| Special Forces Operations in March 1944 |
| April 6th, 1945, – April 24th, 1945 |
| Operation Blimey |
| 2 Special Air Service |
| Operation Blimey, conducted between April 6th, 1945, and April 24th, 1945, is the final Special Air Service mission in north-western Italy. Intended to replicate the success of Operation Galia, the mission is overtaken by the rapid Allied advance before achieving significant results. Planned for the Rossano Valley, Operation Blimey follows the earlier success of Operation Galia. By this time, Major Gordon Lett has been extracted and replaced by John Henderson of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Captain Alan P. Scott commands the SAS detachment, leading one section, while Lieutenants John Wilmers and Pepper lead the others. On April 6th, 1945, 24 men parachute successfully into the valley. However, the mission quickly loses momentum. Henderson prioritises constructing a mountaintop airstrip, which remains incomplete when hostilities cease. Meanwhile, Scott’s men raid the La Spezia-Aulla road south of Rossano on April 14th, 1945. The following night, a joint assault on Pontremoli fails, forcing the Special Air Service stick supporting the attack to abandon all heavy weapons under unclear circumstances. By April 20th, 1945, frustration grows over the lack of progress. Walker-Brown, commander of Operation Galia, is ordered to replace Scott, but this does not occur. By this time, the Allied Fifth Army’s offensive, Operation Craftsman, is in full swing. American forces reach the northern edge of the Bologna mountains, while the U.S. 92nd Division advances along the coast. On the same day, Major Lett enters La Spezia from the south. By April 25th, 1945, U.S. forces push north from La Spezia, liberating the Blimey operational area. |
| April 9th, 1945 |
| Air Attack on Japanese Don Muang airfield. |
| 1st Air Commando Group |
| 33 Mustangs of the 1st Air Commando Group armed with drop tanks attack Don Muang airfield. Three Mustangs are shot down due to heavy anti-aircraft fire. |