Operation

APPENDIX "E" TO : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F. FROM : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION OPERATIONS RECORDS) H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. ( SCORU ) S.A.O.A., S.A.A.F. ADV. HQ. C.M.F. W.I.O. 3 WING, S.A.A.F. REF. : 21S/888. DATE : 26th DECEMBER, 1944. OPREP. NO. 888 FOR THE PERIOD 2100 HRS. ON THE 25.12.44 REF. MAP ITALY 1 : 100,000 SHEET 51. OPERATION NO. 132/21. 12 Marauders airborne from Iesi at 1104 HRS. to attack the TREVISO ENGINE SHEDS at G.629758. Due to Cloud in the Fano area (where a fighter escort was picked up), two A/C of 2nd Box lost formation and eventually formed up and bombed with 24 and 30 Squadron. A third A/C of this Box while circulating in formation off FANO at 5000' developed a spin, crew instructed to bale; two gunners jumped. Two chutes seen descending; sea rescue action taken by the leader. Pilot corrected at 800'; dropped bombs safe at sea and returned to base. First Box of six bombed at 1220 hrs. from 12000' pattern resulting in a 500 yds. right error and overshoot on edge of town (G.625759 - 622757) among scattered buildings. Second Vic of three A/C - on which two A/C of 30 Squadron formed bombed from 11700' at 1222 hrs., pattern missed main objective, but straddled main line and junction, with numerous D/H's on tracks from G.627757 - 624756. No enemy opposition in Target area; 5 puffs inaccurate H/A/A when crossing coast at PIAVE river mouth. Weather : En route 8/10 - 10/10 cloud 5000' base; target clear and visibility good. All A/C down at 1346 hrs. (1) 12 Marauders III (ii) Nil. (i) & (ii) Nil. (i) 27.30 Hrs. (ii) Nil. (i) 40800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) Nil. (i) 72 x 500 GP 48 x 250 GP (ii) 66 x 500, 44 x 250 (iii) 6x500 4x250 Fused : Nose 27 - 49 Tail 28 - 36. Note : 432 lbs of window dropped. (i) & (ii) Nil. Missing 578404V. W.O.1. Hamilton D. M. (S.A.A.F.) A/Gunner. 1802837 F/Sgt. Evans D.W. (R.A.F.) A/Gunner. to Z Nil. (signed) C.P.P. Nicolle Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, SAAF.

1944-12-26

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations Expanded: * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer * S.A.A.F. / SAAF: South African Air Force * H.Q. / HQ: Headquarters * M.A.A.F.: Mediterranean Allied Air Forces * M.A.T.A.F.: Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force * SCORU: South African Corps of Records * S.A.O.A.: South African Officer in Charge of Administration * ADV.: Advanced * C.M.F.: Central Mediterranean Force * W.I.O.: Wing Intelligence Officer * OPREP.: Operational Report * HRS. / hrs.: Hours * A/C: Aircraft * R/V: Rendezvous * Vic: A tactical flight formation of three aircraft * D/H's: Direct Hits * H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak) * GP: General Purpose (bombs) * W.O.1.: Warrant Officer Class 1 * F/Sgt.: Flight Sergeant * R.A.F.: Royal Air Force * A/Gunner: Air Gunner * Observations about Individuals: * W.O.1. Hamilton D. M. & F/Sgt. Evans D.W.: Listed as "Missing" following the dramatic mid-air emergency of their aircraft. Their plane entered a spin at 5,000 feet; although the pilot miraculously regained control at the low altitude of 800 feet, these two gunners had already followed orders to bale out over the Adriatic. * Captain C.P.P. Nicolle: Acting as the Squadron Intelligence Officer (S.I.O.), Nicolle was responsible for the detailed debriefing of crews and the technical recording of this Christmas Day tragedy. * Information about the Location: * Treviso Engine Sheds: A high-priority tactical target located at grid reference G.629758 in Northern Italy. * Modern Name: The facility is part of the modern Treviso Centrale railway complex. * Iesi (Landing Ground): The S.A.A.F. Adriatic base, located near modern-day Ancona International Airport. * Fano: A coastal town used as a primary rendezvous (R/V) point for bombers and their P-51 Mustang fighter escorts. * Historical Theatre Context: * Christmas Day Mission (Operation 132/21): This report documents the stark reality of combat operations continuing through the holiday. While ground troops often observed informal lulls, the air war remained relentless. * The Marauder Spin: The incident involving the aircraft falling into a spin highlights the Martin B-26 Marauder's notorious reputation for being "unforgiving" if speed was lost in a turn. The pilot's recovery at only 800 feet was an extraordinary feat of airmanship. * Inter-Squadron Coordination: The report mentions 21 Squadron aircraft joining formations with 24 and 30 Squadrons. This reflects the operational flexibility required when weather or technical failures dispersed large formations. * Electronic Warfare: The "432 lbs of window dropped" refers to the use of metal foil strips (chaff) to jam German radar-guided flak, which was becoming increasingly sophisticated in Northern Italy. 153 Target File Verification: The date written in the 'DATE' line of the memorandum is 27th DECEMBER, 1944.