Operation

BA: GUNS, TROOPS & MET — STAZ DI PALENA (H087682) BB: 1107 A Hrs BC: Medium level bombing; 14500'/240º 28000 Pamphlets 6 x 250 G.P. 52 Det 37 Pistol (12 Hour Delay) 6 x 250 do do do (6 Hour Delay) 59 x 250 do do do (Rods) 1 x 250 do do do do hang up. BD: Bomb bursts between H082675, H090684 and H084681 with overshoot on ploughed field and slope of high ground. 3/4 bombs hit station buildings. 2 bombs hit RR. in station area near platform. BE: NIL BF: NIL BG: Obliques and Verticals of bomb bursts BH: Odd MET on main Rd SOUTH of target stationary. 10 dispersed MET in area H0758. 2 yellow smoke explosions ALFEDENA. Target appeared empty. AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 356Z MAJOR STUART LT PAWSON W/O FREESTONE LT HALL 181T LTs BENNETT & HARLE 2/LT STRYDOM P/O GILDON 240O CAPT DUGMORE LT MASTERS 2/LT MAASDORP F/SGT ROGERS 167S CAPT SMIT LT KAY LT PURDON SGT SCHOOMBIE 445U CAPT V. BREDA LT NAUDE F/SGT GRATTON SGT ROBERTSON 387R LTs RICHARDS & ROSE. A. F/SGT ROBBERTSE SGT McCRINDLE 181Y MAJOR COULL LT McARAVEY 2/LTs PERKINS & VAN ROOYEN 467D LTs HEWITT & HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY SGT BOWEN 545A LTs MURNAN & WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL SGT STEWART 341L LTs WILLMOTT & BORCHERDS 2/LT LOOTS F/SGT WALBRIDGE 441F LTs WITTE & RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON SGT MARAIS 426J CAPT JOB LT OWEN-HUGHES F/SGT JARVIS LT SHAW

1943-11-12

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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.) reporting codes for Target, Time, Weaponry/Course, Narrative, Enemy Opposition, Losses, Photography, and General Observations. * MET: Motor Enemy Transport. * STAZ DI PALENA: Stazione di Palena (Palena Station). * A Hrs: Army Hours (Standard military time used in the Mediterranean). * G.P.: General Purpose (bomb type). * Det / Pistol: Detonator and mechanical firing mechanism. * RR: Railroad. * Rd: Road. * MAJOR / CAPT / LT / 2/LT / P/O / W/O: Major / Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant / Pilot Officer / Warrant Officer. * F/SGT / SGT: Flight Sergeant / Sergeant. Observations on Individuals * Major Charles Stuart: Led the formation in aircraft 356Z. Stuart was serving as the Acting Officer Commanding (OC) of 21 Squadron during this critical period of reorganization following the death of Lt. Col. Jack Britz on November 3. * Captain Dugmore and Lieutenant Masters: Flying in aircraft 240O, this veteran lead crew was instrumental in the precision bombing of the station buildings. * Lieutenant Robertson: Flying as the pilot of 445U, Robertson was a regular fixture in these mountain strikes. Tragically, he would be killed just over two weeks later in a takeoff accident at Tortorella on November 28, 1943. Location Information and Modern Geography * Stazione di Palena (H087682): A mountain railway station on the high pass between the Sangro and Aventino valleys. * Modern Context: Today, the station is a key stop on the historic Sulmona-Isernia railway, known as the "Trans-Siberian of Italy." The "high ground" mentioned in BD refers to the slopes of the Majella massif. * Alfedena: Mentioned in BH as the site of "2 yellow smoke explosions". This historic town was a vital German defensive hub within the Bernhardt Line. Historical Context * Strategic Interdiction: This mission on November 12, 1943, was the second strike in 24 hours against the Palena logistical hub. By using a combination of instantaneous "Rods" and "Delay" pistols, the SAAF aimed to both destroy current infrastructure and create a persistent hazard for German repair crews. * Psychological Warfare: The dropping of 28,000 pamphlets (the same volume as the previous day) underscores the Mediterranean Air Command's commitment to undermining German garrison morale while simultaneously destroying their supply lines. * Tactical Results (BD): Unlike the previous day's confusion, this mission was highly successful. The narrative confirms "3/4 bombs hit station buildings" and two direct hits on the railroad (RR) platform, effectively paralyzing the German transit point at the height of the mountain winter. * Ordnance Detail (BC): The "12 Hour" and "6 Hour" delay pistols were designed to detonate long after the aircraft had returned to base, disrupting German attempts to clear the "ploughed field and slope" near the station. * Target Assessment (BH): The note "Target appeared empty" suggests the previous day's strike and current bombardment had successfully forced German personnel to abandon the buildings for the safety of nearby caves or tunnels. 114 The verification date for the document 276-2__114.jpg is 12 Nov 43.