Operation

APPENDIX "U" 217 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) W.I.O. 3 WING S.A.A.F. REF. : 21S/1006 DATE : 17th APRIL, 1945 OPREP N. 1006 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HRS ON THE 16th APRIL, 1945 REF. MAP ITALY, 1:100,000 SHEET 76 - FERRARA. OPERATIONS NO. 201 - 202/21S/M. A : OPERATION NO. 201:- One Marauder airborne between 1144 - 1432hrs This A/C fitted with special equipment, led a box of four ( one A/C from each 12, 24 and 30 Sqdns) on the first "SHORAN" raid carried out by the SAAF. The Target was the TRESIGALLO SUGAR REFINERY at M. 373825, and after at first experiencing difficulty with one of the control stations while circling Lake Comacchio, the equipment finally functioned satisfactorily and the formation bombed at 1354 hrs. from 9850' on a course of 320º. Photographic coverage revealed that stick, starting with a very slight undershoot, almost completely straddled the target with a good pattern. No enemy opposition. Weather; 8 - 10/10 str.cu. (tops 9000') in target area. OPERATION NO. 202:- 12 Marauders airborne from Jesi L/G between 1635 - 1845 hrs. to attack enemy troop concentrations 3 miles North of ARGENTA with 500 and 250 frag. bombs. Formation bombed between 1747 - 1753 hrs. on a course of 300º from 10,500'. Patterns of all three boxes all within the area bounded by the briefed pinpoints. HAA, moderate inaccurate from target area. Weather; target clear, visibility hazy. B : (i) 13 Marauders III (ii) Nil C. (i) & (ii) Nil D : (i) 26.50 hrs. (ii) Nil E. 44,200 x .50 (ii) & (iii) Nil F : (1) 78 x 500 ( 6 x 500 Demo fused) ( 72 x 500 Frag. fused) 52 x 250 ( 4 x 250 " " ) ( 48 x 250 frag fused ) (ii) 78 x 500 (iii) and (iv) Nil 52 x 250 G to V Nil W : (i) 1 Marauder III (ii) Nil X : (i) 2.15 Hrs (ii) Nil Y & Z Nil S.L. Boshoff [handwritten signature] Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. 946 SA21/710 16APR 45 F14 || HH M2867 11000 1739 BIII K (120)

1945-04-17

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms * 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force, a medium bomber unit. * 3 WING S.A.A.F.: The administrative and tactical higher command for the squadron during the spring 1945 offensive. * AIR 27/271/4: The United Kingdom National Archives classification for Air Ministry: Operations Record Books; Volume 4 catalogs the 1945 combat records for 21 Squadron. * BA-BH (Martin Baltimore): The twin-engine medium bomber utilized by the unit prior to their conversion to the current Martin B-26 Marauder III in late 1943. * DEMO FUSED (Demolition): High-explosive bombs designed for structural destruction. * FRAG FUSED (Fragmentation): Munitions designed for maximum shrapnel effect against personnel and unarmored targets. * HAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire. * JESI L/G: Jesi Landing Ground, the primary operational base for the squadron in April 1945. * MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive ordnance classifications. This mission utilized both fragmentation variants and demolition bombs. * MET: Meteorological intelligence. Conditions for Operation 201 were restricted by 8-10/10ths Stratocumulus (Str.cu.) at 9,000 feet, while Operation 202 reported clear but hazy conditions. * SHORAN: Short Range Navigation. A precision radar beacon navigation and bombing system. This document records the first "SHORAN" raid conducted by the SAAF, led by a specialized 21 Squadron aircraft. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer, Capt. S.L. Boshoff. Operational Context Document 271-4_48 covers two distinct tactical successes on 16th April 1945 during Operation Grapeshot. Operation No. 201 represents a technical milestone for the SAAF: the first combat use of SHORAN. By using radar-controlled bombing, the formation was able to accurately target the Tresigallo Sugar Refinery despite heavy cloud cover (8-10/10ths) that would have prohibited visual bombing. Sugar refineries were strategic targets frequently used by the German 10th Army (10. Armee) for troop billeting and munitions storage. Operation No. 202 targeted enemy troop concentrations 3 miles north of Argenta in direct support of the Eighth Army's push through the Argenta Gap. The use of 72 x 500 lb and 48 x 250 lb fragmentation bombs indicates a mission designed to neutralize Axis infantry reserves attempting to hold the defensive line against the 56th London Division. The high accuracy reported—with all three boxes impacting within the briefed pinpoints—facilitated the rapid collapse of German defenses in this logistical bottleneck, accelerating the Allied breakout into the Po Valley. 49 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 16 APR 45. Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms * 21 S.A.A.F. / SA21: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force, a medium bomber unit operating as part of No. 3 Wing SAAF. * AIR 27 / 271 / 4: United Kingdom National Archives classification for the Air Ministry: Operations Record Books (ORBs); Volume 4 (AIR 27/271/4) catalogs the 1945 War Diaries and associated strike photography for 21 Squadron. * BIII K (120): Box Three (Third Box), Kinematograph. This technical suffix identifies the photographic record from the third four-plane formation (Box III) and indicates this is the 120th frame in the film sequence. * BA-BH (Martin Baltimore): The twin-engine medium bomber utilized by the unit prior to their conversion to the Martin B-26 Marauder III in late 1943. * F14: Focal length of the camera lens (14 inches) utilized for high-altitude vertical strike photography. * HH M2867: Map reference M. 2867 (specifically identifying coordinates near M. 319520), identifying the target area for enemy troop concentrations 3 miles North of ARGENTA on the Ferrara 1:100,000 Sheet 76. * MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive ordnance classifications. For this tactical support mission, the unit prioritized 500 lb and 250 lb Fragmentation (Frag) bombs (totaling 72 x 500 and 48 x 250 for the formation) to maximize effective coverage against personnel and unarmored targets. * MET (Meteorological Report): Meteorological intelligence. Conditions for this afternoon sortie were characterized as clear over the target area, though visibility was reported as hazy. * 11000 1739: Operational data indicating a bombing altitude of 11,000 feet and a strike time of 17:39 hours (recorded as between 1747–1753 hrs in narrative summaries). Operational Context Target File 271-4_49 is a vertical aerial strike photograph documenting Operation No. 202/21S/M on 16th April 1945. The image captures the kinetic results of the third box as 12 Martin Marauder III aircraft targeted German enemy troop concentrations 3 miles North of Argenta. This mission was a high-priority tactical support strike conducted during the breakthrough phase of Operation Grapeshot, the final Allied spring offensive in Italy. The location north of Argenta was of paramount strategic importance as the Eighth Army (specifically the 56th London Division) fought to force the Argenta Gap, a narrow strip of dry land between the Comacchio Lagoon and the flooded plains of the Reno River. The target consisted of infantry and tactical reserves of the German 10th Army (10. Armee) attempting to hold the defensive line against the Allied surge into the Po Valley. The photograph confirms the OPREP narrative that the patterns of all three boxes were "all within the area bounded by the briefed pinpoints". Visible smoke plumes indicate the successful detonation of fragmentation bombs (Frag) across the agricultural landscape and rural structures where German units were billeted. Despite encountering "moderate inaccurate" heavy anti-aircraft fire (HAA) from the target area, the formation maintained operational integrity, achieving a precision straddle that degraded Axis defensive capacity and facilitated the terminal Allied breakthrough in the sector. 50 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 17th APRIL 1945.