Operation

APPENDIX "B" 305 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/702 DATE : 2nd June, 1944 OPREP No. 702 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 1st June, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 160 ROMA 12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G at 1430 hrs to bomb entrenched positions on both sides of R/R line at F841531 and F837514. Weather good but visibility in target area impaired by dust, smoke and haze. Area cover was provided. First box attacked F841531 at 1540 hrs from 11000' on a course of 355°. Stick from F846530 to F845534. No observed results. Second box attacked F837514 at 1540 hrs from 11000' on a course of 330°. Stick from F836514 to F832512. No observed results. A.A. intense and accurate from target area before during and after bombing. Several A/C holed, one with 80 holes, belonging to the second box. Another A/C of second box missing, last seen losing height under control towards GAETA. Remaining A/C landed at 1638 hrs. B: (i) 4 Balts Mk IV (ii) NIL (i) 8 Balts Mk V (ii) NIL C: (i) & (ii) NIL (i) & (ii) NIL D: (i) 8.20 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 16.10 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 12800 x .30 1200 x .303 2800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 25600 x .30 2400 x .303 5600 x .50 (ii) NIL F: (i) 16 x 500 M.C. (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL (Fused: 52 - 44 Nose, 36 - 28 Tail) (i) 32 x 500 M.C. (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL W: (i) 1 Balt Mk IV (Cat 1) (i) 4 Balts Mk V (Cat 1) 1 Balt Mk V missing (All due to Flak) No. P.6674V Lt Mackay, C.H. Pilot No. 542504V Lt Edmayr, G. Observer No. 282503V W/O I Ferreira, I.L. W.O.P. Gunner No. 580167V W/O I Nielsen, F.J.P. Straight Gunner Cov: NIL (i) 1 Balt MkIV (ii) NIL (i) 0.10 Hrs (ii) NIL Z: NIL FL Lt Col Jandrell DFC Hallick Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-06-02

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * The Battle for Rome (Targeting the Retreat): * Context: This mission took place on June 1st, 1944, just three days before the fall of Rome. The reference map "SHEET 160 ROMA" and the target description—"entrenched positions on both sides of R/R line"—place this operation directly in the path of the Allied advance along the Via Appia and the railway lines supporting the German withdrawal. * Flak Trap: The report describes the anti-aircraft fire as "intense and accurate... before during and after bombing.". The Germans were fighting a desperate rearguard action to protect their escape routes, concentrating their Flak batteries around key choke points like this railway line. The fact that one aircraft returned with "80 holes" speaks to the volume of fire these crews flew through. * The Loss of Lt. Mackay's Crew: * "Towards Gaeta": The report confirms the loss of an aircraft: "last seen losing height under control towards GAETA.". Gaeta is a coastal town that had been liberated by American forces around May 19th. Lt. Mackay, realizing his aircraft was doomed, likely turned toward the coast hoping to ditch in the sea or crash-land behind friendly lines. * Survival: As noted in the War Diary (File 1), this crash landing was successful, though the Observer, Lt. Edmayr, was seriously injured. The listing of the specific crew members (Mackay, Edmayr, Ferreira, Nielsen) provides the definitive record of who was on board that aircraft. * Category 1 Damage: Section W lists "1 Balt Mk IV (Cat 1)" and "4 Balts Mk V (Cat 1)". "Cat 1" damage usually implies repairable damage (bullet holes, flak tears) that could be fixed at the unit level. However, listing 5 aircraft damaged plus one missing out of a formation of 12 means 50% of the strike force was hit—a very high attrition rate for a single mission. * Abbreviations: * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * L/G: Landing Ground. * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * W/O I: Warrant Officer Class I. * W.O.P.: Wireless Operator (also seen as WT/AG). * Cat: Category (Damage classification). * A/C: Aircraft. 17 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 3rd June, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 703) labeled 306 in the top right corner.