Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Date
- - 8th MARCH 1945
APPENDIX "D"106FROM :- 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. (S.C.O.R.U.)S.A.O.A. ADV. S.A.A.F. H.Q. C.M.F.REF :- 21S/955.DATE :- 8th MARCH 1945.OPREP NO. 955 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 21.00 HOURS ON THE 6th MARCH 1945.REF MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 38 CONEGLIANO.OPERATION NO. 160/21/M.A : 10 Marauders airborne from JESI L/G. at 09.35 Hrs. to attackthe CONEGLIANO M/Y., with a Demo. load. Each A/C carried 6x500Lb+ 4x250Lb bombs, and escorted by 6 Spits from PORTO CORSINI,attacked briefed target from 12000' on a course of 300 Degreesat 11.08 Hrs. First and Third boxes straddled western half ofM/Y., with majority of bombs in T/A; Second Box had left errorand undershoot, most of the bombs falling in open ground about200 Yds. south of the target.No Enemy opposition. Last A/C down at 12.15 Hrs. Weather targetclear, visibility hazy.One Marauder airborne from JESI L/G at 09.25 Hrs. and escortedby 4 Spits from PORTO CORSINI proceeded to within a few milesof target with the object of finding a wind. This was passed toall following 3 wing formations, and the A/C then proceededwith escort to ROTTA NOVA where it straddled a Stores area atG456158., without, however, observing any D/M's on sheds. No enemyopposition encountered.B : (1) 11 Marauders 111 (11) Nil.C : (1) Nil (11) Nil.D : (1) 29. 20 Hours. (11) Nil.E : (1) 37400 x .50 (11) Nil (111) Nil.F : (1) 66 x 500 (11) As in (1) (111) Nil (1v) Nil.44 x 250 400Lb. Window6 Pkts Pamphlets(Front Post)Fused:- Tail Only 30-36.G to V Nil.W : (1) 2 Marauders 111 (11) Nil.X : (1) 2.20 Hours. (11) Nil.16 x 10 Lbs.Nil.S. L. Boschoff [Signed]CAPTAIN.S.I.O. NO 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.Handwritten Marginalia / Stamps:
Folio Number: 106 (Handwritten, Top Right).
Reference Stamp:
Transcriber's Notes
- S.I.O
- Squadron Intelligence Officer, responsible for mission debriefing.
- S.C.O.R.U
- Section for Operational Research and Underlining (or Unit), tasked with analyzing bombing accuracy.
- JESI L/G
- Jesi Landing Ground, the primary base for 21 Squadron during this period.
- Spits
- Supermarine Spitfire fighters provided as escorts.
- T/A
- Target Area.
- D/M's
- Direct Markings or Direct Misses (contextually Direct Marks of hits).
- Window
- Chaff; strips of aluminum foil dropped to jam German radar. Operational Context Target File 271-3_12 documents Operation 160/21/M on March 6, 1945, a ten-aircraft strike against the Conegliano Marshalling Yards. Conegliano was a vital node in the German logistical network in North-East Italy, supporting the defense of the Venetian sector. By early 1945, the MAAF was engaged in Operation Bingo, a strategic interdiction campaign aimed at achieving the total isolation of German Heeresgruppe C by severing supply lines through the Alpine passes and Po Valley. This operation reflects the doctrinal continuity from the 1943 battles for the Bernhardt and Gustav Lines. In November 1943, 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. utilized high-precision strikes on specific bottlenecks, such as location H055630, to paralyze German reserves attempting to reinforce the front. By March 1945, the use of a specialized "windfinding" aircraft to pass atmospheric data to the entire 3 Wing formation demonstrates the increased technical sophistication required for precision bombing as the Axis forces retreated toward the Reich. The secondary strike on the Rotta Nova stores area and the dropping of "Front Post" pamphlets further underscore the dual kinetic and psychological pressure being applied to the crumbling German rear echelons. 13 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 8th MARCH 1945.
- Front Post
- A specific propaganda pamphlet type dropped to break enemy morale.
Demo. load: Demolition load, referring to high-explosive ordnance (500Lb and 250Lb bombs) fused to destroy physical structures like rail lines and sheds.
MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard high-explosive bomb classifications.