Operation

TO : H.Q. MAAF (attention 23rd SCORU) H.Q. NATAF (attention 2nd Command Unit 23rd SCORU) SAOA SAAF FROM : SIO 21 SQUADRON SAAF REF : 21S/728 DATE : 21st June, 1944 OPREP No. 728 for the period ending 2100 hrs on the 20th June, 1944 A to V: NIL W: (i) 2 Marauders Mk III (ii) NIL X: (i) 2.15 Hrs (ii) NIL Y & Z: NIL Hallick Capt. S.I.O., 21 Squadron, SAAF.

1944-06-21

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * Continued Weather Stand-Down: * Context: This report confirms a third consecutive day of zero combat operations ("A to V: NIL") for the period ending 2100 hours on June 20th. * The "Great Rain": The War Diary for June 20th (File 4) explicitly states, "Still raining. No flying." The sustained bad weather was a significant hindrance to the Allied advance north of Rome, as the Germans used the respite from air attack to regroup and fortify the Gothic Line. The mud at airfields like Biferno made take-offs with bomb loads impossible. * Visiting Aircraft (The Marauders): * "Marauders Mk III": Once again (see also File 47), the non-operational log lists "2 Marauders Mk III" flying for "2.15 Hrs". * Anomaly: 21 Squadron was strictly a Baltimore unit. The recurrent presence of these B-26 Marauders suggests they were either ferrying personnel/equipment or were "weathered in" guests from a nearby medium bomber group (like the SAAF 12 or 24 Squadrons) who utilized a brief break in the weather to return to their home base or conduct a test. The specific flight time (2 hours 15 minutes) suggests a transit flight rather than a local test. * Abbreviations: * MAAF: Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. * NATAF: Northwest African Tactical Air Force. * SCORU: Statistical Control and Operations Research Unit. * SAOA: Senior Air Officer Administration. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * OPREP: Operational Report. * Mk: Mark (Model). * Hrs: Hours. 52 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 21st June, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 729) labeled APPENDIX "Z" (page number 341).