Operation

21 SQUADRON 1st RAID 3rd MARCH, 1945. 155 RAID ON CONEGLIANO M/YARDS. pp B631008 SHEET 38 - CONEGLIANO. T/O 1000 HRS OPREP No. 951 OPERATION NO. 157/21S/M. 557 U : Maj. Dieu Parsonson van de Putte Durrant Mitchell Peckitt. 537 YY : Lt. Qaill Louwrens Kres Douglas Wilson Solomon. 566 S : Lt. Becke Meyer Harle Heale Gidlow McCausland. 561 B : Lt. Muir Dale Lister Sgt Foster Jones E. Rourke. 513 Hv : Capt. Musgrove Goble Jordaan Rabie Capt. Jones Cook. 519 G : Lt. Ryneke Cordehl Teague Hennesey Cleete Tennant / Callaghan / 550 C : Lt. Fraser Miskis du Plessis Jenner Barrow Richardson 477 W : Lt. Anderson Stuart P/O Webber Steyn McHugh Dodson 583 V : Lt. Francis van Heldt Smit Andrews Laird Rennie 474 D : P/O Markham Kriel Gildenhuys Dinn Richardson T.O. Sandelands. TIME:- REMARKS :- Handwritten Marginalia / Stamps: * Folio Number: 155 (Handwritten, Top Right) * Tick Marks: Small handwritten check marks (✓) appear above various crew names and aircraft designations throughout the list, indicating administrative verification of attendance or mission completion. * Reference Stamp: 21 SQUADRON 1st RAID 4th March 1945. RAID ON Monzanaana M/Yards . PP.C.718675 SHEET 40 "A". T/O. 08.55 Hrs. OQprep No. 952. Operation 158/21S/M. / Lt Stubbs /

513 Hv : Maj. Smith Watermeyer Hatswell Arthur wilson wilding. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 519 G : F/O Hanna P/OGoble Dickenson Oldfield V.D.Berg Ras. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 550 C : Lt. Stuart Ramsey O-Hughes Fraser Howden du Plessis. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 477 N : Lt. Hussey Quaile wells Boast Watkinson Kennedy. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

477 W : Lt. Batley Long Adams Gillbank Butler Eave. / Meyer / ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 566 S : Lt. Becke Harle Johnstone Heale Gidlow McCausland. X ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 575 P : Lt. Granger Richardson Bailey Adams Kriger wood. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

561 B : Lt Muir Dale Lister Foster Jones Rouke. / Blackford / ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 583 V : Lt. Cloete Lt. Naude /---/ Paxton Venter Greijbe. X ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 537 YY : Lt. Collender Gillam Deane Benson Banfield Suter. 2.30. Time:- 25.50 Remarks:- Handwritten Marginalia / Stamps: * Folio Number: 154 (Visible on the underlying page edge) and 156 (Top right of current document). * Marginalia: "Lt Stubbs" handwritten above the crew of 513 Hv. * Marginalia: "Meyer" handwritten above the crew of 566 S. * Marginalia: "Blackford" handwritten above the crew of 583 V. * Marginalia: "X" mark appearing to the right of aircraft 566 S and 583 V. * Marginalia: "2.30." handwritten below the crew list for 537 YY. * Reference Stamp:

