Operation

BA: Troop Concentrations Area (D842843 SINOPOLI) BB: 0925 Hrs LT. BC: Medium Level Bombing. Height 11,000 feet. Course 200º 48 x 500 lbs. 50% G.P. 50% M.C. 52 Dets. 44 Pistols. BD: Formation Leader obtained a very brief view of land and although NO results were observed, Observers reckon that bombs fell in good pattern among buildings and cross-roads in Squares 6463/6563/6564. One hit on small bridge. BE: Approximately 20 burst H.A.A. Some accurate. BF: Two aircraft received minor damage from H.A.A. BG: Obliques and Verticals of bursts. (NOT successful) BH: Nil. AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 226H CAPT. ORD. LT. HODGES. F/S. WALKER. F/S. DEVENISH. 971F LT. GUARD. LT. WEBBER. F/S. FINBERG. 2/LT. DE VILLIERS. 916K LT. FROST. LT. WHITE. F/S. CARTER. SGT. ALLEN. 341L LT. WILLMOTT. LT. BORCHARDS. F/S. LOOTS. F/S WALBRIDGE. 179A LT. ASKEW. LT. LAMBERT. F/S. GELDENHUYS. SGT. CRAWHALL. 195G LT. MURMAN. LT. WALTERS. F/S. ODENDAAL. SGT. STEWART. 951V CAPT. SMIT. LT. KAY. 2/LT PURDEN. 2/LT WRIGHT. 221Y LT. EATON. LT. MCDERMOTT. SGT. FREESTONE. F/S. VAN ROOYEN 181T LT. BENNETT. LT. HARLE. F/S. STRYDOM. P/O GILDEN. 240D LT. DUGMORE. LT. MASTERS. 2/LT. MAASDORP. F/S. ROGERS. 387R CAPT. DIEU. XXX P/O EDMEADES. F/S. OSWALD. 2/LT. SHAW. 291U LT. SMYTH. LT. HANNING. F/S. DE PIESANIE. F/O. LEISCHING.

1943-09-01

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded * Hrs LT: Hours Local Time. * lbs: pounds. * G.P.: General Purpose bombs. * M.C.: Medium Capacity bombs. * Dets: Detonators. * H.A.A.: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * Capt / Lt / 2/Lt / P/O: Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant / Pilot Officer. * F/S / Sgt: Flight Sergeant / Sergeant. Personnel and Command Observations * Captain Ord and Lieutenant Hodges: Crewed the lead aircraft (Baltimore 226H) for this twelve-aircraft formation. They faced difficult meteorological conditions, only obtaining a "very brief view" of the Italian mainland before dropping their ordnance. * Captain Smit (951V): A experienced pilot who frequently led formation boxes, seen here leading a vic or box during the final days before the mainland invasion. * Sgt. Crawhall: Flying as a wireless operator/air gunner in aircraft 179A with Lt. Askew, continuing his regular rotation of daylight bombing sorties. Location and Tactical Reality * Sinopoli (Target Area): Located in the Reggio Calabria province in the "toe" of Italy. The target area was a known concentration point for Axis troops withdrawing toward the northern interior of the mainland. Modern name: Sinopoli. * Visual Difficulties: The "Not successful" remark regarding oblique and vertical strike photography (BG) was due to the heavy cloud cover (9/10 to 10/10) over the target. Crews relied on dead reckoning and brief gaps to place bombs in a "good pattern" among buildings and cross-roads. * Resistance: Despite the cloud cover, the German Heavy Anti-Aircraft (H.A.A.) batteries were active and accurate, with 20 bursts observed and two aircraft suffering minor damage. This indicates the area was heavily defended to protect the troop retreat. Historical Context: The Eve of BAYTOWN * September 1, 1943: This mission occurred just 48 hours before Operation BAYTOWN, the Allied amphibious crossing of the Strait of Messina into the Italian mainland. * Strategic Goal: The destruction of bridges and cross-roads in Sinopoli was intended to paralyze the movement of the German 29th Panzergrenadier Division, preventing them from reinforcing the coastal defenses where the British 5th and Canadian 1st Divisions would soon land. * Ordnance Load: The use of a 50/50 mix of General Purpose and Medium Capacity bombs (48 total) was a realistic choice for targeting both soft troop concentrations and structural targets like the bridge mentioned in section BD. 185 The date written in the 'Date' column of target file 276-1__185.jpg is 2/9/43.