Operation

BA: CUT ROAD AT H 488712 BB: From 1355 Hrs to 1410 Hrs BC: Did NOT attack as unable to identify target through cloud. 18 x 250 G.P. 43 Dets 27 Pistols (With Rods) Jettisoned from 4000 feet in sea (K2030) at 1433 Hrs. BD: N.A. BE: 40 plus bursts H/A/A over target area, accurate for height, inaccurate for direction. BF: NIL BG: NIL BH: NIL AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 356Z MAJ. STUART LT PAWSON W/O FREESTONE LT HALL 445U LT HARGRAVE LT REES F/SGT JENSEN F/SGT VALENTINE 181Y MAJ. COULL LT. ROSE F. F/SGT PERKINS F/SGT VAN ROOYEN 240O CAPT DUGMORE LT MASTERS F/SGT MAASDORP F/SGT ROGERS 387R LT BENNETT LT HARLE F/SGT STRYDOM A/SGT JENKINSON 383W LT ROBERTSON LT HANNING F/SGT DU PIESANIE F/SGT LEISCHING 586B CAPT SAUNDERS P/O SMALLMAN LT POTGEITER SGT EARP-JONES 441F LT FROST LT NEL F/SGT CARTER SGT ALLEN 545A LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL SGT STEWART 437H LT WILLMOTT LT BORCHERDS F/SGT LOOTS F/SGT WALBRIDGE 916K LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY SGT AIREY 167S LT WITTE 2/LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON SGT MARAIS

1943-11-03

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes Expanded Abbreviations * BA / BB / BC / BD / BE / BF / BG / BH: Standard Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) reporting codes for Target, Time, Weaponry/Course, Narrative, Enemy Opposition, Losses, Photography, and General Observations. * G.P.: General Purpose (bomb type). * Dets / Pistols: Detonators and mechanical firing mechanisms. * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak). * N.A.: Not Applicable. * MAJ / CAPT / LT / 2/LT / P/O / W/O: Major / Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant / Pilot Officer / Warrant Officer. * F/SGT / A/SGT / SGT: Flight Sergeant / Acting Sergeant / Sergeant. Observations on Individuals * Major Charles Stuart: Leading the formation in aircraft 356Z. Stuart was thrust into acting command of the squadron following the mid-air collision during the morning's mission that killed the Officer Commanding, Lieutenant Colonel Jack Britz. Despite the immense trauma of the morning's events, Stuart led this afternoon sortie, eventually making the professional decision to abort the attack due to total cloud cover. * Lieutenant Robertson and Lieutenant Hanning: Flying in aircraft 383W. This crew would later be lost in a tragic takeoff accident at Tortorella on November 28, 1943. * Captain Gaston Dieu: Notably absent from this manifest following the fatal collision earlier in the day. Location Information and Modern Geography * Target H 488712: This grid coordinate identifies a strategic road intersection or mountain bridge near Agnone in the Molise region. * Modern Context: Agnone remains a historic hilltop town today. The target area likely sits along the path of the modern SS650 (Fondo Valle del Trigno) or SS86 routes, which serve the same strategic corridors between the coast and the interior mountains. * Jettison Point (K2030): The grid refers to the Adriatic Sea just off the coast from Termoli. Historical Context * A Day of Mourning and Duty: This mission on the afternoon of November 3, 1943, was flown under a heavy cloud of grief. The loss of Lt. Col. Britz and Capt. Dieu that morning was the single most devastating leadership blow the squadron had suffered in the campaign. * Operational Discipline (BC): The decision "Did NOT attack" reflects the strict tactical constraints of the Desert Air Force (DAF). To avoid friendly fire or civilian casualties during the dense overcast (9/10 - 10/10 cloud), crews were required to identify their target visually. * Hazardous Jettison: Returning with a full load of live ordnance was exceptionally dangerous for a Martin Baltimore landing on the unpaved, often muddy runway at Tortorella. Consequently, 18 bombs were jettisoned into the sea at 4,000 feet to lighten the aircraft for a safe landing. * Anti-Aircraft Opposition (BE): Despite the heavy cloud, German flak batteries near Agnone were active, firing "40 plus bursts" of Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. The flak was "accurate for height," indicating the Germans had radar-predicted fire control or were effectively using the cloud base as a reference point to target the formation. * "With Rods": The 250lb G.P. bombs were fitted with nose-extension rods. These were designed to trigger the fuse several feet above the ground, maximizing the blast and fragmentation damage against soft targets like the road infrastructure and troops the squadron was attempting to interdict. 104 The verification date for the document 276-2__104.jpg is 5th Nov 43.