The last day of the dying old year! The Padre, El Newman and party left this morning on a search for some of the aircraft we lost on 20th November. The task was successful insofar as 1612 was concerned, the burnt out remains of this aircraft (which was flown by Roy Haines) was discovered south of SIDI REZEGH and close at hand was a single grave with the inscription “Unknown airman SAAF Maryland 1612 shot down 20/11/1941” They were unable to identify the body, which was lightly covered by soil. A cairn of stones was piled up round the grave and a funeral service was held for the unknown comrade.
No further graves could be discovered and after a long search they were forced to return to camp.
Today a show was held with six Marylands on M.T. on the AGEDABlA–MATAR road. All our bombs were well within the target area. Two large fires were started.
The old year passed away with but few regrets and a few headaches after all who could lay their hands on some form of liquor or other were able to slake their thirst. The squadron marches on from the old year into the new!!
General
The end of the year finds the squadron with as high a standard of morale, health, discipline and energy as when it first embarked on operations in the Western Desert. Hard blows have been dealt us repeatedly and it is to the eternal credit of this squadron that after each successive blow they have come up smiling– perhaps a grimmer smile — and were ready to continue the good work. From the lowliest air mechanic to the O.C., each and every member of the squadron has-proven his worth – sectionally they have striven against each other in earnest competition but each and all have stood together as Squadron twenty-one!
We are all looking forward to the next phase of this campaign and all our energies at this turn of the year are concentrated on getting ready for the next push, "per aspera, ad astra”.
An athletic meeting – all events open – was held on the runway near 24 Squadron camp and went off very successfully.
0930
Wing instructs that "A" Parties are on standby to move to NOFILIA. "B” Parties, now at TMIMI, are to move here.
1930
A concert arranged by the Padre commenced at the hangar on the town side of the landing ground. Owing to the excellent spirits of the audience, the effort was abandoned at 21.30. Old Year’s night festivities were then continued in the various messes.
Operations and Statistical Summary,Serials Nos. 54/42 to 84/42, for the month of December, 1942.
Twelve Marauders airborne from IESI Landing Ground at 12.22 hours, led by Major HAMLET, to bomb CASTEL FRANCO VENETO Marshalling Yards. They formed up in three boxes of four aircraft each and after rendezvous with six Spitfires at BELLERIA, set course for the target. They climbed up to 15,000 feet over a bank of cloud but encountered another one which appeared to extend up to 17,000 feet. After searching vainly for a gap, the aircraft turned back about 20 miles South-East of VENICE. One aircraft had returned early owing to electric wires shorting and smoke issuing from under the navigator's table. The remaining aircraft after jettisoning their bomb-load at sea (on instructions from base, due to 20/25 m.p.h. crosswind on runway) landed safely by 15.35 hours.
Sortie Report No. 894.
SUMMARY.
After a stand-down period of nearly three months the Squadron was able to resume operations on the 21st December, 1944. All the hardstands were completed by the 13th but bad weather conditions prevailed until the 20th. Operating on eight days of the month the targets were Marshalling Yards and Rail objectives, and on the 28th the Squadron went to Yugoslavia.
On Christmas Day, while on the way to an attack on Treviso Marshalling Yards, the aircraft piloted by Lieut. Cloete developed a spin while passing through cloud. The pilot ordered the crew to bale and W.O.1. D.M. Hamilton, S.A.A.F. and F/Sgt. D.W. Evans, R.A.F. (both gunners) baled out. At 800 feet the pilot managed to pull the aircraft out of the spin. W/T. messages were sent to Air, Sea Rescue - a launch and three planes proceeded to search the area but without success the crew of this aircraft was Lieut. Cloete (pilot); P/O. Blackford (2nd pilot); Lieut. Nysschens (observer); W.O.1. Oldfield (WT/AG); W.O.1. Hamilton (A.G.) and F/Sgt. Evans (A.G.)
Brigadier Wilmott, S.A.A.F. and Lt. Col. Jandrell (the former C.O. of this Squadron) visited the Squadron during the month.
A/Cpl. "Dick" Goldstone, a popular member of the ground crew, died from natural causes on the 11th of the month. He was buried with military honours at the Ancona Military Cemetery and his cheery personality will be missed by all.
Entertainment was of a high standard this month, the outstanding items being the South African Concert Party “Bullytins” and the film "Thousands Cheer". An excellent concert party, organised by 31 A.S.P., was enjoyed by several members of this Squadron, who had been invited by our R.A.F. neighbours.
There was a light fall of snow on the 23rd and we had hopes of a "White Christmas" but a thaw sat in shortly afterwards and Christmas Day was as muddy as usual. While on the subject of weather it is mentioned that gumboots are still a problem. Supplies are coming in slowly, but there are still about 20% personnel who are without them.
In spite of operations Christmas was celebrated in the traditional manner. The decorations in all three Messes were of a high order and the very most was made of the limited materials available. The Cooks made a splendid effort and turned out a Christmas Dinner worthy of any table. There was sufficient beer even to satisfy the most thirsty members of the Squadron and, in all, our Christmas was the best possible under "Field" conditions. Detailed accounts of the festivities in the various Messes are given in Appendices "N", "0" and "P".
Sport was limited by bad weather and operations and no matches were played during the month. A team of boxers have started training for the forthcoming U.D.F., C.M.F. Championships to be held in Rome at the end of January. A member of this Squadron, Lieut. du Plessis, played in a rugby match in Rome on the 30th December between a South African XV. and a New Zealand Forces XV.
Information was received this month that Enemy paratroopers were in the vicinity of this camp, but nothing further seen or heard.
A signal was received to the effect that Capt. O.C. Elliot, a former observer of this Squadron, had been awarded the D.F.C. for gallantry in operations.
Appendix to war diary – 21 Squadron – 3 SAAF Wing
Period 1st to 31st December 1944
By the 13th of the month after determined struggles against bad weather, all the Hardstands were completed and the Squadron was ready to resume operations.
Bad weather conditions prevailed until the 20th of the month. On the 21st, however, the Squadron attacked the Treviso Marshalling Yards with some very good results. One A/C en route to the target developed engine trouble and returned to base, and on landing overshot the runway - A/C Cat.II. The same target was again attacked the next day.
On the 23rd and the 24th inclement weather conditions at base and target areas prevented operations.
Treviso was again attached on the 25th with some good results but unfortunately en route to the target, one A/C flying through cloud developed a spin. The Pilot ordered the crew to bale. Two gunners (W/O Hamilton and Sgt. Evans) since missing, baled out.
The Pilot managed to pull the a/c out of the spin and returned safely to base.
The rest of the month Rail Targets in Northern Italy were attacked and on the 28th the Squadron went to Yugoslavia.
Weather conditions not being favourable made navigation extremely difficult. Only one formation was able to locate the target, the other formation bombed a railway terminus some distance from the target.
Over Udine Marshalling Yards the Squadron experienced some intense, accurate Heavy Ack Ack and all 12 A/C were holed. One A/C Cat.II.
On the last day of the month the Squadron set out to bomb CASTEL FRANCO VENETO but heavy cloud en route forced the formations to return to base.
Operating on only eight days or the month the sorties and times( 95 Sorties - 243.30 Hrs.) put in, were well up to average. Bombs dropped total to 508 x 500 Lbs. and 539 x 250 Lbs.
Non-Operational Flying for the month was mainly devoted to training of 1st Pilots and Blind Bombing Practices.(Time: 47 Sorties 75.35 Hrs.)