APPENDIX "B" — Orders & Appendices

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/2
APPENDIX "B"

FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
TO : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION OPERATIONS RECORDS)
H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. ( SCORU)
S.A.O.A. ADV. S.A.A.F. H.Q. C.M.F.
W.I.O. 3 SA WING S.A.A.F.
REF. : 21S/936.
DATE : 20th FEBRUARY, 1945.
OPREP NO. 936 FOR THE 2400 HRS. ENDING 2100 HRS ON THE 19th FEBR. 1945.
REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 38 - CONEGLIANO.

OPERATION No. 146/21S/M.

A : Eleven Marauders airborne from Jesi L/G at 1445 hrs. to attack
a concentration of RR Trucks in CONEGLIANO M/Yards at B 687011
with a f ag. load each A/C carrying 6 x 500 lbs. and 4 x 250 lbs.
After R/V with a fighter escort of 6 Spits at PORTO CORSINI
formation set course at 1530 Hrs. crossed the coast at H 3073
and bombed at 1620 Hrs. from 12000' on an appr. course of 330°
All bombs of one A/C hung-up — Jettisoned at sea — 8 1000.
First box straddled centre of M/Yards with numerous direct hits
on tracks and large buildings on either side; 2nd Box slight left
error, but hits claimed on adjacent sheds; 3rd Box straddled
converging tracks in N.E. portion of yards. Target clear of
cloud but visibility poor due to ground haze and smoke from
previous bombing — large fire burning at B684008 on arrival. Very
slight and inaccurate HAA from Target area. Last A/C down by 1735hrs.
B : (i) 11 Marauders III (ii) Nil
C : (i) 8 (ii) Nil
D : (i) 30.30 Hrs. (ii) Nil
L : (i) 37400 x .50 (ii) & (iii) Nil
P : (i) 66 x 500, 44 x 250 (ii) 60 x 500, 40 x 250 (iii) 6 x 500, 4 x 250 (iv) Nil
Fused 44 - 52 Nose 30 - 36 Tail
Note:- 16 Packets of Front Post dropped in target area.
108 Lbs of Window dropped.

U to Z : Nil
S. L. Boshoff
Capt.
S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes")
Glossary of Terms:
* S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer.
* H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. (SCORU): Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (Statistical Control and Operational Research Unit).
* W.I.O. 3 SA WING: Wing Intelligence Officer, 3 South African Air Force Wing.
* OPREP: Operational Report.
* CONEGLIANO M/Yards: Conegliano Marshalling Yards, located on the strategic Venice-Udine rail line.
* Jesi L/G: Jesi Landing Ground, located near Ancona, the primary base for 3 SAAF Wing in early 1945.
* f ag. load: Fragmentary/Aggregate bomb load.
* R/V: Rendezvous.
* Spits: Supermarine Spitfire fighters used for close escort.
* HAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak).
* Marauders III: Martin B-26G Marauder medium bomber.
* Front Post: Allied propaganda leaflets dropped to degrade enemy morale.
* Window: Chaff; aluminized strips dropped to interfere with enemy radar-controlled gunnery.
Operational Context:
The raid on 19 February 1945 (reported on the 20th) targeted the Conegliano Marshalling Yards, a critical logistical node in North-Eastern Italy. By February 1945, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) operations were centered on "Operation Bingo," the systematic strangulation of German supply lines leading to the Gothic Line. Attacking rolling stock concentrations (RR Trucks) served to isolate the German 10. Armee and 14. Armee from materiel coming through the Brenner Pass and Venetian routes.
The tactical evolution of these strikes is rooted in the lessons of November 1943 during the assault on the Bernhardt Line. In 1943, 21 Squadron—then operating Martin Baltimores—conducted similar interdiction missions against road/rail bottlenecks such as the Mignano Gap and grid H055630. In both periods, the objective was the disruption of the German integrated logistical network. While 1943 focused on immediate tactical support to break mountain defenses, the 1945 operations utilized the superior payload and range of the Martin Marauder to induce total logistical paralysis across the Po Valley, facilitating the final Allied spring offensive.
Interpretations of Marginalia and Notes:
* Folio Number "60": Stamped archival index number in the upper right, continuing the record sequence in the AIR 27/271/2 folder.
* "APPENDIX 'B'": Indicates this report is an annex to the primary monthly narrative.
* Correction in Subparagraph A: The text "8 1000" regarding the jettisoned load appears to be a typographical error or shorthand for 8 aircraft-equivalent loads or an incorrectly noted weight, as the briefed load per aircraft was 6 x 500 lbs and 4 x 250 lbs.
* Coordinate B684008: Refers to a specific point of prior damage/fire within the marshalling yard, indicating the cumulative effect of sustained bombardment in the sector.
* Signature: The document is authenticated by Captain S. L. Boshoff, the Squadron Intelligence Officer.

8
The following archival entry constitutes a high-fidelity transcription and historical analysis of the specified document from the official war diary of 21 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF), currently held by The National Archives under reference AIR 27/271/2.
Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check: The exact date recorded in the 'DATE' column of the image is 20th FEBRUARY, 1945.