Operation

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/611 DATE : 30th Mar 44 OPREP No.611 for the period ending 2100 Hrs on 29/3/44 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 152 SORA 12 Baltimores airborne by 1625 Hrs to bomb an AMMO DUMP at 068467 near SORA. One a/c returned after 40 minutes. After R/V with 223 Sqdn (Leading) formation set course at 1645 Hrs. On arrival in target area at 1717 Hrs 10/10 cloud was encountered at 11000'. After cruising around formation failed to find gaps in cloud and returned with bombs. Two a/c jettisoned bombs in sea near base as a precaution against inexperienced pilots landing with bomb load. Last a/c down at base at 1800 Hrs. 8 Spitfires area cover. B: (i) 2 Balts 111A (ii) NIL (i) 9 Balts IV (ii) NIL (i) 1 Balt V (ii) NIL C: NIL. D: (i) 3.25 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 13.35 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 1.35 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 6400 x .30 600 x .303 1400 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 28800 x .30 2700 x .303 5600 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 3200 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 4 x 500 MC 6 x 250 GP (ii) NIL (iii) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (iv) NIL (i) 18 x 500 MC 27 x 250 GP (ii) NIL (iii) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (iv) NIL (i) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (ii) NIL (iii) NIL (iv) NIL Fused :- Nose, 52 Det 44 Pist: Tail, 49 Det 28 Pist. G to V: NIL W: (i) 1 Mk 111. (ii) NIL X: (i) .20 Minutes (ii) NIL Y & Z: NIL S.L. Boshoff Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-03-29

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Mission Failure (Weather): * The Context: This was the second mission of the day (March 29th) to be scrubbed due to weather. The morning raid to Todi (Sortie 610) was aborted due to 10/10 cloud (complete overcast), and this afternoon raid on Sora met the exact same conditions at 11,000 feet. March weather in the Italian mountains was notoriously fickle, often grounding the Tactical Air Force for days and allowing German forces to move supplies unmolested. * The Target: The target was an "AMMO DUMP... near SORA". Sora is strategically located in the Liri Valley, north of Cassino. Destroying ammunition dumps here was vital to weakening the resistance against the Allied ground offensive (Battle of Monte Cassino). * Operational Safety (The "Inexperienced Pilots"): * The Decision: The report contains a fascinating note on risk management: "Two a/c jettisoned bombs in sea near base as a precaution against inexperienced pilots landing with bomb load". Landing a loaded bomber was dangerous; a hard landing could collapse the gear and detonate the ordnance. * The Implication: Experienced pilots were trusted to land gently enough to bring the expensive bombs back (saving them for another day), but for new replacements ("pups"), the command decided the cost of the bombs was worth paying to ensure the safety of the crew and airframe. * Ordnance Return: * Section F reflects this split. Subsection (ii) is usually for "Bombs Dropped," which is NIL here. Instead, the bombs are listed under Subsection (iii) (Jettisoned/Returned) or implied as returned. The "2 x 500 MC / 3 x 250 GP" listed in subsection (iii) for the Mk.IIIA and Mk.IV likely represents the loads jettisoned by the two "inexperienced pilots". * Abbreviations: * 111 / 111A: Mark III / IIIA (Roman numerals often typed as standard numbers). * R/V: Rendezvous. * Pist: Pistol (Fuse mechanism). * Det: Detonator. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. 74 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 31st Mar 44 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 612) detailing a mission flown on March 30th, 1944.