Operation

BA: TROOP CONCENTRATIONS - FOSSACESIA - C395045 BB: 1149 A Hrs BC: Medium level bombing 8500' 350º 24 x 500 MC 43 Det 27 Pistol 36 x 250 GP do do (Rods) BD: Target well identified under cloud. Bombs dropped in long stick from C396044 to C393049. 3 direct hits on buildings and direct hits on road NORTH WEST of town. Smoke seen to rise over target area to 1000' BE: NO E/A. Slight L/A/A, inaccurate below formation, target area. BF: NIL BG: Verticals and Obliques of bomb bursts BH: Heaped up earth in open square C395045 5 + MET moving NORTH just outside FOSSACESIA Approximately 6 flashes Arty from EAST of town while bombing White smoke but NO "F" seen at C479003 AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 586B CAPT SAUNDERS P/O SMALLMAN LT POTGIETER A/SGT EARP-JONES 341L LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN A/SGT MACKAY 426J LT WOOD LT NEL F/SGT JAMES A/SGT ROBERTSON 441P LT FROST LT WHITE F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN 437H LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY A/SGT BOWEN 545A LT WITTE 2/LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON A/SGT MARAIS 356Z MAJOR STUART LT REES W/O FREESTONE LT HALL 383W LT GREDER LT HARLE F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY 181T CAPT V. BREDA 2/LT NAUDE F/SGT GRATTON P/O GILDON 167S CAPT SMIT LT KAY F/SGT JENSEN A/SGT SCHOOMBIE 181Y LT HILL LT PIETERS F/SGT V.D. WESTHUIZEN A/SGT JENKINSON 445U CAPT DIEU LT ROSE F/SGT BAILEY F/SGT DU RANT

1943-11-25

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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 reporting codes for Target, Time, Weapons/Course, Narrative, Enemy Opposition, Own Losses, Photography, and General Observations. * MC / GP: Medium Capacity / General Purpose (bomb types). * Det / Pistol: Detonator and mechanical firing mechanism (Pistol). * E/A: Enemy Aircraft. * L/A/A: Light Anti-Aircraft fire. * MET: Motor Enemy Transport. * Arty: Artillery. * MAJ / CAPT / LT / 2/LT / P/O / W/O: Major / Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant / Pilot Officer / Warrant Officer. * F/SGT / A/SGT: Flight Sergeant / Acting Sergeant. Observations on Individuals * Captain Saunders: Serving as the Formation Leader in aircraft 586B. Saunders was a veteran pilot who had moved into leadership roles following the loss of the squadron commander on November 3, 1943. * Pilot Officer Smallman: The observer for Saunders. He was the regular navigator for the late Lt. Col. Britz, making him one of the most experienced navigators remaining in the unit. * Major Charles Stuart: The Acting Officer Commanding, leading the second box in aircraft 356Z. * Lieutenant H.C. Longmore: Flying in 341L. A prolific pilot whose career in the squadron is well-documented in these diaries. Location Information and Historical Context * Fossacesia (C395045): A hilltop town in the Abruzzo region. During WWII, it was a critical strongpoint in the Bernhardt Line (the precursor to the Gustav Line). Today, it is known for the Abbazia di San Giovanni in Venere. * The Battle of the Sangro: This mission on November 25, 1943, supported the British Eighth Army's efforts to cross the Sangro River. The "long stick" of bombs described in BD (from C396044 to C393049) effectively raked the ridge where German troops were dug in. * Tactical Observations (BH): The "heaped up earth in open square" likely refers to German defensive works or improvised bunkers constructed in the town center. The "6 flashes Arty" indicates active German artillery batteries firing on Allied ground forces during the raid, a rare sighting from 8,500 feet. * Ordnance and "Rods": The 250lb GP bombs were fitted with "Rods"—nose extensions to trigger the fuse above the ground. This was highly effective against "Troop Concentrations" as it maximized fragmentation damage to soldiers in open trenches or thin-walled buildings. * Low-Altitude Pressure: Bombing from 8,500 feet (medium-low) due to the heavy cloud deck put the formation well within range of the "Light A/A" mentioned in BE, though the German gunners were "inaccurate" on this run. 72 The verification date for the target image 276-2__72.jpg is 26 Nov 43.