Operation

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/596 DATE : 19th March 1944 OPREP No.596 for period ending 1100 Hrs on 19/3/44 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 150 ROMA A: 11 Baltimores (One returned early due to engine trouble after jettisoning bombs) took off from BIFERNO at 0852 Hrs to bomb VALMONTONE Town (G102529) and attacked at 1001 Hrs from 12300' on a course of 260°. Leading box bombed from G103529 to G097527, starting in S.E. portion of town and running across RR line and Rd. 2 columns of brown smoke or dust from edge of town. Second box bombs observed from G103531 to G093532. Direct hit in Northern end of town, bombs across Rd and Railway, with direct hits on both. One isolated building set on fire at G097531. All a/c landed back by 1050 Hrs. Visibility over target good except for slight haze. NO enemy opposition encountered. Note: Baltimore J. (223 Sqdn) accompanied above formation, but Oprep in respect of this a/c is being submitted by 223 Sqdn. B: (i) 5 Balts IV. (ii) NIL (i) 4 Balts IIIA (ii) NIL (i) 2 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL. D: (i) 9.10 Hours (ii) NIL (i) 6.00 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 3.40 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3000 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 12800 x .30 1200 x .303 2800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 6400 x .30 600 x .303 1400 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 10 x 500 MC 15 x 250 GP (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 8 x 500 MC 12 x 250 GP (ii) 6 x 500 MC 9 x 250 GP (iii) 2 x 500 MC 3 x 250 GP (iv) NIL (i) 4 x 500 MC 6 x 250 GP (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL (Fused : NOSE 47 Pist 27 Det, TAIL 49 Det 28 Pist) G: NIL. S.L. Boshoff Lt. Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.