Operation

APPENDIX "UU" 279 TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) HQ NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/694 DATE : 29th May, 1944 OPREP No. 694 for period ending 0800 hrs on the 29th May, 1944 REF MAP : ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 151 ALATRI 150 ROMA 11 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G at 0553 hrs to attack L.A.A. positions and/or M.T. on road at G241598 and G295547. Second box attacked its briefed target (G295547) at 0626 hrs from 14300' on a course of 355°. Two patterns of bombs reported from G295556 to G298562 and from G291544 to G295554. Direct hits on road and railway line. First box, briefed to bomb G241598 was unable to locate target owing to mist and cloud, and carried on searching for transport on roads. They eventually bombed railway line near VELLETRI pattern falling from F90434 to F986436. Several explosions and white smoke reported. H.A.A. intense accurate from ALATRI, moderate accurate from VICO westwards, moderate inaccurate from VELLETRI area before, during and after bombing. Vic leader A/c in the first box burst into flames over target immediately after bombing, and went down, the A/c breaking up in the air and no parachutes were observed. No enemy fighters reported. 7/10th to 8/10th cloud in target area 8000'/10000', ground mist and haze. 10 Baltimores landed back by 0735 hrs. B: (i) 6 Balts Mk IV (ii) NIL (i) 5 Balts Mk V (ii) NIL C: (i) & (ii) NIL (i) & (ii) NIL D: (i) 10.50 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 9.30 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) NIL (iii) 3200 x .30 300 x .303 700 x .50 (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) NIL (iii) NIL F: (i) 192 x 40 G.P. (42 - 28 Nose) (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 128 x 40 G.P. 43 - 28 Nose 2 x 500 ) 45 - 44 Nose 3 x 250 ) 36 - 28 Tail (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL G: (i) Baltimore FA 649 (Mk IV) destroyed (ii) 2 Balts (Mk IV) Cat I (Flak). Missing:- 47832V Major J.P. de Villiers D F C Pilot 313744V 2/Lt P.J.A. van Dyk Observer 210434V W/O I G.R. Savage W.O./Gunner 206673V W/O II J.A. Floquet Air Gunner to Z: NIL FL Major de Wet Hallick Capt S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.