Operation

APPENDIX "V" 205 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/637 DATE : 19th April 1944 OPREP No.637 for period ending 2100 Hrs on 18/4/44 REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 146 SULMONA 12 Baltimores airborne at 0906 Hrs to attack a FACTORY at 087992 (2 mi- les NORTH of POPOLI) with a mixed load of delay and instantaneous bombs. After R/V with 223 Sqdn over base, formation set course at 0948 Hrs without fighter escort. Target found to be obscured by 9/10 cloud 8/1000' with small gaps. After doing two circuits over SULMONA Valley formation bombed through gap at 1033 Hrs from 15000' on a course of 330°. Good concentrated stick from 0871999 to 0868996 with several direct hits in cluster of buildings at 0868996 - one explosion with large column of brown smoke, smaller column of black smoke. NO enemy opposition. All a/c landed by 1116 Hrs. B: (i) 1 Balt 111A (ii) NIL (i) 6 Balts 1V (ii) NIL (i) 5 Balts V (ii) NIL C: NIL D: (i) 2.05 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 12.30 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 10.25 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 3200 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 4 x 500 MC (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 24 x 500 MC (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 20 x 500 MC (ii) As above (iii) & (iv) NIL G to V: NIL W: (i) 2 Mk.111, 1 Mk.1V. 2 Mk.V. (ii) NIL X: (i) 2.15 Hrs: .20 Mins: 1.40 Hrs (ii) NIL Y & Z: NIL S.L. Boshoff Capt SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.