Operation

BA: C330025 — S.E. of LANCIANO BB: 1437 Hrs BC: Medium level bombing — 11500' — 350º 24 x 500 MC 43 Det 27 Pistol 36 x 250 GP do do (Rods) BD: 2 bombs fell out early from leader's a/c and box bombed short f[rom] C330020 on course in medium stick. Second box bombed from C33202[0] to C330026. One MET hit 330020, 3 small columns black smoke in same area. Direct hits on roads C332021 and C331024. BE: 40/50 bursts H/A/A accurate for height. Followed in turn off 20[00] yards to Port. Guns NOT sighted. 10 + LAA inaccurate after bomb[ing] BF: One A/C (Mk.3A) crashed on Take-off killing crew Pilot :- Lt ROBERTSON, I.F.D. Observer :- Lt HANNING, F.W. WOP/AG :- F/Sgt DU PIESANIE, C. A/G :- F/Sgt VALENTINE, M.G. BG: Obliques and Verticals of bomb bursts BH: Object sighted TERMOLI 10 miles 040º — other reports quote fishing smacks same area. Small silver balloon off PENNA POINT seen at 20000' 2 Spitfires dived when A/A came up. AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 437H LT/COL KOTZE LT CARTER 2/LTs PERKINS & VAN ROOYEN 578G LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL A/SGT STEWART 545A LT ASKEW LT LAMBERT F/SGT GELDENHUYS LT V. SCHALKWYK 341L LT WILLMOT LT BORCHERDS 2/LT LOOTS F/SGT WALBRIDGE 441F LT FROST LT WHITE F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN 916K LT WITTE LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON A/SGT MARAIS 586B CAPT SAUNDERS P/O SMALLMAN LT POTGIETER A/SGT EARP-JONES 387R LT RICHARDS LT KIRBY F/SGT ROBBERTSE A/SGT MCCRINDLE 383W LT GREDER LT HARLE F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY 167S CAPT DUGMORE LT MASTERS 2/LT MAASDORP F/SGT ROGERS 445U CAPT V. BREDA LT NAUDE F/SGT GRATTON P/O GILDON 426J LT WOOD LT NEL F/SGT JAMES A/SGT ROBERTSON

1943-11-28

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes Expanded Abbreviations * BA / BB / BC / BD / BE / BF / BG / BH: Standardized Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) reporting codes for Target, Time, Weapons, Narrative, Enemy Opposition, Own Losses, Photography, and General Observations. * MC / GP: Medium Capacity / General Purpose (bomb types). * Det / Pistol: Detonator and the mechanical firing mechanism. * a/c / A/C: Aircraft. * MET: Motor Enemy Transport. * H/A/A / LAA / A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft / Light Anti-Aircraft / Anti-Aircraft fire. * Mk.3A: Mark 3A (specific version of the Martin Baltimore light bomber). * WOP/AG / A/G: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner / Air Gunner. * LT/COL / CAPT / LT / 2/LT / P/O: Lieutenant Colonel / Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant / Pilot Officer. * F/SGT / A/SGT: Flight Sergeant / Acting Sergeant. Observations on Individuals * The Crew of Robertson: The loss of Lieutenant I.F.D. Robertson, Lieutenant F.W. Hanning, Flight Sergeant C. Du Piesanie, and Flight Sergeant M.G. Valentine was a major blow to the squadron. This crew was highly experienced, having flown numerous successful strikes during the November campaign. Their aircraft crashed on takeoff at Tortorella, likely due to a mechanical failure or the treacherous, muddy conditions of the airfield. * Lieutenant Colonel Kotze: Commanded the formation in aircraft 437H. As the newly appointed Officer Commanding, Kotze led this second mission of the day under intense heavy anti-aircraft fire. Location Information and Historical Context * S.E. of Lanciano (C330025): The target area corresponds to the southern approaches to the city of Lanciano in the Abruzzo region. * Modern Name: Lanciano remains a historic and religious city. The roads targeted near Scorciosa and the Feltrino valley (C332021 and C331024) are today part of a developed agricultural and residential landscape. * The Battle of the Sangro: Flown on November 28, 1943, this mission was part of the climax of the British Eighth Army's offensive to break the German Bernhardt Line. The high volume of anti-aircraft fire (40-50 bursts) indicates the target was heavily defended as German forces attempted to protect their withdrawal routes toward the Gustav Line. * Aerial Coordination (BH): The mention of Spitfires diving when anti-aircraft fire appeared highlights the close coordination between the medium bombers of No. 21 Squadron and the fighter-bombers of the Desert Air Force (DAF). * Reconnaissance (BH): The sighting of a "small silver balloon" at 20,000 feet off Penna Point likely refers to a German meteorological or artillery spotting balloon, which would have been a high-priority target for Allied fighters. * Ordnance and "Rods": The use of "Rods" (nose extensions) on the GP bombs ensured they triggered above the ground to maximize fragmentation effect against soft targets like the MET convoy caught on the road. 84 The verification date for the target image 276-2__84.jpg is 29 Nov 43.