Bombs fell among trees (C455035) No. 2 box attempted to reach correct target - turn too tight and bombs overshot 1/4 mil

BA: RD BRIDGE AT C4201 BB: 1510 A Hrs BC: Medium level bombing; 22 x 500 MC 47 Det 27 Pistol 33 x 250 GP do do 2 x 500 MC 47 Det 27 Pistol) jettisoned 3-4 miles out to sea- 3 x 250 GP do do ) faulty inter-comm. BD: Glare on water caused leaders box to run up on RR bridge, saw too late incorrect target. Bombs fell among trees (C455035) No. 2 box attempted to reach correct target - turn too tight and bombs overshot 1/4 mile SE target among buildings. BE: NIL BF: NIL BG: Obliques of bomb bursts BH: Shelling seen at C6685 2 MET, otherwise NMS Grey smoke seen drifting over FOSSACESIA (3904) AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 474X LT/COL BRITZ DFC P/O SMALLMAN 2/LTs HARRISON & PICKUP 181T LT BENNETT LT HARLE F/SGT STRYDOM SGT JENKINSON 951YY MAJOR COULL LT ROSE F. F/SGTs PERKINS & VAN ROOYEN 445V CAPT SMIT LT KAY 2/LT PURDON SGT SCHOOMBIE 240O CAPT DUGMORE LT MASTERS F/SGTs MAASDORP & ROGERS 181Y CAPT DIEU P/O EDMEADES F/SGT OSWALD SGT BREEDT 545A MAJOR ORD LT HODGES F/SGTs WALKER & DEVENISH 341L LT WILLMOTT LT BORCHERDS F/SGTs LOOTS & WALBRIDGE 426J LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL SGT STEWART 586B CAPT SAUNDERS LT BOOYSE F/SGT GELDENHUYS SGT EARP-JONES 916K LT FROST LT HORWITZ F/SGT CARTER SGT ALLAN 467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN SGT MACKAY Transcriber’s Notes * Expanded Abbreviations: * BA / BB / BC / BD / BE / BF / BG / BH: Standardized reporting codes for target, time, weaponry, narrative, enemy opposition, own losses, photography, and general observations. * RD BRIDGE: Road Bridge. * MC / GP: Medium Capacity / General Purpose (bomb types). * Det / Pistol: Detonator and Pistol (fusing mechanism). * RR bridge: Railroad bridge. * MET: Motor Enemy Transport. * NMS: No Movements Seen. * LT/COL / LT / MAJOR / P/O / 2/LT / F/SGT / SGT: Lieutenant Colonel, Lieutenant, Major, Pilot Officer, Second Lieutenant, Flight Sergeant, Sergeant. * DFC: Distinguished Flying Cross. * Observations on Individuals: * Lt. Col. J.F. Britz, D.F.C.: As the Commanding Officer of 21 Squadron, Britz led this 12-aircraft formation personally. The report notes that "glare on water" caused the leaders (his box) to misidentify the target initially. * Capt. Saunders: Mentioned in previous orders, he is seen here as the captain of aircraft 586B. * F/Sgt Geldenhuys: A member of Saunders' crew. He appears in the nominal rolls from September 1943 as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. * Location and Historical Context: * Fossacesia: A town on the Adriatic coast of Italy. At the time of this mission (October 25, 1943), Fossacesia was a strongpoint on the German Bernhardt Line (also known as the Reinhard Line). The "grey smoke" observed was likely the result of Allied artillery or naval bombardment as the Eighth Army prepared for the eventual assault on the Sangro River. * Tactical Failure: The narrative reveals the difficulties of tactical bombing in the Italian theater. Sun glare off the Adriatic sea caused the lead section to strike a railroad bridge instead of the intended road bridge at grid C4201. The second section attempted to correct the course, but a "turn too tight" led to an overshoot, with bombs hitting buildings southeast of the target. * Equipment Issues: The jettisoning of bombs due to "faulty inter-comm" highlights the technical strain on 21 Squadron's Martin Baltimore aircraft during high-tempo operations. Without reliable communication between the pilot and the bomb-aimer, accurate delivery was impossible, requiring a safe jettison at sea.

19 The date written in the 'Date' column of the Sortie Report is 26/10/43.