APPENDIX "F" — Orders & Appendices

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/7
APPENDIX "F"

Court of Inquiry to inquire into the cause of the death of No. 226243V.
A/Cpl. Schoeman A. J. on 3rd June, 1945.
263
FINDING OF THE COURT.
(i) The Court finds that on 1st June, 1945 at approximately 13.25 hrs.
vehicle No. S. A. F. 3844308526 driven by A/M. Bredenkamp with Cpl.
Fourie in the Cab and Cpl. Schoeman in the back of the truck was
proceeding from the Jesi Aerodrome to 21 Squadron on duty. Cpl.
Schoeman banged violently on the roof of the cab as a result of
which the driver, A/M. Bredenkamp, received a violent fright, immed-
iately applied the brakes and brought the truck to a sudden stop,
Cpl. Schoeman being thrown out of the truck over the top of the cab
on to the road.
Immediately after the accident Cpl. Schoeman was admitted to the
Sick Bay of 3 Wing, S.A.A.F. from which he was transferred to No. 11
British General Hospital.
Examination of Medical Case Sheet, Army Form I - 1237, by the Court
was carried out and the Court is satisfied that Cpl. Schoeman was
given all medical aid possible.
Cpl. Schoeman was admitted to the 11th British General Hospital at
18.00 hours on 1st June, 1945 and died on 3rd June at 16.55 hours.
(ii) It is the opinion of this Court that Cpl. Schoeman was indirectly
responsible for the accident in that he by banging on the roof of
the cab, frightened the driver, who, not knowing the cause of the
noise, applied the brakes of the truck suddenly.
(iii) The Court is of the opinion that no ~~xxx~~ blame can be attached to
the driver of the vehicle, A/M. Bredenkamp, whose natural reaction
on hearing such a violent noise, was to draw up the vehicle as
quickly as possible.
(iv) The Court is satisfied that the accident occurred when all parties
concerned were on duty.
(v) The Court finds no reason to doubt the credibility of the witnesses.
(signed) H. Gordon-Williams Maj. PRESIDENT, W. Nicholl Capt. MEMBER.
COMMANDING OFFICER'S REMARKS.
I concur

(Signed) D. Ord LT. COL.
COMMANDING, NO. 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. By June 1945, the unit had ceased combat operations in the Italian Campaign and was transitioning toward non-operational duties, including "Air Trooping".
* 3 WING S.A.A.F.: No. 3 (South African) Wing, the administrative and tactical formation under which 21 Squadron operated within the Desert Air Force (DAF).
* A/M: Air Mechanic. A technical rank within the SAAF.
* A/Cpl: Acting Corporal.
* BA-BH (Martin Baltimore): The twin-engine medium bomber utilized by the squadron until late 1943/early 1944. By the date of this document, the unit was equipped with Martin Marauder III (B-26) aircraft.
* MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied demolition bombs. While not relevant to this vehicular accident, they were the primary ordnance used by the squadron prior to the cessation of hostilities.
* MET: Meteorological data. While weather is not cited as a factor in the accident, MET conditions in the Jesi/Udine sectors during June 1945 were characterized by extreme summer heat.
* S. A. F. 3844308526: The serial number of the South African Force service vehicle involved in the incident.
Operational Context
Target File 271-7_12, designated as Appendix "F", provides the formal conclusion to a Court of Inquiry regarding the accidental death of A/Cpl. Schoeman A. J.. The strategic importance of the location, Jesi Aerodrome, during the period of June 1st to June 3rd, 1945, was that of a primary logistical and administrative staging area for the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF).
The incident occurred as the squadron was preparing for its major relocation from Jesi to Rivolto Airfield (near Udine). During this phase, the unit’s Motor Transport (M.T.) section was under extreme pressure, with vehicles covering approximately 91,000 miles in June alone to facilitate the move. The inquiry determined that while the vehicle was "on duty," the fatality was caused by a sudden deceleration after the passenger in the rear (Schoeman) startled the driver by banging on the cab roof.
Despite being treated at the 3 Wing Sick Bay and the No. 11 British General Hospital, the airman succumbed to head injuries. This document, signed by Lt. Col. D. Ord, D.F.C., underscores the continued administrative rigor of the SAAF even after the formal cessation of hostilities, as command sought to document and attribute cause to personnel losses during the non-combatant demobilization and relocation phase in Italy.

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Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check: No specific 'Date' column is present on this page; however, the narrative is cataloged as an appendix within the JULY, 1945 war diary, and the preceding document (Appendix "F") confirms the period as June-July 1945.