APPENDIX "G"

Undated Other pp. 262

Document

APPENDIX "G"
262
No. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. October, 1944.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 1944.
The following new arrivals reported for duty during the month :-
2nd October
A/Ms. Aspin, Clark, Esprey, Lewitt, Swartz, Whitelaw & A/Cpl. Winks.
3rd October.
Lieut. Quail (pilot), 2/Lt. Wells (pilot), W.O. Douglas (WT/AG),
F/Sgts. Wilson & Solomon (A. Gs).
12th October.
Lieut. Cooper (Admin.).
18th October.
F/Sgt. van Nootwyk, A/Sgt. Kruger, A/Ms. Conradie, Mattingh,
Jones, Nell, Volschenk, Brodie.
24th October
Capt. Hillhouse (Armament).
A/Sgt. Harber.
The following personnel were posted from the Squadron during the month of October.
5th October.
Lieuts. Brett & Mulley (pilots); Lieut. Andrews (observer) All
posted R.T.U. as O.T.E.
9th October.
Major Aitchison (pilot) posted to 30 Squadron as Commanding Officer.
Capt. Alexander (Admin) posted to 9 Squadron to take over as Adjutant.
Capt. de Villiers (A.G.) posted to 30 Squadron.
10th October.
2/Lt. Jonker (WT/AG) posted R.T.U. as O.T.E.
W.O. Wandrag (WT/AG) posted to the B.A.F.
Cpls. Pio, Van Zyl, van Jaarsveld; A/Ms. Anderson, Barter,
Middleton, Clegg, Rademan - all posted R.T.U. as tour of duty expired.
30th October.
Capt. Lindsay (Armament Officer) posted R.T.U. as tour of duty expired.
A/Ms Hawkes, Roos & Shead posted R.T.U. as tour of duty expired.

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force
* A/Ms.: Air Mechanics
* A/Cpl.: Acting Corporal
* Lieut. / 2/Lt.: Lieutenant / Second Lieutenant
* W.O.: Warrant Officer
* WT/AG: Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
* F/Sgt. / F/Sgts.: Flight Sergeant / Flight Sergeants
* A. Gs / A.G.: Air Gunners / Air Gunner
* Admin.: Administrative
* Capt.: Captain
* R.T.U.: Returned to Unit (often referring to a return to South Africa)
* O.T.E.: Operational Training Establishment
* B.A.F.: Balkan Air Force
* Observations about Individuals:
* Major Aitchison: A senior pilot whose departure on October 9th was to take over as Commanding Officer of No. 30 Squadron SAAF. This highlights the frequent transfer of experienced leadership between SAAF units during the Italian campaign.
* "Tour of Duty Expired": A significant number of personnel, including Captain Lindsay and several corporals and mechanics, were posted R.T.U. at the end of the month. This indicates a major rotation of veteran ground and aircrew who had completed their required service time in the theater.
* Aircrew Replacements: The arrivals on October 3rd, including Lieutenant Quail and Warrant Officer Douglas, provided fresh aircrews to a squadron that had recently suffered losses during the intensive Rimini operations in September.
* Location and Modern Name:
* Jesi / Pescara: During October 1944, the squadron moved its base from the Adriatic coast at Pescara (modern-day Abruzzo Airport) to Jesi.
* Modern Name: The Jesi airfield is today the Ancona International Airport (Aeroporto di Ancona-Falconara). The personnel movements recorded here reflect the administrative burden of managing a unit while it was physically relocating through an "ocean of mud".
* Historical Theatre Context:
* The October Stalemate: October 1944 was a month of total non-operational status for 21 Squadron's Martin B-26 Marauder III bombers due to "continual rain". Consequently, while combat sorties were "NIL," the squadron utilized this downtime for the significant personnel rotation seen in this document.
* Balkan Air Force (B.A.F.): The posting of W.O. Wandrag to the B.A.F. on October 10th underscores the SAAF's involvement in the Balkan theater. The B.A.F. was an inter-service organization tasked with supporting partisan operations in Yugoslavia and Greece, often utilizing SAAF personnel for specialized roles.
* Operational Training Establishment (O.T.E.): Posting veteran pilots like Lieutenants Brett and Mulley to O.T.E. ensured that the hard-won combat experience of the "Desert Lads" was passed on to the next generation of aircrews training back in South Africa or the Middle East.

108
The National Archives' reference is AIR 27/270.
Target file is 270-2_108.jpg.
Target File Verification: The date written in the header of the document is August 13th 1944.