Sortie Report (Form 541)
"M1"
List of Aircraft and Aircrews attached to Sortie Report No. 234, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. dated the 22nd March, 1943. ---------------------------------------------------------------
* 928 O Capt. Cormack, Lt. J.F. Pawson, F/Sgt. Finberg P. and F/Sgt. McGee R.E. * 142 P Lt. Liddiard, Lt. J. Pickerill, F/Sgt. Zealean R. and F/Sgt. Carbarne A. * 151 Y Lt. A. Pocock, Sgt. Edwards R.H. (R.A.F.), F/Sgt. Beaumont-Thomas S.N. and F/Sgt. Clark L.G. * 176 YY Lt. A.B. Murray, Lt. P.B. Ashton, F/Sgt. Bernitz S. and F/Sgt. Clark P.E. * 126 U Lt. N.S. Clutterbuck, Lt. R.M. Campbell, F/Sgt. Raeburn and F/Sgt. Fraser D. * 916 SS Lt. Duemer, Lt. Henning, F/Sgt. van Coller J.J. and F/Sgt. Hoff H. * 877 J Lt. L. Gardener, Lt. A. Kerr, F/Sgt. Pearce J. and F/Sgt. Green C.H.G. * 904 BB Capt. A.G.M. Budd, Sgt. Smallman S.C. (R.A.F.), F/O W. Cornelius (R.A.F.) and F/Sgt. Woods C.R. * 862 D Lt. B. Blieden, Lt. A. Rose, F/Sgt. Smith L.K. and F/Sgt. Mendelsohn S.A. * 924 L Lt. J. Meredith, Lt. W.H. Sass, F/Sgt. Smith S.C. and F/Sgt. O'Regan B.S. * 942 G Lt. Oakes, Lt. W. Sachs, Sgt. Morrison (R.C.A.F.) and F/Sgt. Cleland (R.C.A.F.) * 930 K Lt. S.J. Guard, Lt. B.L. Forssman, F/Sgt. Steven R.K.H. and F/Sgt. Forrest J.E. "N1" UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. **********************
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF AIR FORCE, Air Force House, Potgieter Street, P R E T O R I A.
22nd February 1943.
LIEUT. COL. C.D. Coppen. D.F.C.c/o S.A.O.A. S.A.A.F. R.A.F. H/Q. M.E.Dear Coppen,Following up my signal dated 19th February1943 I send you my heartiest congratulations, together with thoseof all officers and other ranks in the South African Air Force,on the award of the Distinguished flying cross. Your courage, determination and devotion to duty
duty are an inspiration to all of us and you have set a spelndidexample to all those now in training to do their part in time tocome. Yours sincerely,
(Sgd) C.J. Venter Major General. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF AIR FORCE.
Transcriber's Notes
- 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F
- No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. During the Tunisian Campaign, the squadron was utilizing the American-built Martin Baltimore Mark III light bomber.
- D.F.C
- Distinguished Flying Cross, a high-level military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".
- S.A.O.A. S.A.A.F
- South African Officer Administering, South African Air Force.
- R.A.F. H/Q. M.E
- Royal Air Force Headquarters, Middle East, the theater-level command structure under which the S.A.A.F. units operated.
Sortie Report No. 234: The formal administrative record of the 22 March 1943 combat mission. This report details the results of a 12-aircraft strike by the unit against Axis concentrations.
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA: The sovereign state and Commonwealth realm from which the South African Air Force (S.A.A.F.) was drawn.
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF AIR FORCE: The senior-most administrative and operational commander of the South African Air Force, based in Pretoria.
LIEUT. COL. C.D. Coppen. D.F.C.: Lieutenant Colonel C.D. Coppen, the Officer Commanding (O.C.) of No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F..