Operation

(page obscured on left) : 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) A: 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 1030 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 Western 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.1 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) B: (i) 10 Baltimores IV (ii) NIL (i) 2 Baltimores IIIA. (ii) NIL (obscured) C: NIL (obscured) D: (i) 15 Hours (ii) NIL (i) 3 Hours (ii) NIL (obscured) E: (i) 32000 x .30 (ii) NIL (i) 6400 x .30 3000 x .303 600 x .303 7000 x .50 1400 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (ii) & (iii) NIL (obscured) F: (i) 20 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol. (i) 4 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pist. 30 x 250 GP do do 6 x 250 GP do do (ii) 20 x 500; 29 x 250 (1 hang-up) (ii) 4 x 500; 5 x 250 (1 hang-up) (iii) & (iv) NIL (iii) & (iv) NIL (obscured) G: (i) NIL (i) NIL (ii) 2 Cat.1: 1 Cat.2 (ii) 1 Cat.2 (obscured) to V: NIL (Handwritten note at bottom): (i) 1 Mk.3, 1 Mk.5. (ii) NIL (i) 1 Mk.3, 1.00 Hrs. 1 Mk.5, .15 Mins. (ii) 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 Incidents: * "Impossible to gain operational height": The mission was delayed by 30 minutes because the heavily laden bombers struggled to climb over the Apennine mountains ("wide circuit over mountains"). This reflects the performance limitations of the Baltimore when fully loaded with fuel and bombs, especially given the "Larino Lama" route crossing high terrain. * "Direct hit... missing the C.O. by inches": This incident, vividly described in the diary entry for Feb 28th, refers to the aircraft flown by Lt. Col. Jandrell. This report confirms the damage as Cat.2 (repairable), noting "Baltimore YY and L Cat.1 due to A/A and taxying accident." The mention of a "taxying accident" alongside flak damage suggests a chaotic return to the muddy Biferno airfield. * Hang-ups: Two 250lb GP bombs failed to release ("hang-up"). * Flak Analysis: * "20 + flashes reported": The crew observed the muzzle flashes of over 20 anti-aircraft guns west of the station. This high density of fire explains the "intense and accurate" rating and the damage to multiple aircraft (YY, L, F, J). The guns were protecting the vital Pescara-Popoli road link. * Target Intelligence: * Stationary Train: The observation of "One train reported in CHIETI RR station... 18 + trucks" confirms the rail line was active and being used to stockpile supplies, validating the target selection. * Ordnance: * Incendiaries: The handwritten note at the bottom mentions "16 x 30 Incendiaries". This likely refers to the loadout of the aircraft involved in the second raid of the day (on the Cellulose Factory, described in the diary), as incendiaries were standard for industrial targets but not listed in the main table for this rail station raid. The note seems to be a rough draft or correction for the next report (Appendix V). * Personnel: * S.A. Boshoff: The report is signed by Lt. S.A. Boshoff. The diary entry for Feb 10th noted him as the "new Assistant Ops. Officer" reporting for duty. By late February, he is signing off on operational reports, indicating his full integration into the squadron's intelligence workflow. * Abbreviations: * MATAF: Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force. (Note the change from "MASAF" in previous reports, reflecting 21 Squadron's shift back to tactical control or a clerical update). * RR: Railroad. * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft. 126 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is an "APPENDIX 'V'" Operational Report (OPREP). The date in the header is 29 Feb 44.