The second Box bombed with a left

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Date: 5th APRIL, 1945

APPENDIX "G"203FROM : 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/991.DATE : 5th APRIL, 1945.OPREP NO. 991 FOR THE PERIOD 1200 HRS to 2100 HRS, 5th APRIL, 1945. REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 40A - GORIZIA.

<u>OPERATION NO. 187/21S/M.</u>

A : 12 Marauders in two Boxes airborne from Jesi L/G between1425 and 1712 hrs. to bomb Monsanta M/Yards at GORIZIA.After R/V with 12 Spitfires at Porto Corsini at 1525formation set course for target followed by 8 Maraudersof 12 Squadron. The target was bombed from 11500' to 12500'at 1558 hrs. The first box scored heavily with an excellentpattern running right up the yards, over 90% of the bombsfalling on the target. The second Box bombed with a leftlateral error, all bombs missing the target. The weatherwas clear over the target and visibility was good. Therewas no enemy opposition. Pamphlets were droppedover enemy territory. One A/C returned early on accountof engine trouble.B : (1) 8 Marauders III (ii) NilC : (1) & (ii) NilD : (1) 20.55 Hrs. (ii) NilE : (1) 27,200 x .50 (ii) 1 (iii) NilF : (1) 42 x 500) M.C. (ii) 42 x 500 : 27 Pkts Pamphlets.32 x 250) Demo Fused 28 x 250 : (iii) & (iv) Nil

G to V : NilW : (1) 3 Marauders III (ii) NilX : (1) 4.00 Hrs (ii) NilY to Z : Nil S.T. Wrigill [handwritten signature] ___-------------------- LT. / Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.9550SA 21 | 505 5 APR 45 F20 || HH C 5208 12000 1557 B I O P

Transcriber's Notes

S.I.O: Squadron Intelligence Officer, Lt./Capt. S.T. Wrigill. Operational Context Target File 271-4_23 documents Operation No. 187/21S/M, a kinetic strike executed on the afternoon of 5th April 1945 against the Monsanta Marshalling Yards in Gorizia. This mission was a key component of the Allied strategic interdiction campaign aimed at severing the logistical links between the Italian front and the Reich. The location of Gorizia, situated at the foothills of the Alps near the Yugoslav border, served as a vital bottleneck for the German 10th Army (10. Armee) and 14th Army (14. Armee) retreating toward the Austrian frontier. By targeting the Monsanta yards, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) sought to exacerbate the logistical paralysis of Heeresgruppe C immediately before the launch of the final spring offensive, Operation Grapeshot. The formation of 12 Marauder III aircraft from 21 Squadron, followed by 8 aircraft from 12 Squadron S.A.A.F., operated under a close escort of 12 Spitfires from Porto Corsini. While the first box achieved an "excellent pattern" with over 90% of ordnance impacting the yards, the second box suffered a lateral error that resulted in a total miss. Despite this partial success, the mission contributed to the terminal collapse of Axis transport capacity. Concurrent psychological operations (the dropping of 27 packets of pamphlets) were maintained to undermine enemy morale as Allied ground forces prepared for the decisive breakthrough of the Argenta Gap. 24
21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F: No. 21 Squadron, 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 administrative and tactical higher command overseeing 21 Squadron's Martin Marauder operations.
SCORU: South African Operations Records Unit.
OPREP NO. 991: Operational Report documenting activity for the afternoon period of 5th April 1945.
F20: Focal length of the camera lens (20 inches) used for high-altitude vertical strike photography.
HH C 5208: Map reference C. 5208 (specifically identifying the coordinates for the Monsanta Marshalling Yards in Gorizia) on the Gorizia 1:100,000 Sheet 40A.

MC / GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Allied aerial ordnance classifications. This mission utilized 500 lb Medium Capacity and 250 lb General Purpose Demolition bombs.

B I O P: Box I, Observer Pilot. Indicates the vertical strike photograph was captured from the observer's camera position in the lead aircraft of the first four-plane formation (Box I) during the bombing run.

MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive ordnance. For this mission, the squadron utilized 500 lb M.C. and 250 lb GP Demo fuzed bombs.