Operation

BA: GUN POSITIONS AT E 0671 BB: 1107 Hrs LT BC: Medium Level Bombing from 10,000 feet. Courses 030º/050º 72 x 250 lb. G.P. 43 Det. 27 Pistols with rods. BD: Approximately 15 bombs along Eastern edge, one stick between E.060702 and E.065710 and 10 bursts seen E.050700 to E.052703 Direct hits on RR. and RD. BE: NIL. BF: NIL. BG: Obliques and Verticals from 10,000 feet, various courses. BH: Approximately 20 RR trucks in LOCRI STN. stationary. Slit trenches in orchard N.E.S. AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 356Z CAPT STUART. LT PAWSON. F/S MORLEY. 2/LT SCHUMANN 221Y LT EATON LT GOULD SGT FREESTONE F/S VAN ROOYEN 181T LT DUGMORE LT MASTERS 2/LT F/S MAASDORP F/S ROGERS 256S CAPT SMIT LT KAY 2/LT PURDON 2/LT WRIGHT 291U LT HARGRAVES LT REES SGT JANSEN F/S BEDFORD 387R CAPT DIEU P/O EDMEADES F/S OSWALD 2/LT SHAW 290C LT/COL. BRITZ. D.F.C. P/O SMALLMAN 2/LTs HARRISON & PICKUP 916K LT FROST LT WHITE F/S CARTER SGT ALLEN 206J LT WOOD LT NEL F/S JAMES SGT ROBERTSON 586B CAPT SAUNDERS LT BOOYSE F/S MOORE SGT EARP-JONES 903YY LT LONGMORE LT KENDALL F/S THEUNISSEN SGT MACKAY 195G LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/S ODENDAAL SGT STEWART

1943-09-05

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded * Hrs LT: Hours Local Time. * lb. G.P.: pound General Purpose (bombs). * Det.: Detonators. * RR. / RD.: Railroad and Road. * LOCRI STN.: Locri Station. * N.E.S.: Likely "North East Side" or a specific grid sector. * LT/COL.: Lieutenant Colonel. * D.F.C.: Distinguished Flying Cross. * CAPT / LT / 2/LT / P/O: Captain / Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant / Pilot Officer. * F/S / SGT: Flight Sergeant / Sergeant. Personnel and Command Observations * Lieutenant Colonel J.F. Britz, D.F.C.: The Commanding Officer (C.O.) of No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. participated personally in this mission, flying Baltimore 290C. His presence on the front line during the critical third day of the mainland invasion reflects the high-stakes nature of Operation BAYTOWN. * Captain Stuart and Lieutenant Pawson: Led the 12-aircraft "box" formation in Baltimore 356Z. Their report (Section BD) provides a detailed assessment of the bomb pattern, claiming "Direct hits on RR. and RD.". * Aircrews: The list includes several veteran crews who had flown multiple sorties over the previous 48 hours, including Capt. Smit, Lt. Askew (implied via common pairings), and Capt. Dieu, showing the squadron's high operational tempo. Location and Tactical Intelligence * Locri (LOCRI STN.): Located on the Ionian coast of the Calabrian "toe" in southern Italy. The sighting of "20 RR trucks" (railroad cars) indicates the station was a primary logistical node for Axis forces retreating or reinforcing the southern tip of the peninsula. Modern name: Locri. * Target E 0671 (Gun Positions): These heavy Axis gun batteries were strategically positioned to contest Allied movements along the coastal roads and railways. * Slit Trenches in Orchard: The observation of defensive "slit trenches" in an orchard near the station highlights the presence of Axis ground troops attempting to use natural cover to evade Allied air superiority. Historical Context: Operation BAYTOWN (D+2) * September 5, 1943: This mission took place two days after the British 8th Army crossed the Strait of Messina. * Tactical Interdiction: By scoring direct hits on the railway (RR) and road (RD), 21 Squadron actively paralyzed Axis mobility in Calabria. This "softening up" of the interior infrastructure was critical to prevent the German 29th Panzergrenadier Division from effectively counter-attacking the Allied bridgehead. * Serviceability and Strain: Despite the documented vehicle and engine crisis at Cuticchi, Sicily, No. 21 Squadron managed to put up 12 aircraft for this 10,000-foot bombing run, maintaining a serviceability rate that approached 90% for the month of August. 195 The date written in the 'Date' column of target file 276-1__195.jpg is 6/7 Sept 43.