1945-03-03

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms * AIR 27 / 271: The United Kingdom National Archives (TNA) classification for Air Ministry Operations Record Books (ORBs). Series 271 specifically contains the chronological logs and intelligence appendices for 21 Squadron SAAF. * BA-BH (Martin Baltimore): The primary twin-engine tactical medium bomber (Marks III, IV, and V) utilized by 21 Squadron SAAF during the Italian Campaign. While not explicitly written on this crew list, the aircraft numbers (e.g., 557, 537, 566) correspond to the squadron’s Baltimore inventory used for the strikes detailed in the ORB. * M/YARDS: Marshalling Yards. These were critical rail hubs used for the sorting of rolling stock and logistics. * MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): The standard high-explosive ordnance (typically 250lb or 500lb) carried by 21 Squadron Baltimores for the interdiction of rail infrastructure. * MET (Meteorological Report): Critical weather intelligence required by crews navigating the trans-Apennine routes to reach targets in Northern Italy. * OPREP: Operational Report. OPREP No. 951 refers to the specific mission report filed following this raid. * T/O: Time of Take-off. For this mission, T/O was recorded as 1000 HRS. Operational Context This crew list for March 3, 1945, documents a tactical strike against the marshalling yards at Conegliano, located on the critical rail line connecting Venice to the Austrian border. By 1945, 21 Squadron SAAF was a key component of Operation Bingo, the strategic aerial campaign to isolate German Heeresgruppe C in Northern Italy by severing its remaining lines of communication (LOC). The strategic importance of interdicting rail hubs like Conegliano mirrors the squadron's 1943 efforts against the Bernhardt and Gustav Lines. During November 1943, the squadron conducted high-intensity sorties against tactical bottlenecks, such as location H055630, to prevent the movement of German reserves toward the front. By March 1945, the tactical focus had shifted to the Po Valley and the Alpine approaches, where strikes on marshalling yards aimed to cause total logistical paralysis. The presence of senior leadership on this mission, including Major Dieu (acting as lead pilot for aircraft 557), underscores the raid's importance. By systematically pulverizing the transport infrastructure at Conegliano, the MAAF placed unsustainable pressure on the German defenders, who were simultaneously being demoralized by "Nickel" propaganda sorties and the rapid disintegration of the Reich’s home front. 106 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 4th March 1945 Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms * AIR 27 / 271: The National Archives (UK) classification for Royal Air Force Operations Record Books (ORBs). Series 271 specifically contains the chronological logs and intelligence appendices for 21 Squadron SAAF. * BA-BH (Martin Baltimore): The primary twin-engine tactical medium bomber (Marks III, IV, and V) operated by 21 Squadron SAAF during the Italian Campaign. While not explicitly written on this crew list, the aircraft numbers (e.g., 513, 519, 550, 477, 566, 575, 561, 583, 537) correspond to the squadron’s Baltimore inventory. * M/YARDS (Marshalling Yards): Extensive railway yards utilized for the sorting and distribution of rolling stock. * MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard high-explosive ordnance (typically 250lb or 500lb) carried by 21 Squadron Baltimores for the interdiction of logistical infrastructure. * MET (Meteorological Report): Critical weather data required by SAAF crews for navigating the trans-Apennine routes between Central Italy and the Po Valley. * OQprep: Operational Report (often rendered as OPREP). This indicates the specific mission report following Operation 158/21S/M. * T/O (Time of Take-off): Recorded as 08.55 Hrs for this mission. Operational Context Target File 271-3_106 documents the first raid of March 4, 1945, directed against the marshalling yards at Mezzane (referenced as "Monzanaana" in the transcription). This operation was part of the final phase of the Italian Campaign, where 21 Squadron SAAF served as a tactical instrument for Operation Bingo. This Allied air offensive was designed to achieve total logistical paralysis of German Heeresgruppe C by severing all supply routes through the Northern Italian plains and Alpine passes. The strategic necessity of interdicting rail hubs like Mezzane follows a pattern of tactical isolation established earlier in the campaign. In November 1943, for example, 21 Squadron conducted high-precision strikes against bottlenecks such as location H055630 to maintain pressure on the Bernhardt and Gustav Lines. By March 1945, the tactical landscape had shifted toward the total isolation of the Po Valley. The mission utilized ten aircraft, including senior leadership such as Major Smith (lead pilot for 513 Hv). The handwritten "X" marks next to aircraft 566 S and 583 V, alongside the marginalia "Meyer" and "Blackford," suggest administrative tracking of crew substitutions or specific mission outcomes. This raid occurred simultaneously with a massive psychological warfare campaign; while the Baltimores struck physical targets, "Nickel" sorties disseminated propaganda leaflets informing isolated German troops of the Reich's internal disintegration. 107 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 4th March, 1945