APPENDIX "H"

Undated Other pp. 66

Document

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

66

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 WING S.A.A.F.
REF. : 21S/942.
DATE : 24th. FEBRUARY , 1945.
OPREP NO. 942 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING [handwritten correction: 1200] HRS. ON THE 23rd. FEB. 1945.
REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 65 - ADRIA.

OPERATION No. 152/21S/M.

A : 11 Marauders airborne from Jesi L/G. at 10.19 hrs. to attack the
PONTELONGO Sugar Refinery at G 455301 with a demo. load of 500
and 250 lb. bombs. Formation set course at 10.30 hrs. and bombed
in two boxes, of four and one of three at 11.30 hrs. from 12000'
on about 360°. Ten of the a/c straddled target with 90% plus
bombs, causing a large explosion in S.W. corner, followed by bil-
lowing black smoke and flames. One a/c had a premature release,
stick falling 2½ miles short of target in open country. No enemy
opposition encountered. Weather: Target clear and visibility
fair with slight haze. Last a/c. down by 12.45 hrs. Area cover of
eight Spitfires provided by P.W.B. Pamphlets and window dropped as
briefed.
B : (1) Marauders III (11) Nil.
C : (1) 6 & (11) Nil.
D : (1) 26.35 hrs. (11) Nil. (1) 37400 x .50 (11 & 111) Nil.
P : (1) 66 X 500
44 X 250
(11) 60 X 500 - 51 pkts. pamphlets.
40 X 250 - 3 pkts. window.
(111) 6 X 500 premature release.
4 X 250
(1V) Nil.
Q-V : Nil.
W : (1) 5 Marauders III (11) Nil
X : (1) 7.25 hrs. (11) Nil
Y : 32 x 10 lbs Practice
Z : Nil
[Handwritten Signature: S.F. Wyllie]
LT. 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.
* H.Q. M.A.A.F.: Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
* H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. (SCORU): Headquarters, 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 WING: Wing Intelligence Officer, 3 South African Air Force Wing.
* OPREP: Operational Report.
* Jesi L/G: Jesi Landing Ground, located near Ancona, Italy.
* Demo. load: Demolition load; high-explosive bombs fused for instantaneous detonation to destroy industrial structures.
* Marauders III: British Commonwealth designation for the Martin B-26G Marauder medium bomber.
* Spitfires: Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft.
* P.W.B.: Psychological Warfare Branch.
* Window: Chaff; aluminized strips dropped to jam enemy radar.
Operational Context:
The mission of 23 February 1945 (reported on the 24th) targeted the Pontelongo Sugar Refinery at grid G 455301. During the final phase of the Italian Campaign, sugar refineries were high-priority strategic targets as they were frequently repurposed by the German Wehrmacht for industrial alcohol production—a vital component in the manufacture of fuel and explosives—or used as hardened logistical storage hubs in the rear of the Gothic Line. The reporting of a "90% plus" bomb concentration and subsequent "large explosion" indicates a successful strike on the facility's core infrastructure.
This tactical priority is rooted in the strategic requirements established during the assault on the Bernhardt Line in November 1943. At that time, 21 Squadron—then operating Martin Baltimores—focused on immediate tactical interdiction at bottlenecks like the Mignano Gap and grid H055630 to isolate the German 10. Armee. In 1943, these raids aimed to apply maximum pressure to break a specific defensive crust; by February 1945, the use of superior Martin Marauder payloads allowed for the systematic destruction of the German logistical base in the Po Valley, inducing the total materiel exhaustion necessary to facilitate the final Allied spring offensive.
Interpretations of Marginalia and Markings:
* Folio Number "66": Stamped archival index number in the upper right quadrant, continuing the sequence within the AIR 27/271/2 folder.
* "APPENDIX 'H'": Designates this OPREP as a formal annex to the primary February 1945 war diary narrative.
* Handwritten Correction: The reporting period ending time has been struck through and corrected by hand to read "1200".
* Officer Signature: The document is signed by Lieutenant S.F. Wyllie, acting S.I.O.. A handwritten strike-through exists over the printed rank "CAPT." with "LT." handwritten above, reflecting the officer's actual rank at the time of authentication.
* Premature Release: The entry in section A and P(111) regarding one aircraft dropping its stick "2½ miles short" represents a standard technical failure or accidental release often encountered during the stress of formation bombing runs.

14
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.