Operation TO : H.Q. MAAF ( ATTENTION 23rd SCORU).
H.Q. TAF ( ATTENTION SCORU).
SAOS SAAF.
FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF.
REF. : 21S/ 776
DATE : 27th JULY, 1944.
OPREP NO. 776 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HOURS ON THE 26th JULY, 1944
A TO V. : N I L.
W. : (i) 20 Mar. 111 (i) 1 Baltimbre V
(ii) N I L (ii) N I L.
X. : (i) 28.45 (1) 1.45
(ii) N I L . (ii) N I L.
Y. : 20x100 lbs Sand Practice Bombs ( Practice Bombing)
100 Rounds .5 Ammonution.
Z. : N I L.
S. L. Boshoff CAPT.
SIO 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
TO : H.Q. MAAF ( ATTENTION 23rd SCORU).
H.Q. TAF ( ATTENTION SCORU).
SAOS SAAF.
FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF.
REF. : 21S/ 776
DATE : 27th JULY, 1944.
OPREP NO. 776 FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 2100 HOURS ON THE 26th JULY, 1944
A TO V. : N I L.
W. : (i) 20 Mar. 111 (i) 1 Baltimbre V
(ii) N I L (ii) N I L.
X. : (i) 28.45 (1) 1.45
(ii) N I L . (ii) N I L.
Y. : 20x100 lbs Sand Practice Bombs ( Practice Bombin…
__o_O_o__
Form 541 Transcriber's Notes Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes:
* Operational Status (July 26, 1944):
* Finalizing Conversion: This report (Sortie No. 776) covers the 24-hour period ending on July 26th, 1944. The unit continues to report "NIL" for all combat categories (A to V), as they are in the final stage of standing down to convert from the Martin Baltimore to the Martin B-26 Marauder Mark III.
* Theatre Landscape: As the squadron trained at Pescara, Allied forces in Italy were embroiled in the heavy fighting for the Arno River line and the city of Florence. The squadron’s return to the front would be timed to support the upcoming massive assault on the Gothic Line.
* Intensive Tactical Training:
* Marauder Participation: Training reach a significant high point with 20 Mar. 111 (Marauder Mark III) aircraft taking to the air for a total of 28.45 hours. This volume of flying indicates that nearly every aircrew member was likely involved in multiple training rotations.
* Ordnance and Gunnery: Section Y records a doubling of practice bombing from the previous day, with "20x100 lbs Sand Practice Bombs" dropped. Crucially, it also records "100 Rounds .5 Ammonution" [sic]. This indicates the crews were now conducting aerial gunnery practice, training the turrets and waist-gunners to use the heavier .50 caliber machine guns of the Marauder compared to the lighter .303 armament of the Baltimore.
* The Final Baltimore: A single "Baltimbre V" [sic] flew for 1.45 hours, likely one of the very last ferry or administrative flights for the type before the squadron was certified as 100% Marauder-equipped.
* Personnel and Organizational Observations:
* Captain S. L. Boshoff (SIO): This report is signed by Captain S. L. Boshoff, the Squadron Intelligence Officer. His oversight of the transition included reporting on technical readiness and ensured the 23rd SCORU (Statistical Control and Operations Research Unit) at HQ MAAF (Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces) had accurate data to plan future Marauder missions.
* Location and Modern Context:
* Strategic Base (Pescara): The squadron was operating out of the Pescara airfield on Italy’s Adriatic coast.
* Modern Identity: Known today as Abruzzo Airport (PSR), the site provided the extensive infrastructure needed to support the larger maintenance requirements of the Marauder medium bombers compared to the light Baltimores.
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer.
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* OPREP: Operational Report.
* HQ MAAF: Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
* HQ TAF: Headquarters, Tactical Air Force.
* SAOS SAAF: Senior Air Officer South Africa, South African Air Force.
* SCORU: Statistical Control and Operations Research Unit.
* Mar. 111: Marauder Mark III (the RAF/SAAF designation for the US B-26F/G).
* NIL: None/Zero.
76
The date written in the 'Date' column is 28th JULY, 1944.
