Operation

~~RAID ON VERONA M/Y~~ pp C 329429 REF MAP ITALY 1,100,00[0] DATE 9th MARCH 1945. SHEET NO 65. ALTERNATIVE RAID ON PONTE LONGO SUGAR REFINERY pp 455301 MAP REF. 1,100,000 SHEET NO 65. TAKE-OFF 1340 HOURS. OPREP NUMBER 958 OPERATION NO. 163/21S/M. P. 575. Maj. DIEU PARSONSON van der PUTTE DURANT MITCHELL PECKITT. S. 566. LT. BECKE MEYER JOHNSTONE HEALE GIDLOW Mc CAUSLAND. U. 537. LT. QUAIL LOUWRENS KROS DOUGLAS WILSON SOLOMON. Y. 537. LT. ACKERMAN DORE STEENKAMP GOODWIN MALAN STEPHENS. A. 429. CAPT. MUSGROVE GOBLE JORDAAN RABIE JONES COOK. C. 550. LT. STUART RAMSEY OWEN - HUGHES FRASER HOWDEN du PLESSIS. D. 474. F/O. HANNA PARSONS DICKINSON OLDFIELD van der BERG RAS. G. 519. LT. MUIR DALE LISTER FOSTER JONES ROUKE. TIMES:- 3.05 HOURS. C. & D 3.30 Hours. Handwritten Marginalia / Stamps: * Folio Number: 161 (Handwritten, Top Right). * Strike-throughs: The primary target "RAID ON VERONA M/Y" is struck through with horizontal lines. * Marginalia: A small handwritten "X" or strike-through appears near the top left corner of the main entry block. * Reference Stamp:

1945-03-09

__o_O_o__

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 catalogs the historical logs and mission appendices for 21 Squadron SAAF. * BA-BH (Martin Baltimore): The primary twin-engine tactical medium bomber (Marks IV and V) operated by 21 Squadron SAAF during the Italian Campaign. While not explicitly written on the crew list, aircraft callsigns (P, S, U, Y, A, C, D, G) and numbers (575, 566, 537, 429, 550, 474, 519) correspond to the squadron’s Baltimore inventory. * M/Y (Marshalling Yard): A critical railway hub used for sorting rolling stock. The primary target at Verona was struck through, indicating a diversion to the alternative. * MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard high-explosive ordnance (typically 250 lb or 500 lb) carried by Baltimores for interdiction of logistical and industrial infrastructure. * MET (Meteorological Report): Vital weather intelligence required by 21 Squadron crews for navigating trans-Apennine routes and Po Valley atmospheric conditions. * OPREP: Operational Report. OPREP Number 958 represents the formal summary submitted following the conclusion of Operation 163/21S/M. * T/O (Take-off): Recorded as 1340 hours for this mission. Operational Context Target File 271-3_111 documents a multi-aircraft mission on March 9, 1945, which diverted from its primary objective, the Verona Marshalling Yards, to strike an alternative: the Ponte Longo Sugar Refinery (coordinates 455301). In the context of the Italian Campaign, industrial facilities like sugar refineries were often utilized by the German Wehrmacht as logistical depots, fuel storage sites, or improvised strongpoints. The strategic emphasis on interdiction and the neutralization of rear-echelon infrastructure in March 1945 represents the culmination of the doctrine established earlier in the campaign. In November 1943, 21 Squadron SAAF focused on precision strikes at tactical bottlenecks, such as location H055630, to paralyze German reserves attempting to reach the Bernhardt and Gustav Lines. By early 1945, during Operation Bingo, the scope had widened to achieving total logistical paralysis of Heeresgruppe C in the Po Valley by destroying both transit hubs (Verona) and secondary storage sites (Ponte Longo). The mission was led by senior squadron leadership, including Major Dieu in aircraft P. 575. The recorded mission duration was approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes for the main formation, with aircraft C and D (piloted by Lt. Stuart and F/O Hanna) logging slightly longer times (3 hours 30 minutes), possibly due to reconnaissance or independent target assessments. This raid occurred as Allied air forces maintained crushing pressure on German transport, while "Nickel" propaganda sorties simultaneously informed isolated Axis troops of the ongoing disintegration of the Reich’s domestic defenses. 112 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 10th March '45.