Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 10th April, 1945
APPENDIX "K"207FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.TO : W.I.O. 3 WING S.A.A.F.H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION OPERATIONS RECORDS)H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. ( SCORU)REF. : 21S/996DATE : 10th April, 1945.OPREP NO. 996 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 1200 HRS. ON THE 10th APRIL, 1945 REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 89 - RAVENNA.
<u>OPERATION NO. 191/21S/M.</u>
A : 12 Marauders in three boxes briefed to attack an armouredconcentration in the village of MENATE at M. 417587 withFrag. bombs in support of the Army. Formation was airbornebetween 0800 hrs - 1007 hrs. and attacked from about 12000'on 200º - 220º at 0925 Hrs. All boxes had a left error forbriefed pinpoint, but numerous direct hits were scored onscattered buildings in vicinity which appeared to harbourenemy units. No enemy opposition encountered. weather;target area clear, visibility fair.B : (1) 12 Marauders III (ii) NilC : (1) & (ii) NilD : (1) 24.00 hrs (ii) NilE : (1) 40,800 x .50 (ii) & (iii) NilF : (1) 72 x 500) Frag. (ii) as in (i) (iii) and (iv) Nil48 x 250) fused.G to Z : Nil S.L. Boshoff [handwritten signature] ___-------------------- Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.06160SA21 | 563 10APR 45 F3 || HH M4258 10800 0925 B6V (15)
Transcriber's Notes
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer, Capt. S.L. Boshoff. Operational Context Target File 271-4_31 documents Operation No. 191/21S/M, a tactical close-support strike executed on the morning of 10th April 1945. This mission took place during the critical opening phase of Operation Grapeshot, the final Allied spring offensive in Italy. The strategic objective was the neutralization of an armoured concentration in the village of Menate (Map Ref: Sheet 89 - RAVENNA). Menate was a pivotal defensive node located in the path of the Eighth Army's advance toward the Argenta Gap. By deploying saturation levels of fragmentation bombs, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) sought to shatter the German 10th Army’s (10. Armee) tactical reserves and defensive positions immediately following the previous day's river crossings. The 12 Marauder III aircraft achieved "numerous direct hits" on scattered buildings within the village vicinity, despite a slight lateral error to the left of the briefed pinpoint. These buildings were assessed as harboring Axis personnel and equipment. The absence of flak or fighter opposition indicates the total air superiority maintained by the MAAF during this phase, allowing medium bombers to operate with impunity at 12,000 feet to facilitate the terminal collapse of Axis resistance in the sector. 32
- 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F
- No. 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force, a medium bomber unit operating within the Desert Air Force (DAF).
- 3 WING S.A.A.F
- No. 3 Wing SAAF, the higher administrative and tactical formation overseeing the squadron’s Martin Marauder operations.
- OPREP NO. 996
- Operational Report documenting activity for the morning period of 10th April 1945.
- F3
- Focal length of the camera lens (3 inches) utilized for high-altitude strike photography.
- HH M4258
- Map reference M. 4258 (specifically pp. M.417587), identifying coordinates for an armoured concentration in the village of Menate on the Ravenna 1:100,000 Sheet 89.
MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive ordnance. For this tactical support mission, fragmentation clusters (72 x 500 lb and 48 x 250 lb) were prioritized over GP demolition bombs.
B6V (15): Box 6, Vertical. This technical suffix denotes the specific aircraft position within the formation (Box 6) and the vertical orientation of the camera (No. 15 in the series).
MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive ordnance classifications. For this mission, however, the unit utilized 72 x 500 lb and 48 x 250 lb Fragmentation (Frag) bombs to maximize effect against personnel and light armor.