APPENDIX "G"

Friday, 23 February 1945 Other pp. 65

Document

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

65

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/941
DATE : 23rd FEBRUARY, 1945
OPREP NO. 941 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HRS. ON THE 22nd FEB. 1945.
REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 63 - LEGNAGO.

OPERATION No. 151/21S/M.

A : 11 Marauders airborne from Jesi L/G at 1415 hrs. to attack the
SERRIDE Sugar Refinery at F.869057. 9 a/c in three Vics carried
6 x 500 and 4 x 250 lbs bombs each and two 192 x 20 lbs. frag.
cluster each. Formation bombed on Vic Leaders at about 1520 hrs.
from about 11000' on an appr. course of 230°. First two Boxes
main weight of bombs in northern half of briefed target; 2nd
Box left error about 100 yards among adjacent buildings; of the
two remaining a/c ( 20lbs clusters) one had a slight left error
and the pattern of the other commenced in the centre of target
and ran out into open ground. 5 x 500 and 4 x 250 lbs hung-up
brought back. Pamphlets and window dropped in target area.
Last A/C down by 1620 hrs. Target clear, but vis. poor due to
haze. No enemy opposition.
B : (i) 11 Marauders III (ii) Nil
C : (i) 8 (ii) Nil
D : (i) 23.50 hrs. (ii) Nil
L : (i) 37400 x .50 (ii) & (111) Nil
P : (i) 54 x 500 (ii) 49 x 500 Fused:- 27-49 Nose
36 x 250 32 x 250 30-36 Tail
384 x 20 frag. 384 x 20
(ii) 396 Lbs window dropped
25 Pkts. Pamphlets supplied (iii) & (iv) Nil
by P.W.B.
U to Z : Nil
S.L. Boshoff
Capt.
S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (Transcriber's Notes)
Glossary of Terms:
* S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer.
* M.A.T.A.F. (SCORU): Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (Statistical Control and Operational Research Unit).
* S.A.O.A. ADV. S.A.A.F. H.Q. C.M.F.: Senior Air Officer Administration, Advanced South African Air Force Headquarters, Central Mediterranean Force.
* W.I.O. 3 SA WING: Wing Intelligence Officer, 3 South African Air Force Wing.
* OPREP: Operational Report.
* Jesi L/G: Jesi Landing Ground; the primary operational base for the squadron during this phase of the Italian Campaign.
* Vics: A tactical formation of three aircraft flying in a "V" shape.
* Frag. cluster: Fragmentation bombs designed to disperse shrapnel over a wide area, primarily effective against personnel, soft-skinned vehicles, and unhardened industrial structures.
* Hung-up: A mechanical or electrical failure preventing ordnance from releasing from the aircraft's bomb shackles.
* Window: Chaff; aluminized strips dropped to interfere with enemy radar-controlled gunnery and detection.
* P.W.B.: Psychological Warfare Branch.
* Marauders III: British Commonwealth designation for the Martin B-26G Marauder medium bomber.
Operational Context:
The raid of 22nd February 1945 (reported on the 23rd) targeted the Serride Sugar Refinery at grid F.869057. During the final months of the Italian Campaign, such industrial sites were of significant strategic importance as they were frequently repurposed by German forces for fuel alcohol production or as hardened logistical hubs. This mission was a component of the broader Allied effort to isolate the German 10. Armee and 14. Armee by systematically destroying rear-echelon production and transit nodes in the Po Valley.
The tactical necessity of these interdiction strikes is rooted in the operational landscape of November 1943 during the assault on the Bernhardt Line. In that period, 21 Squadron—then operating Martin Baltimores—conducted similar precision strikes against logistical bottlenecks like the Mignano Gap and grid H055630. The objective was to exert maximum pressure on the German integrated supply network to facilitate an Allied breakthrough. By February 1945, the use of superior Martin Marauder payloads allowed for concentrated strikes on industrial targets deeper in the rear-echelon to induce a total logistical collapse prior to the final spring offensive.
Interpretations of Marginalia and Markings:
* Folio Number "65": Stamped archival index number in the upper right quadrant, following the sequence within the AIR 27/271/2 series.
* "APPENDIX 'G'": Identifies this OPREP as a formal annex to the primary February 1945 war diary narrative.
* Typographical Notes: The document features a correction in the bomb load summary (Section P), where handwritten figures for the 20 lb fragmentation bombs and the total weight of "window" dropped are noted.
* Authentication: The document is signed by Captain S.L. Boshoff, the Squadron Intelligence Officer, verifying the tactical results despite the poor visibility reported by aircrews.

13
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 24th. FEBRUARY , 1945.