain operational height in time made a wide circuit over mountains and bombed at 1020 Hrs in good visibility from 14100' on a course of 030/045°. The route out was LARINO LAMA across mountains to target, left hand turn off and back over mountains and direct home. All a/c landed back to BIFERNO L/G by 1055 Hrs . Stick of bombs across railway line from C112169 to C116175. Some bombs S.W. of RR. 2 direct hits on RR. One direct hit on Road, majority of bombs along Eastern side of railway line. 2 x 250 GP hang-up, cause being investigat- ed. H/A/A intense and accurate from main road PESCARA - POPOLI and from roads branching off main road at C113174 , C114177 and C116172. 20 + flashes reported from fields WEST of railway station. Baltimore YY and L Cat.ll due to A/A and taxying accident. Baltimores F and J Cat.1 as a result of A/A fire. NO casualties to personnel. NO movements reported in target area. One train reported in CHIETI RR station, stationary, consisting of 18 + trucks. (obscured) (i) 10 Baltimores IV (1) XXXX 2 Baltimores 111A. (ii) NIL (ii) NIL (obscured) (i) 15 Hours (1) 3 Hours (ii) NIL (11) NIL (obscured) (1) 32000 x .30 (1) 6400 x .30 3000 x .303 600 x .303 7000 x .50 1400 x .50 (11) & (111) NIL (11) & (111) NIL (obscured) (1) 20 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pist. (1) 4 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pist. 30 x 250 GP do do 6 x 250 GP do do (obscured) (ii) 20 x 500; 29 x 250 (1 hang-up) (11) 4 x 500; 5 x 250 (1 hang-up) (iii) & (iv) NIL (111) & (iv) NIL (obscured) (1) NIL (1) NIL (11) 2 Cat.1: 1 Cat.2 (11) 1 Cat.2 to V: NIL (obscured) (1) 1 Mk.5, 1 Mk.5. (11) NIL (obscured) (1) 1 Mk.3, 1.00 Hrs. 1 Mk.5, .15 Mins. (11) NIL 2 x 500 MC and 16 x 30 Incendiaries, NIL (Signature) S.A. Boshoff Lt for Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-02-28

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes: * Operational Narrative (Chieti Station): * The Mission: This report covers the morning raid on Chieti Railway Station on February 28th, 1944. The squadron launched 12 Baltimores from their new base at Biferno. * Route and Tactics: The narrative details the difficulty of climbing over the Apennines ("impossible to gain operational height in time"). The leader had to perform a "wide circuit over mountains" to reach 14,100 feet before commencing the bomb run. The route "Larino Lama" refers to Larino and Lama dei Peligni, key waypoints in the central mountains. * Intelligence: The observation of a stationary train with "18 + trucks" validated the target selection. * The "C.O.'s Incident" (Cat. II Damage): * The report mentions "Baltimore YY and L Cat.11 [Cat. II] due to A/A and taxying accident." * Cross-referencing with the War Diary entry for Feb 28th, "Baltimore YY" was flown by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Jandrell. The diary reveals a terrifying near-miss: "the shell did not explode, going through the aircraft and missing the C.O. by inches." This confirms that the "Cat. II" (Category 2) damage was battle damage from the "intense and accurate" flak on the Pescara-Popoli road. * The "taxying accident" likely applies to the other aircraft (Baltimore L), highlighting the rough conditions at the muddy Biferno airfield. * Aircraft Variants: * The report lists "10 Baltimores IV" and "2 Baltimores IIIA" (listed as 111A). This reflects the mixed fleet, with the older Mark IIIA still in service alongside the Mark IV and the newly arriving Mark V (mentioned in the bottom summary). * Abbreviations: * L/G: Landing Ground (Biferno). * RR: Railroad. * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * Cat.1 / Cat.2: Damage Categories (Cat 1 = Repairable at unit; Cat 2 = Repairable at depot/requires major work). * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer (Lt. S.A. Boshoff). 50 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is an "APPENDIX 'V'" Operational Report (OPREP). The date in the header is 29 Feb 44.