21 Squadron War Diary
1144 hrs Pescara, Italy
OORLOGSDAGBOEK.—WAR DIARY.OF—VAN21 SQUADRON, SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE.Van/From 29th August, 1944. Aan/To 30th August, 1944.PESCARA.29th Cont.: beyond the hills on the southern side of Pescara. This was the first occasion on which practically all the Squadron had witnessed a forced descent by members of a large bomber.30th: Eleven Marauders in three boxes airborne from Pescara at 10.25, 11.06 and 11.44 hours respectively to attack a gun area 5 miles S.W. of Pesaro. The target was straddled by the first two boxes. The third box was recalled by Control after 45 minutes as enemy was withdrawing. Slight, inaccurate, heavy ack-ack was encountered from target area. All aircraft down by 13.03 hours.Sortie Report No. 811. Appendix "T"Twelve Marauders off from Pescara in boxes of four aircraft to attack Faenza Marshalling Yards. A concentrated pattern of 40 bombs from the first box straddled the target in the centre of the Marshalling Yards. Three aircraft of the second box returned to base with bombs after a hour due to engine and