APPENDIX "W" — Orders & Appendices

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APPENDIX "W"
128
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES.
No. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Message received from the Army :-
ARMY VERY DELIGHTED WITH TODAYS BOMBING : AS A RESULT THE GERMANS HAVE ABANDONED THEIR POSITIONS.
From :- B.G.S. 8th Army.
8TH ARMY VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL HELP FROM "DESERT AIR FORCE" DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS. HAS BEEN OF GREAT ASSISTANCE.
FROM A LT. COL. - EYEWITNESS IN A FORWARD OBSERVATION POST.
"I WATCHED THE LIGHT AND MEDIUM BOMBERS OPERATING TODAY FROM A FORWARD OBSERVATION POST.... IT WAS SIMPLY INCREDIBLY DEVASTATING. THE ACCURACY AND DESTRUCTION THEY CAUSED WAS UNBELIEVABLE"
FROM THE CHIEF OF STAFF.
"THE ARMY IS THOROUGHLY GRATEFUL AND THE TROOPS HAVE GOT THE GREATEST CONFIDENCE IN YOUR LIGHT AND MEDIUM BOMBERS"
RECEIVED FROM ARMY COMMANDER 8TH ARMY.
PERSONAL FROM ARMY COMMANDER FOR A.O.C.
"I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AND ALL YOUR PILOTS AND CREWS VERY MUCH FOR THE MAGNIFICENT SUPPORT AFFORDED BY D.A.F. TO 8TH ARMY TO-DAY. CULMINATING IN YOUR OUTSTANDING SUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON THE POLISH CORPS. TO-DAY HAS BEEN A MOST SUCCESSFUL DAY. I HAVE EVERY HOPE THAT EVEN MORE EVENTFUL DAYS LIE AHEAD OF US AND EVEN GREATER SUCCESSES. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONVEY ALL YOUR WINGS MY SINCERE PRAISE AND WHOLEHEARTED THANKS".

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* B.G.S.: Brigadier General Staff.
* 8th Army: British Eighth Army.
* LT. COL.: Lieutenant Colonel.
* A.O.C.: Air Officer Commanding.
* D.A.F.: Desert Air Force.
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* Observations about Individuals and Organizations:
* Army Commander 8th Army: At this time, the Eighth Army was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese. His personal message to the A.O.C. (likely Air Vice-Marshal William Dickson of the Desert Air Force) underscores the unprecedented level of air-ground integration achieved during this phase of the war.
* B.G.S. 8th Army: The Brigadier General Staff was the senior staff officer responsible for operations and intelligence within the Eighth Army headquarters.
* Polish Corps: Specifically refers to the II Polish Corps under Lieutenant General Władysław Anders, which was tasked with capturing the strategic port of Ancona and breaking the eastern flank of the Gothic Line near Pesaro.
* Location and Historical Context:
* The Gothic Line (Operation Olive): These messages were received during the breakthrough of the Gotenstellung (Gothic Line), Germany's final major defensive line in Italy. The "incredibly devastating" bombing described by the eyewitness occurred as SAAF Martin B-26 Marauders and light bombers provided continuous close air support to suppress German gun batteries and strongpoints in the wooded hills west of Pesaro.
* Close Air Support Evolution: The transition of 21 Squadron from the Martin Baltimore to the more powerful Marauder on August 15th significantly increased the tactical weight of these strikes. The "shuttle service" tactic—launching small boxes of aircraft at staggered intervals—ensured that the Army commander’s troops felt the constant presence and protection of the D.A.F. over the battlefield.
* Tactical Impact: The Army’s report that Germans "abandoned their positions" due to the bombing is the ultimate validation for a tactical air unit. By late August 1944, the combined weight of the light and medium bombers had paralyzed German mobile reserves, allowing Allied infantry to breach mountain defenses that were previously considered impregnable.

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Target File Verification: The date written in the 'DATE' column is 2nd AUGUST, 1944.