APPENDIX "E" — Orders & Appendices

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/5
APPENDIX "E"
240A
Court of Inquiry regarding injuries sustained by No. P.5429 V.
T/A/Sgt. Wilson B. D. and No. 99935V. A/Cpl. Skinner N.B. on the
12th March, 1945.
F I N D I N G.
The finding of the Court is that :-
* A/Cpl. Thompson was directly responsible as he fired the gun,
but this was purely an accident and not due to negligence.
* The accident was not due to the lack of discipline on the part
of any person.
* The injuries sustained by A/Sgt. Wilson and A/Cpl. Skinner
were sustained whilst on duty.
The Court recommends that although there was no apparent
negligence greater care should be exercised when checking
guns and as far as possible dummy rounds should be used.
Should dummy rounds at any time be impracticable, the guns
should not be pointed at a surface sufficiently hard to cause
a ricotchet.
The Court inspected the scene of the accident and it was
established that the bullets ricotched off the concrete
before striking the truck. This was confirmed by the angle
of the bullet holes in the truck, the bullets having first
pierced the windscreen and then the roof of the truck.
The Court has no reason to doubt the credibility of any of
the witnesses.
(Signed) W.H. Mitchell Capt. PRESIDENT. B.M. Quail Lieut. MEMBER.
COMMANDING OFFICER'S REMARKS.
I concur.
(Signed) D. Ord. LT. COL.
COMMANDING, 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes")
Glossary of Terms
* 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. In March 1945, this unit operated Martin Marauder III medium bombers from Jesi, Italy, as part of No. 3 Wing SAAF.
* A/CPL / A/SGT / T/A/SGT: Acting Corporal; Acting Sergeant; Temporary Acting Sergeant.
* AIR 27/271/5: The United Kingdom National Archives reference for the Operations Record Book (ORB) and Appendices of No. 21 Squadron SAAF for the mid-1945 period.
* BA-BH (Martin Baltimore): The twin-engine medium bomber utilized by the squadron until late 1943/early 1944, when the unit converted to the Martin Marauder III (B-26) aircraft currently in service.
* MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive demolition ordnance utilized by the unit's Marauder formations during combat interdiction.
* MET: Meteorological data. While not relevant to this specific accidental discharge incident, favorable March weather facilitated the high combat sortie rates documented elsewhere in the war diary.
* RICOTCHET: Misspelling of 'Ricochet.' The document specifically analyzes the ballistics of rounds reflecting off concrete before striking personnel and vehicles.
Operational Context
Target File 271-5_9 documents the findings of a formal Court of Inquiry regarding an accidental discharge of a firearm within the 21 Squadron camp at Jesi, Italy, on 12th March 1945. This document, cataloged as Appendix "E", provides a detailed forensic analysis of the ballistic path, noting that bullets ricocheted off concrete, pierced a truck's windscreen, and then its roof before wounding A/Sgt. Wilson and A/Cpl. Skinner.
The strategic context of this incident is rooted in the high state of technical readiness required during the buildup to the final Allied spring offensive, Operation Grapeshot. Maintenance and checking of the defensive weaponry (likely .50 caliber machine guns) of the Martin Marauder III aircraft were constant duties for ground crews. The court's recommendation to use dummy rounds or avoid pointing weapons at hard surfaces when clearing them highlights the occupational hazards present at an active frontline airbase.
The Officer Commanding, Lt. Col. D. Ord, concurred with the finding that the incident was a "pure accident" rather than a result of negligence or lack of discipline. Documenting such events was essential for determining that the injuries were sustained "whilst on duty," ensuring the wounded personnel remained eligible for military medical care and pension considerations as the squadron moved toward the final collapse of Axis resistance in Italy.

Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check: 13TH MAY, 1945.