Operation

21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. RAID ON PORTO NOGARO CELLULOSE FACTORY ppH395914 18th MARCH, 1945. 2nd RAID OPREP NO. 968 OPERATION NO. 170/21/M. T/OFF:- 1449 hrs. 575 P : Maj. Dieu Parsonson v.d.Putte Mitchell Durrant Peckitt 471 R : Lt. Collender Gillam Deane Benson Banfield Suter 557 U : Lt. Granger Stuart Bailey Adams wood Kruger. 545 K : Lt. Fraser Jandrell du Plessis Richardson W/O) Barrow Jenner 561 B : Lt. Isted Williams Gelb Bedford Botha Collins 572 J : Lt. Hussey Quaife Wells Boast Kennedy Pienaar 539 T : Lt. Gough Horne Ryan Overee Smith TR Mathew 537 YY: Lt. Cloete Callaghan winn Paxton Greijbe Ceronio. WINDFINDING A/C:- 513 Hv: Lt. Muir Dale Lister Foster Jones Rourke. Times for all. 2.45 Hrs.

1945-03-18

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms * AIR 27 / 271: United Kingdom National Archives classification for Air Ministry: Operations Record Books (ORBs); series 271 specifically contains the historical operational records for 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.. * B-26 Marauder: The twin-engine medium bomber utilized by 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. following their 1943 transition from the Martin Baltimore (BA-BH) at Campo Marino. The aircraft serials listed (e.g., 575, 471, 557) represent Marauder airframes active during the March 1945 interdiction phase. * MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied aerial ordnance classifications. For strikes against industrial complexes like the Porto Nogaro factory, 21 Squadron Marauders typically carried 500 lb or 1,000 lb GP bombs to ensure the structural failure of reinforced concrete and machinery. * MET (Meteorological Report): Meteorological intelligence. Precise atmospheric data was required for the 14:49 takeoff to ensure visual bombing accuracy over the coastal lagoon region of the Adriatic. * OPREP NO. 968: Operational Report number 968. * pp H395914: Precise map grid reference (Pinpoint) for the Porto Nogaro Cellulose Factory target area. * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * T/OFF:- 1449 hrs: Time of Take-Off, 14:49 hours. * WINDFINDING A/C: A specialized tactical role assigned to a specific aircraft (Marauder 513 Hv) tasked with calculating wind drift and atmospheric variables at altitude to calibrate the bomb sights of the following formation for maximum precision. Operational Context Target File 271-3_117 documents the second operational raid conducted by 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. on 18th March 1945. The objective was the Porto Nogaro Cellulose Factory, located at the northernmost point of the Adriatic Sea. Porto Nogaro served as a significant industrial and maritime terminal for German Heeresgruppe C. The cellulose factory was a target of strategic importance as cellulose was a primary raw material used in the production of smokeless powder and other propellants. By March 1945, Allied interdiction efforts, such as Operation Bingo, had largely paralyzed the primary rail links to the Reich, forcing the German command to rely on maritime coastal transport and localized industrial production. The flight manifest identifies a nine-aircraft formation organized into two boxes plus a wind-finding aircraft, led by Maj. Dieu in Marauder 575 P. The tactical configuration utilized Marauder 513 Hv (piloted by Lt. Muir) in the "WINDFINDING" role, a necessity for achieving high-precision results against an industrial pinpoint in a coastal environment where shifting maritime winds could significantly affect bomb trajectory. The formation recorded a mission duration of 2 hours and 45 minutes. This strike against Axis industrial capacity was synchronized with the broader Allied air offensive, where the MAAF simultaneously applied physical pressure to logistical nodes and psychological pressure via "Frontpost" leaflets to erode the remaining German "will to resist" as the final spring offensive approached. 118 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 19th MARCH, 1945.