LOCATION: GUN POSITIONS near ANCONA

[AUTO-CLASSIFIED — VERIFY CATEGORY]
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Unit Identification: This document is a page from the Operations Record Book (ORB) of No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF). During this period (July 1944), the squadron was operating as part of No. 3 (SAAF) Wing, Desert Air Force, in the Italian Campaign.
* Aircraft Type: The squadron was equipped with the Martin Baltimore (specifically the Mark IV and V variants).
* Abbreviations:
* FL / VL / BL: Refers to the position within the flight formation—Flight Leader, Vic Leader, and Box Leader.
* Hrs: Hours (duration of the sortie).
* Personnel & Notable Figures:
* Major Meaker: Major Daniel "Dan" Meaker, a distinguished SAAF pilot.
* Major Aitchison: Major S. Aitchison.
* Capt. Maritz: Captain J.S. Maritz.
* The lists following the pilot's name represent the crew (typically Navigator/Observer, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, and Air Gunner).
* Historical Context: These entries detail medium bomber raids on German gun positions near Ancona, Italy. This coincided with the final stages of the Battle of Ancona (17–18 July 1944), where the Polish II Corps, supported by the SAAF and RAF, captured the strategic port city to ease Allied logistical strains.
* Data Discrepancy: The entry for the "2nd Raid" on the 15th July is listed after the 16th July raid on this specific sheet. The "0.30 Hrs." notes for 517 F and 520 H likely indicate early returns or specific sortie durations for those individual crews.

88

Target File Verification: Entry dates are 17th July and 16th July.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Unit and Aircraft: These entries originate from the Operations Record Book (ORB) of No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF). At this time in 1944, the squadron was equipped with the Martin Baltimore (specifically the Mark IV and V variants), a twin-engine light/medium bomber favored for its speed and reliability in the Mediterranean Theater.
* Expansion of Abbreviations:
* Lt. Col.: Lieutenant Colonel (Officer Commanding).
* Capt.: Captain.
* v. d. Colff / v. Dokkum / v. Niekerk / v. Willingh: Prefixes "van der" or "van" typical of Afrikaner surnames.
* FL / VL / BL: Flight Leader, Vic Leader, and Box Leader—standard tactical formation positions.
* Hrs.: Hours, indicating the total flight time for the mission.
* S.E.: South East.
* Personnel Observations:
* Lt. Col. A.C. Jandrell: The Officer Commanding of 21 Squadron leads the 17th July raid. His presence as "Flight Leader" (FL) on Raid 766 indicates the high priority of the target.
* Capt. Maritz and Capt. Robinson: Senior flight leaders often tasked with guiding the various "boxes" of aircraft during concentrated raids.
* The Crew Structure: Each line represents a four-man crew typical of the Martin Baltimore: Pilot, Navigator/Observer, Wireless Operator, and Air Gunner.
* Location and Strategic Context:
* Ancona: A critical Adriatic port city in central Italy. In July 1944, it was the primary objective of the Polish II Corps.
* Modern Location: Ancona remains a major port city and the capital of the Marche region. The "Gun Areas" mentioned (5 miles West and S.E. of the city) would today correspond to the outskirts and rural areas surrounding the modern Ancona Falconara Airport and the southern coastal approaches near Mount Conero.
* Historical Theatre Context: These raids occurred during the Battle of Ancona (June 16 – July 18, 1944). The SAAF was part of the Desert Air Force (DAF) providing close air support and interdiction. By hitting German gun positions on the 16th and 17th of July, 21 Squadron was directly suppressing the German 278th Infantry Division's artillery to allow Polish forces to liberate the city on July 18, 1944. The capture of Ancona was vital for the Allies as it provided a deep-water port to shorten supply lines for the subsequent assault on the Gothic Line.

89
Target File Verification: Entry dates are 18th July, 1944 and 17th July.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Unit and Aircraft Context: This document records the operations of No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF). During this phase of the Italian Campaign, the squadron operated the Martin Baltimore (specifically Mark IV and V variants), a versatile twin-engine light bomber used for tactical interdiction.
* Expansion of Abbreviations:
* FL / VL / BL: Flight Leader, Vic Leader, and Box Leader—standard tactical formation designations for the squadron's "box" bombing technique.
* HRS / hours: Total flight duration for the mission.
* Capt.: Captain.
* v. Dokkum / v. Willingh / v. Trotsenburg: "Van," a common Dutch/Afrikaans surname prefix.
* Personnel Observations:
* Major Aitchison: A senior officer leading the formation on July 17th. His presence as Flight Leader (FL) denotes a mission of significant tactical importance.
* Capt. Adam: Appears as both a Flight Leader (FL) on the 18th and a Box Leader (BL) on the 17th, indicating his role as an experienced lead pilot within the squadron.
* Crew Stability: Note the consistency of crews, such as Meyer, Trundell, Watkinson, and Cinnamon on aircraft 433 P, or Ackermann, Benade, and Richardson on 325 Q. These four-man crews (Pilot, Navigator/Observer, Wireless Operator, and Air Gunner) trained and flew together consistently to maximize efficiency in the cramped Baltimore cockpit.
* Location and Historical Context:
* Ancona Strategic Importance: These raids took place during the final 48 hours of the Battle of Ancona (June 16 – July 18, 1944). Ancona was a vital deep-water port on the Adriatic coast; its capture was essential to shorten Allied supply lines as they moved toward the Gothic Line.
* Tactical Objectives: The focus on "Road Bridges" and "Bridges near Ancona" indicates a classic interdiction campaign. By destroying these bridges, 21 Squadron prevented German reinforcements from reaching the front and, more importantly, hampered the retreat of the German 278th Infantry Division.
* The Fall of Ancona: The mission on 18th July occurred the very day the Polish II Corps liberated the city. The 20-mile distance west of the city suggests the SAAF was striking at the retreating German columns' line of escape toward the north and west.
* Modern Geography: The "Road Bridge 20 miles west of Ancona" likely refers to crossings over the Esino River near the modern towns of Jesi or Moie, which remain critical transit points in the Marche region today.

90
Target File Verification: The entry dates in the 'Datum/Date' column range from 1st-15th [August 1944], specifically mentioning dates such as the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, and 15th.