There was only high cloud over target. Visibility was fair in

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Date: - 17th APRIL 1945

CONFIDENTIAL. APPENDIX "W"219FROM :- 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.)W.I.O. 3 WING S.A.A.F.REF :- 21S/1008.DATE :- 17th APRIL 1945.OPREP NO. 1008 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HRS. ON THE 17th APRIL 1945.REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 76 FERRARA ( SHORAN.) REF. MAP ITALY 1:100,000 SHEET 88 IMOLA. ( SQUADRON RAID.)<u>OPERATION NO. 204/21S/M.</u>A : 1 MARAUDER airborne from JESI L/G between 1309 and 1454 Hrs. andflew with 3 other Marauders in a box led by 30 Squadron on a"SHORAN" bombing mission to the TRESIGALLO SUGAR REFINERY atM.334828. The Box scored an excellent "Bull" with a completestraddle of the target, at 1410 Hrs. No enemy opposition was en-countered. WEATHER fair. VISIBILITY 10 miles.<u>OPERATION NO. 205/21S/M.</u>B : 12 MARAUDERS airborne in 3 boxes of 4 between 1410 and 1606 Hrsto bomb the 29th Panzer Division at M 240650. Formation setcourse from base at 1440 and bombed at 1518 Hrs. from 10 -11,000'.Second and third boxes straddled target with excellent concen-tration of bombs. First box missed with slight lateral error.There was slight, inaccurate H/A/A from vicinity of target.There was only high cloud over target. Visibility was fair inslight haze.B : (1) 13 MARAUDERS 111 (11) NIL.C : (1) NIL. (11) NIL.D : (1) 23.50 Hrs. (11) NIL.E : (1) 44,200 x .50 (11) NIL. (111) NIL.F : (1) 78 x 500 Lb. 52 x 250 Lb. FRAG. FUSED. (11) as in (1)(111) NIL. (1v) NIL.G TO V. NIL.W : (1) 2 MARAUDERS 111 (11) NIL.X : (1) 3.40 Hrs. (11) NIL.8 x 10 Lb. Practice.Y & Z. NIL.S.T. Wrigill [handwritten signature]LT CAPTAIN.S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.00, - - -SA21 | 737 17APR 45 F14 || HH M2465 10000 1509 BIA U (141)

Transcriber's Notes

S.I.O: Squadron Intelligence Officer, Lt./Capt. S.T. Wrigill. Operational Context Target File 271-4_52 documents a day of intensive and technologically advanced operations on 17th April 1945, a critical juncture in Operation Grapeshot. Operation No. 204 highlights the continued deployment of SHORAN-equipped aircraft. By leading a composite box with 30 Squadron, the unit achieved a precision "Bull" straddle of the Tresigallo Sugar Refinery (Map Ref: Sheet 76 - FERRARA, M.334828). Sugar refineries were frequently utilized by the German 10th Army (10. Armee) as fortified billets and depots; destroying this facility helped sever the logistical tether for Axis units retreating toward the Po River. Operation No. 205 targeted concentrations of the 29th Panzergrenadier Division at Map Ref M. 240650. This German division was a high-value mobile reserve essential to the Axis defense of the Argenta Gap. The deployment of fragmentation ordnance (78 x 500 lb and 52 x 250 lb) across two successful boxes achieved an "excellent concentration of bombs" on German mechanized assets. These strikes supported the Eighth Army’s breakthrough by neutralizing the tactical reserves needed by Heeresgruppe C to sustain a coherent defensive line, directly contributing to the terminal logistical collapse of German resistance in the sector. 53
21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force, a medium bomber unit.
S.C.O.R.U: South African Central Operations Record Unit.
3 WING S.A.A.F: The administrative and tactical higher command for the squadron during the spring 1945 offensive.
SHORAN: Short Range Navigation. A precision radar-beacon bombing system. Following the SAAF's first use of the system on April 16, Operation 204 represents continued tactical integration of this equipment.
JESI L/G: Jesi Landing Ground, the primary base for 21 Squadron in April 1945.
29th Panzer Division: 29. Panzergrenadier-Division, a high-mobility German mechanized unit acting as a "fire brigade" reserve for Heeresgruppe C.
H/A/A: Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire.
F14: Focal length of the camera lens (14 inches) utilized for high-altitude vertical strike photography.
HH M2465: Map reference M. 2465 (identifying coordinates near M. 240650), identifying the target area for concentrations of the 29th Panzer Division on the Imola 1:100,000 Sheet 88.

MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard high-explosive ordnance classifications. This day's missions utilized a combination of 500 lb and 250 lb payloads.

BIA U (141): Box I Alpha, Up. This technical suffix identifies the photographic record from the first aircraft in the first four-plane formation (Box I) and indicates this is the 141st frame in the strike film sequence.

MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive ordnance classifications. For this mission, the unit utilized 500 lb and 250 lb Fragmentation (Frag) bombs (totaling 78 x 500 and 52 x 250 for the formation) to maximize effective coverage against unarmored personnel and mechanized assets.