(Italy 1951)

International Operation Name:  Not applicable

International Operation Dates:  Not applicable

Mandating Organization: Government of Canada

Region Name:  Europe

Location:  Italy

Canadian Operation Name: (Italy 1951)

Canadian Operation Dates: 1951/11/28 – 1951/11/28

Mission Mandate: To deliver humanitarian assistance to Italy

Mission Notes: 

Northern Italy was overwhelmed by the amount of rain that fell in October 1951 and again in the second week of November. The already water-logged soil could not absorb the 600 mm (2 feet) which fell from 7 to 12 November. This produced a water-flow eight times normal throughout the catchment basin of the Po River. Flooding followed, leaving over 16,000 people homeless.

The Government of Canada responded positively to a request from the Canadian Red Cross to transport relief supplies to Italy, and as a result a 426 Squadron North Star flew to Toronto on 27 November to pick up the cargo and three Canadian Red Cross representatives, taking them first to Montreal. The next day, two North Stars with extra crews left for Dorval for Rome. They carried the Red Cross officials, an RCAF Public Relations Officer and cameraman, and 19,000 lbs (8636 kgs) of food, blankets, medicine and humanitarian supplies.