Operation

APPENDIX "SS" 275A TO : HQ MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) HQ NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/693 DATE : 29th May, 1944 OPREP No. 693 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 28th May, 1944 REF MAP : YUGOSLAVIA 1:100,000 SHEET 95 LIVNO 12 Baltimores detailed to attack LIVNO TOWN for the purpose of cratering, creating road blocks and general chaos. They were air- borne at 1347 and over VIS AERODROME at 1433 where they had to wait 4 minutes for their escort of 4 Spitfires. Attack took place at 1527 from 12000' on a course of 055°. First box dropped a stick from 441751 to 4415755, second box from 4412752 to 4416756, from edge of town over crossroads and carrying beyond the centre of town. Numerous direct hits on the roads and buildings. Two explosions. No enemy opposition. 2/10th cumulus, 9000' tops in target area, visibility good. All A/c returned by 1630 hrs. B: (i) 7 Balts Mk IV (ii) NIL (i) 5 Balts Mk V (ii) NIL C: (i) & (ii) NIL (i) & (ii) NIL D: (i) 19.00 Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 13.20 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 16000 x .30 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 14 x 500 M.C. 21 x 250 G.P. (ii) As in (i) Fused: 26 x 500 & 23 x 250 49 - 27 Nose, 36 - 28 Tail 15 x 250 52 - 37 Tail (6 hrs delay) 5 x 250 52 - 37 Tail (12 hrs delay) (iii) & (iv) NIL (iii) & (iv) NIL to V: NIL W: (i) 1 Balt MkIII (ii) NIL (i) 0.30 Hrs (ii) NIL Z: NIL FL : Col Jandrell D.F.C Hallick Capt S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-05-29

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Theater Shift (The Balkans): * New Battleground: This report marks a distinct operational shift from the Italian front to Yugoslavia. The target is LIVNO TOWN (Ref Map Sheet 95 LIVNO). Livno is located in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. * Supporting the Partisans: In May 1944, the German military launched Operation Rösselsprung (Operation Knight's Move), an airborne assault on Drvar intended to capture or kill Marshal Tito, the leader of the Yugoslav Partisans. Drvar is roughly 30 miles north of Livno. This mission by 21 Squadron was likely part of the desperate Allied air effort to disrupt German supply lines and troop movements (the "road blocks and general chaos") to relieve pressure on Tito's besieged forces. * Mission Profile (Vis Island): * The Staging Point: The flight path involved flying over VIS AERODROME to rendezvous with an escort. The island of Vis was the only part of Yugoslavia never occupied by the Germans and served as a crucial forward base for the RAF and Partisan navy. * Escort: The formation had to wait "4 minutes for their escort of 4 Spitfires." Flying over Yugoslavia was dangerous due to the distance from the base in Italy and the unpredictable Luftwaffe presence, making the fighter rendezvous critical. * Tactics of "Chaos": * Explicit Objective: The mission statement is unusually descriptive: "for the purpose of cratering, creating road blocks and general chaos.". * Time-Delay Bombs: To achieve this "chaos," the ordnance included bombs with long-delay fuses: "15 x 250... (6 hrs delay)" and "5 x 250... (12 hrs delay)". These bombs would bury themselves in the rubble and explode hours later, possibly during the night or the next morning. This tactic was designed to terrorize the garrison, kill repair crews, and keep the crossroads closed for an extended period. * Abbreviations: * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * G.P.: General Purpose. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * A/c: Aircraft. * Mk: Mark (model of aircraft). 66 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS NO. 49/44 dated 28th May, 1944 in the header section. It is labeled APPENDIX "TT" (page number 276).