Operation

TO : H.Q. M.A.A.F. ( ATTENTION 23rd SCORU) H.Q. T.A.F. ITALY ( ATTENTION SCORU.) S.A.O.A. S.A.A.F. W.I.O. 3 S.A. WING S.A.A.F. FROM : S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. REF. : 21S/870. DATE : 8th DECEMBER 1944. OPREP NO. 870. for the period ending 2100hrs on the 7/12/44. (A) - (Z) - NIL. (Signature: Halliwell) CAPT. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.

1944-12-08

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES * Abbreviations Expanded: * H.Q.: Headquarters * M.A.A.F.: Mediterranean Allied Air Forces * SCORU: South African Corps of Records * T.A.F.: Tactical Air Force * S.A.O.A.: South African Officer in Charge of Administration * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force * W.I.O.: Wing Intelligence Officer * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer * REF.: Reference * OPREP: Operational Report * CAPT.: Captain * Observations about Individuals: * Captain Halliwell: Serving as the Squadron Intelligence Officer (S.I.O.), Halliwell was responsible for the administrative recording of all tactical activity. Throughout early December 1944, his signature appears on a near-continuous string of "NIL" reports, reflecting the bureaucratic necessity of documenting the unit's total lack of combat sorties during the winter stalemate. * Information about the Location: * Iesi Base: Throughout December 1944, 21 Squadron was operating from the Iesi Landing Ground in the Marche region of Italy. * Modern Name: This site is the present-day Ancona International Airport (Aeroporto di Ancona-Falconara). In December 1944, the airfield's lack of paved "Hardstands" meant that the heavy Martin B-26 Marauder III bombers could not launch from the rain-soaked, unserviceable turf. * Historical Theatre Context: * The Winter Stand-Down: OPREP No. 870 covers a 24-hour period (ending December 7th) where no operations were flown. This memorandum documents the height of the "long stand-down" that lasted from December 1st until the 20th. Severe weather and airfield unserviceability effectively neutralized the Allied tactical air advantage during this period. * Personnel Turnover: While the aircraft were grounded, the unit was in a state of flux. On the very day this report was filed (December 7th), eleven ground crew replacements arrived, while another group of fourteen experienced ground crew personnel were posted Returned to Unit (R.T.U.) as their tours expired. * Medical and Administrative Shift: This period of forced idleness also saw changes in the squadron's internal leadership; Captain Pitchford arrived shortly after this report to replace Captain van der Burgh as the Medical Officer. * Preparation for Interdiction: Behind the "NIL" results, the squadron was preparing for the eventual clearing of the weather. Once the airfield's Hardstands were completed mid-month, 21 Squadron would return to the air on December 21st to begin an intensive series of strikes against the rail arteries of the Veneto and Yugoslavia. 122 Target File Verification: The date written in the 'DATE' line of the memorandum is 9th DECEMBER 1944.