Summary – September 1944
The month of September can be regarded as an outstanding month in many ways. The Squadron has carried out all necessary operations, but not without loss. A ghastly accident occurred when the bombs exploded in aircraft F, Causing the death of seven personnel of this Unit. A huge petrol fire broke out at 30 Squadron, S.A.A.F. when 22,000 gallons of petrol were lost. Lt. Col. JANDRELL, D.F.C. returned R.T.U. and Lt. Col. D. ORD, D.F.C. assumed command. Inclement weather has interfered with operations to a certain extent. Sport has confined itself to soft ball.
The Squadron carried out 22 sorties during the month adopting the box "shuttle" formation, which proved very successful, registering 17 direct hits on their targets. The squadron suffered a serious loss on the 13th of the month when Lieut. Whitehouse and his crew were shot down by ack ack. (Lieut. Whitehouse and F/Sgt. Carter, pilots; Lieut, van Trotsenburg, observer; W.O. Swale, WT/AG; W.Os. Horscroft and Wilson, A.Gs). Reports from the Army stated that four parachutes were seen to open, but this report has not been confirmed. Investigations are proceeding.
On the 9th of September at 08.00 hours a tremendous explosion occurred on the aerodrome, in the bay where aircraft "F" was parked. Briefing had already taken place and crews were being conveyed to their aircraft, when the explosion took place. Lieut. F.W. Brall, who was in the habit of proceeding to his aircraft ahead of his crew, was in the aircraft at the time of the explosion. The following personnel were killed:- Lieut. F.W. Brall, W.O.1. Botha, A/Cpl. Kimbrey, A/Cpl. Cheesman, A/M. Maeder, A/M. Viret, A/M. Andrews. A/Sgt. Smit and A/M. v.d. Westhuizen were injured and A/M v.d. Merwe sustained superficial scratches. The remains of the deceased were buried in the British military cemetry at the Sangro in the afternoon with full military honours. Padre Skemp officiated and Capt. L.R. Alexander represented the C.O. at the funeral. A Court of Enquiry was convened by O.C. 3 Wing, S.A.A.F., consisting of Major Aitchison as President and F/Lt. White, Armament Officer, Rear D.A.F. as member.
Lt. Col. A.C. Jandrell, D.F.C. was posted R.T.U. , together with his crew - Lieut. MacKay, Capt. R.R. Farrant, D.F.C., Lieut. J. Thompson and W.0.11 Sheppard . In order to say farewell Lt. Col. Jandrell gave a party in the Officers' Mess for the officers, and visited the Sergeants' and Airmens' Messes. The party in the Officers' Mess had just commenced when a huge conflagration was observed from the direction of 30 Squadron, the flames reaching hundreds of feet into the air and lighting up the countryside.
Col. Jandrell jokingly remarked that "30 Squadron must give me a send off and see how they do it - no half measures." It was learned later that a petrol bowser had ignited at the petrol dump causing the loss of 22,000 gallons of 100 octane.
Major Aitchison assumed command of the Squadron after the departure of Col. Jandrell until the arrival of Lt. Col. D. Ord, D.F.C., who took over on the 25th of September.
New crews have been arriving apace, whilst old crews have departed O.T.E. Several new arrivals are old members of the Squadron who have returned after a well earned rest in the Union.
Winter has made its appearance and has brought with it the rains, causing a general upheaval as the mud of Italy is in a class by itself.
3 Wing, S.A.A.F. celebrated its third anniversary on the 27th of September in no uncertain manner by throwing a big party. Air Vice Marshal Dixon and General Theron were present besides several other senior officers.
Baseball has proved very popular in the Squadron and inter-section games are played practically every afternoon.
Appendix to War Diary – 21 Squadron – 3 SAAF Wing
Period 1st to 30th September 1944
September was a comparatively busy month for 21 Squadron. 83 raids were carried out — involving 343 operational sorties and 700 hours 30 minutes flying time. Non-operational flying time was relatively low, only 31 sorties being flown — 29 hours 55 flying minutes.
During September, the Squadron continued with the scheme — adopted at the commencement of operations with Marauders in August — whereby each box of four aircraft was briefed to carry out its attack independently.
Seventy of the month's raids were conducted in close support of the Army. The first couple were in the Pesaro region, whilst the remainder were mainly carried out in the Rimini area. On the whole, the standard of bombing was good and evoked several congratulatory messages from the Army. The last of this series of Army targets was an area at St.Angelo; three boxes attacked this target and considerable damage was done with direct hits on a building and a large explosion with orange smoke at another point. Ack was constantly encountered during these attacks and was mainly intensive. On the 13th, Lt Whitehouse and crew were shot down by flak near Rimini; two or three parachutes were observed and the aircraft was seen to crash into the sea a few miles off Rimini.
A second loss was sustained by the Squadron when, on the 9th, Lt Brall and six ground personnel were fatally involved in an aircraft which blew up after being briefed to take off on a raid.
Towards the latter part of the month, three raids were directed against two road bridges approximately 5 miles NW of Cervia. Direct hits on the approach to the second bridge were scored during the second and third of these raids.
Further objectives attacked during the month were the Cesena Marshalling Yards (no results), Forli Marshalling Yards (bombs straddled the Eastern portion of target) and M.T. Workshops at Forli. During the latter raid the first two boxes scored direct hits on the NE corner of target, whilst the third box — owing to bad weather — bombed FAENZA Marshalling Yards, with most bombs falling in the Yards.
The last raid of the month was on the 26th. From that date until the end of the month the Pescara Airfield — owing to inclement weather — was unserviceable and no further operations were carried out.