Operation

APPENDIX "M" 244 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/664 DATE : 11th May, 1944 OPREP No. 664 for period ending 21.00 Hrs on 10th May, 1944 REF MAPS : ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 109 PESARO ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 126 FERMO 12 Baltimores took off from BIFERNO L/G at 1140Hrs to bomb PESARO Railway Bridge (S 115604). After R/V at Penna Point with 12 Baltimores 223 Sqdn, they set course for target over sea at 1215 Hrs with a close escort of 16 Spitfires. They crossed the coast just North of Porto San Giorgio and flew to Macerata when the leader decided to turn back owing to 10/10th cumulus and nimbo-stratus down to 7000'/8000' ahead with rain showers. An alternative target was sought and the leader selected a Railway Bridge South of PORTO CIVITANOVA (S.786115). Attack took place at 1304 Hrs from 7500' on a course of 225° for the 1st box and 160° for the 2nd box. 1st box undershot with slight lateral error from S.789122 to S.785114, 2nd box from river to S.794113 lateral error to the left. No results were claimed. Slight L.A.A. from Porto Civitanova, inaccurate. All A/C landed by 1406 Hrs - One Baltimore ran off the runway and went on its nose in sand sea wall - A/C Cat II . No injuries to personnel. B: (i) 6 Baltimores Mk IV. (ii) NIL (i) 6 Baltimores Mk V. (ii) NIL C: (i) (ii) NIL (i) & (ii) NIL D: (i) 14.00Hrs (ii) NIL (i) 14.00 Hrs (ii) NIL E: (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL (i) 19200 x .30 1800 x .303 4200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NIL F: (i) 12 x 500 M.C. 18 x 250 G.P. (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL (i) 12 x 500 M.C. 18 x 250 G.P. (ii) As in (i) (iii) & (iv) NIL All bombs fused 36det 27Pist Nose 49det 28Pist Tail. to Z: (i) NIL (ii) NIL (i) NIL (ii) 1 Balt. Cat II (Signature illegible) Capt. SIO 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1944-05-11

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Weather Abort and Target Switch: * The Plan vs. Reality: The primary target was the Pesaro Railway Bridge (S 115604). Pesaro was a key choke point on the Adriatic coastal railway. * The Obstacle: The formation encountered "10/10th cumulus and nimbo-stratus down to 7000'/8000' ahead with rain showers" near Macerata. "10/10th" means complete cloud cover, making visual bombing impossible. Medium bombers like the Baltimore lacked blind-bombing radar, forcing a turn-back. * The Audible: The leader selected an "alternative target" on the fly: a Railway Bridge South of Porto Civitanova (S.786115). This demonstrates the tactical flexibility expected of flight leaders—finding a valid secondary target to ensure the ordnance wasn't wasted. * Operational Incident (Runway Crash): * The Accident: Upon return, "One Baltimore ran off the runway and went on its nose in sand sea wall - A/C Cat II". * Category II Damage: "Cat II" typically meant "repairable at unit or depot level" (serious but not a total write-off). * Context: The airfield at Biferno (Campomarino) was a temporary strip located right on the coast. A runway excursion ending in a "sand sea wall" highlights how rudimentary and cramped these frontline airfields were. Fortunately, there were "No injuries to personnel". * Tactical Execution: * Bombing Run: The attack on the secondary target was disjointed. The 1st box attacked on a heading of 225°, while the 2nd box attacked at 160°. This drastic difference in approach angles suggests the formation broke up or maneuvered aggressively to find gaps in the clouds or set up the run quickly. The result was poor: "undershot... lateral error... No results were claimed." * Defensive Fire: * L.A.A.: "Slight L.A.A. (Light Anti-Aircraft fire) from Porto Civitanova, inaccurate". Coastal towns were often defended by light flak to protect harbors and rail yards from low-level raiders. * Abbreviations: * L/G: Landing Ground. * R/V: Rendezvous. * L.A.A.: Light Anti-Aircraft. * A/C: Aircraft. * Cat II: Category II (Damage classification). * MC: Medium Capacity (High Explosive). * GP: General Purpose. * SIO: Squadron Intelligence Officer. 32 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 12th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 665) labeled APPENDIX "N" (page number 245), detailing the mission flown on the morning of May 12th, 1944.