Operation

BA : STAZ DI PALENA H087682 BB: From 1545 A Hrs to 1550 A Hrs BC: Medium level bombing. 13200/15000' Co. 040º/030º 23 x 500 MC 43 Det 27 Pistol 31 x 250 GP do do (Rods) 3 x 250 GP 52 Det 37 Pistol ( 6 Hour Delay) 2 x 250 GP do do (12 Hour Delay) BD: Weather clear with haze over target and 1/10 cloud over mountain tops. Target identified and leader did dummy run owing to sun striking perspex on run up. Second box carried and bombed. First box bombed later. Bombs fell in short sticks, H088678 - 092677 - majority fell Just SOUTH of station with slight overshoot. Direct hits on RR. near Rd and RR junction. Bursts also seen WEST of RR Rd N.E. of station. BE: NIL BF: 1 A/C sustained small hole in Observers perspex at J0068 at 1604 A Hrs. Cause unknown. NO E/A visible. Spitfire cover still with formation BG: Obliques and verticals of bomb bursts BH: 6 MET moving NORTH on Rd N.W. PESCOCOSTANZO, 10 MET area H0969 close together facing NORTH - later moving. 6/10 MET moving SOUTH towards VILLA SAN MARIA. Fires seen in villages ATELETA, QUADRI, ALFEDENA, ROCCARASO, and CAPRACOTTA and 12 among hills WEST of QUADRI AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 167S CAPT SMIT LT KAY LT PURDON A/SGT SCHOOMBIE 181T LT BENNETT LT HARLE 2/LT STRYDOM P/O GILDEN 356Z LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL A/SGT STEWART 387R LT RICHARDS LT DE CONNICK F/SGT ROBBERTSE A/SGT McCRINDLE 181Y LT HILL LT PIETERS F/SGT V.D. WESTHUIZEN A/SGT JENKINSON 240O LT ROBERTSON LT HANNING F/SGT DU PIESANIE A/SGT LEISCHING 467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN A/SGT MACKAY 426J CAPT JOB LT OWEN-HUGHES F/SGT JARVIS F/SGT JAKES 441F LT FROST LT NEL F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN 545A LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY A/SGT BOWEN 916K LT WITTE LT RUSHFORTH W/SGT EATON A/SGT MARAIS

1943-11-13

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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.) Sortie Report section codes for Target, Time, Weaponry, Narrative, Enemy Opposition, Losses, Photography, and General Observations. * STAZ DI PALENA: Stazione di Palena (Palena Railway Station). * A Hrs: Army Hours (Standard military time). * Co.: Course. * MC / GP: Medium Capacity / General Purpose (bomb types). * Det / Pistol: Detonators and mechanical firing mechanisms. * RR: Railroad. * Rd: Road. * A/C: Aircraft. * E/A: Enemy Aircraft. * MET: Motor Enemy Transport. * CAPT / LT / 2/LT / P/O: Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant / Pilot Officer. * F/SGT / A/SGT / W/SGT: Flight Sergeant / Acting Sergeant / Warrant Sergeant. Observations on Individuals * Captain Smit: Acting as the Formation Leader in aircraft 167S. His decision to perform a "dummy run" (a non-bombing pass) due to sun glare reflects the high tactical precision and responsibility expected of SAAF lead pilots during the Italian winter campaign. * Lieutenant Robertson and Lieutenant Hanning: Operating aircraft 240O. This crew was a consistent part of the squadron's operational core during the Sangro offensive. Tragically, they were killed just fifteen days later in a takeoff accident at Tortorella on November 28, 1943. * Lieutenant H.C. Longmore: Flying in 467D, Longmore’s prolific mission frequency highlights the sustained pressure on aircrews as the Allies attempted to rupture the German defensive lines. Location Information and Modern Geography * Stazione di Palena (H087682): A strategic high-altitude railway station on the pass connecting the Sangro and Aventino valleys in the Abruzzo region. * Modern Name: Today, the station is a highlight of the historic Sulmona-Isernia railway, often marketed as the "Trans-Siberian of Italy" due to its elevation and spectacular winter scenery. * Pescocostanzo (PESCOCOSTANZO): A historic village in the province of L'Aquila, sighted with military traffic. * Villa Santa Maria (VILLA SAN MARIA): A town in the Sangro valley used as a primary navigational turning point. * Ateleta, Quadri, Alfedena, Roccaraso, and Capracotta: These villages, reported as "smoking" or "on fire," represent the front-line and immediate rear areas of the German Bernhardt Line. Historical Context * The "Maximum Effort" against the Bernhardt Line: This mission on November 13, 1943, was the second strike of the day against the Palena logistical hub. In total, 21 Squadron struck this target at least five times in three days to ensure the mountain rail link remained unusable for German reinforcements moving toward the Sangro River. * Environmental Challenges (BD): The note about sun glare "striking perspex on run up" highlights a common hazard for Martin Baltimore crews. The large, angled glass cockpit of the observer’s position could become blinding in the low winter sun, necessitating the dangerous second pass to ensure accuracy. * Mystery Damage (BF): The "small hole in Observers perspex" sustained without visible enemy aircraft or flak suggests either a lucky shot from a German ground-based sniper or a piece of debris/shrapnel from a higher-altitude formation. The continued presence of Spitfire cover illustrates the high level of air superiority the Allies maintained, even if they could not prevent all minor damage. * Strategic Observations (BH): The detailed report of fires in multiple villages suggests either the direct result of Allied bombing or "scorched earth" tactics by retreating German forces as they fell back from the Sangro front toward the more formidable Gustav Line positions. * Persistence of Denial (BC): The use of 6-hour and 12-hour delay pistols was a calculated effort to deny the station to German repair units throughout the night. These bombs would detonate long after the squadron returned to base, making the target area a persistent hazard for labor battalions. 121 The verification date for the target document 276-2__121.jpg is 18th Nov 43.