NO enemy opposition. All

APPENDIX "Q" 200 TO : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/633 DATE : 17th April 1944 OPREP No.633 for period ending 1500 Hrs on 16/4/44 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 131 FOLIGNO 12 Baltimores off by 1154 Hrs from BIFERNO L/G with delay and instantaneous bomb load to attack an AMMO DUMP at A901593 (4 miles WEST of SPOLETO) With 13 Sqdn leading, formation set course from PENNA POINT at 1225 Hrs After R/V with a close escort of 16 Spitfires. Second box bombed astern and slightly to the left of first, pattern of whole formation resulting in an undershoot and right lateral error from A906600 to 901595, with direct hit on dug-in buildings N.E. of target. NO enemy opposition. All a/c landed by 1420 Hrs. Weather: target clear with 3/10 cloud at 18000' Visibility fair, slight haze B: (i) 9 Balts 1V (ii) NIL (i) 3 Balts V (ii) NIL NIL D: (i) 21.45 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 7.15 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 28800 x .30 2700 x .303 6300 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 9600 x .30 900 x .303 2100 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 36 x 500MC (ii) as above (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 12 x 500MC (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL FUSING: 36, 49 Det 27 Pist NOSE - 49 Det 28 Pist 6 52 Det 37 Pist Tail - 6 Hour Delay 6 52 Det 37 Pist Tail - 12 Hour Delay to Z: NIL S.L. Boshoff Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-04-17

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Strategic Interdiction (Spoleto Ammo Dump): * The Target: The squadron targeted an "AMMO DUMP... 4 miles WEST of SPOLETO". Spoleto, located in Umbria, was a critical supply hub for the German armies fighting in central Italy. Attacking ammunition dumps was a priority to starve the front-line units of shell and shot. * "Dug-in Buildings": The report notes a "direct hit on dug-in buildings N.E. of target". German forces often utilized camouflaged or partially buried bunkers ("dug-in") to protect volatile stores like ammunition from air attack. Hitting these hardened structures required precise bombing. * Ordnance Tactics (Time-Delayed Fuses): * Area Denial: The mission utilized a "mixed delay and instantaneous bomb load". Specifically, the fusing section details 6 bombs with "6 Hour Delay" and 6 bombs with "12 Hour Delay" (using the No. 37 Pistol). * Tactical Intent: By mixing instantaneous high explosives with time-delay bombs, the raid aimed to disrupt the target area long after the aircraft had departed. The immediate explosions would expose the contents of the dump, while the delayed bombs would detonate hours later—likely during the night or while salvage crews were attempting to recover surviving ammunition—creating a sustained hazard and psychological terror. * Formation & Coordination: * Lead Unit: The formation flew "With 13 Sqdn leading". 13 Squadron was a Greek bomber squadron (part of the Royal Hellenic Air Force) operating Baltimores within the Desert Air Force, often flying alongside South African units. * Assembly: They set course from "PENNA POINT" (Punta della Penna near Vasto), a standard coastal rendezvous point. * Escort: A robust "close escort of 16 Spitfires" protected the bombers, although "NO enemy opposition" was encountered. * Abbreviations: * L/G: Landing Ground. * R/V: Rendezvous. * MC: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * Det: Detonator. * Pist: Pistol (Fuse mechanism). * SCORU: Scientific Operational Research Unit. 33 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 17th April 44 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 634) labeled APPENDIX "R", detailing the mission flown on the afternoon of April 16th, 1944.