Thursday, 8 March 1945 — War Diary

21 Squadron War Diary

- 8th MARCH 1945. 1510 hrs Iesi, Italy

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/3ALTERNATIVE TARGET ATTACKED ARSA COAL JETTY WHARF 16021 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. P.P. V 040044 . DATE :- 8th MARCH 1945.RAID ON ZALOG M/YARDS pp B 460190 to 47519. REF MAP YUGOSLAVIA SHEETNO. 11 (LJUBLJANA).T/OFF :- 1510 HRS. OPREP NUMBER 957 . OPERATIONS NO. 162/21S/M. v v v v v v

Hv 513. Lt. Col. ORD DFC. WELLS. HODGES. DFC SMIT DFM. FORSTER. BELLINGAN.[Handwritten tick marks above each name] v v v v v v

W 477. F/O. BLACKFORD RICHARDSON W SMIT D ARTHUR SMITH DS NEL.[Handwritten tick marks above each name] v v v v v v v

S 566. Lt. Collender Gillam DEANE BENSON BANFIELD SUTER.[Handwritten tick marks above each name] v v v v v v v

A 429. Lt. BATLEY CALLAGHAN ADAMS GILBANK BUTLER EAVE.[Handwritten tick marks above each name] v v v v v v v

YY 537. Lt. FRASER HICKIE du PLESSIS JENNER BARROW RICHARDSON[Handwritten tick marks above each name] v v v v v v v

C 550. Lt. HUSSEY QUAIFE WELLS BOAST WATKINSON KENNEDY[Handwritten tick marks above each name] v v v v v v v

P 575. Lt. ANDERSON STUART WEBBER STEYN Mc HUGH DODSON[Handwritten tick marks above each name] v v v v v v v

D 474. Lt. REYNEKE CORDELL TEAGUE HENNESSY CLOETE V TENNANT.[Handwritten tick marks above each name] v v v v v v v v

G 519. Lt. GOUGH GOUGH HORNE NAUDE OVEREE SMITH T R MATHEW.[Handwritten tick marks above each name; "GOUGH" struck through]TIMES. 3. 06 HRS[Handwritten "3. 06 HRS" next to TIMES.]REMARKS.[Handwritten notes follow:]A/c "W" Hit by flak. broke formation& crashed South West of target.Four parachutes reported by fighterescort.

Transcriber's Notes

S.A.A.F: South African Air Force.
T/OFF: Take Off.
HRS: Hours.
OPREP: Operational Report.
L.T: Local Time.
Lt. Col: Lieutenant Colonel.
Col: Colonel.
D.F.C: Distinguished Flying Cross.

A/c "W": Aircraft 'W' (Baltimore Serial No. 477), piloted by F/O Blackford.

ARSA COAL JETTY WHARF: The alternative target attacked during this sortie, located at map coordinates P.P. V 040044.

MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied aerial ordnance classifications for high-explosive bombs. Missions against infrastructure such as coal jetties or rail yards typically employed 500 lb or 250 lb GP bombs to ensure structural destruction.