Operation TO : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION OPERATIONS RECORDS.)
H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. ( SCORU.)
S.A.O.A. S.A.A.F. ADV. H.Q. C.M.F.
W.I.O. 3 S.A. WING S.A.A.F.
FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
REF. : 21S/872.
DATE : 10th DECEMBER 1944.
OPREP NO. 872 for the period ENDING 2100 HRS ON THE 9/12/44.
(A) to (V) - NIL.
(W)(i) 12 MARAUDERS III (ii) NIL.
(X)(i) 19 HRS. 50 MIN. (ii) NIL.
(Y) to (Z) - NIL.
(Signature: S.L. Boshoff) CAPT.
S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
TO : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION OPERATIONS RECORDS.)
H.Q. M.A.T.A.F. ( SCORU.)
S.A.O.A. S.A.A.F. ADV. H.Q. C.M.F.
W.I.O. 3 S.A. WING S.A.A.F.
FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
REF. : 21S/872.
DATE : 10th DECEMBER 1944.
OPREP NO. 872 for the period ENDING 2100 HRS ON THE 9/12/44.
(A) to (V) - NIL.
(W)(i) 12 MARAUDERS III (ii) NIL.
(X)(i) 19 HRS. 50 MIN. (ii) NIL.
(Y) to (Z) - NIL.
(Signature: S.L. …
__o_O_o__
Form 541 Transcriber's Notes TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* H.Q.: Headquarters
* M.A.A.F.: Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
* M.A.T.A.F.: Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force
* SCORU: South African Corps of Records
* S.A.O.A.: South African Officer in Charge of Administration
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force
* ADV.: Advanced
* C.M.F.: Central Mediterranean Force
* W.I.O.: Wing Intelligence Officer
* S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer
* REF.: Reference
* OPREP: Operational Report
* HRS: Hours
* MIN.: Minutes
* CAPT.: Captain
* Observations about Individuals:
* Captain S.L. Boshoff: Serving as the Squadron Intelligence Officer (S.I.O.) at the time of this report, Boshoff’s signature appears on several OPREPs during the December period. His role involved the meticulous recording of all flight activities, including the non-operational hours documented here, which was a critical administrative function for the South African Corps of Records (SCORU).
* Information about the Location:
* Iesi Base: During December 1944, 21 Squadron was operating from the Iesi Landing Ground (also documented as Jesi) in the Marche region of Italy.
* Modern Name: This historic site is the present-day Ancona International Airport (Aeroporto di Ancona-Falconara). In late 1944, the airfield was notorious for its unpaved, waterlogged turf which often turned into a "sea of mud," severely limiting the weight-sensitive operations of medium bombers.
* Historical Theatre Context:
* Non-Operational Flying Time: Sections 'W' and 'X' record 12 Martin B-26 Marauder III aircraft flying for a combined total of 19 hours and 50 minutes. As the combat results ("A to V") are "NIL," this flying time likely represents essential airframe tests, ferry flights, or proficiency training conducted during a brief window of improved weather while the unit remained otherwise grounded.
* The Winter Stand-Down: This report covers the peak of a protracted twenty-day "stand-down" (December 1st–20th) forced by extreme winter weather. During this period, unserviceable airfields neutralized Allied air superiority, granting the German 10th Army a vital strategic reprieve to fortify their mountain defenses in the northern Apennines.
* Personnel Turnover: While combat was at a standstill, the squadron underwent massive personnel rotation. On the exact date of this report (December 10th), Captain Pitchford arrived as the new Medical Officer to replace Captain van der Burgh, and numerous ground crew replacements were arriving to fill gaps left by veterans who had completed their operational tours.
* Operational Readiness: Behind the "NIL" combat reports, the unit was preparing for a major offensive effort. Once the reinforced "Hardstands" were completed on December 13th, the squadron would resume intensive "interdiction" raids on December 21st, targeting rail bottlenecks in the Veneto and Yugoslavia.
124
The date written in the 'DATE' line of the memorandum is 11th DECEMBER 1944.
