The SAAF Forum

Martin B-26G Marauder (HD667) of 25 Sqd SAAF, lost to AA fire near Zagreb, former Yugoslavia (now Croatia) on 4 May 1945.



HD667 "P"
Credit: Brent Best aka Kremlin

Following from references on this Forum, and new sources, I have now put this story together.

Lt. L. J. van ROOYEN 18523V Pilot SAAF ** † Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia. Collective Grave 5, A. 3-7
Lt. M.C. BEKKER "Tienie" 582086V Pilot SAAF 21 † Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia. Collective Grave 5, A. 3-7
Capt. D.E. HARDING Dennis E 103865V Observer SAAF 38 † Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia. Collective Grave, 5, A. 3-7
W/O1. J. SMIT 328853V W.Op-Air Gnr SAAF ** † Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia. Collective Grave 5, A. 3-7
W/O1. J.N. THIRION 581450V Air Gnr SAAF 21 † Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia. Collective Grave 5, A. 3-7
Sgt. R.S. NEALE Roy Sidney 185957 Air Gnr RAFVR 20 † Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia. 5. A. 1
Sgt. J.G.H. COX John Geoffrey Hayler 1813120 Air Gnr RAFVR 19 † Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia. 5. A. 2


Martin B-26 Marauder over Yugoslavia
Picture from the Internet

I am in possesion of the SAAF Logbook of Lt. M.C Bekker, "Tienie" to his friends, after securing possesion of it a month ago. Tienie was an uncle of mine on my father's side who started his SAAF training in Randfontein, Transvaal.
- Ab initio training in a DH82A at No 2 Air School, Randfontein, December 1943.
- Twin engine training in a AIRSPEED OXFORD at 21 Air School, Kimberley, March-October 1944.
- SAAF Flying Badge 19 Aug 1944.
- Transitting by DC3 as 2nd Pilot to Cairo via Bulawayo, Ndola, Dbora, Nairobi, Kisumu, Juba, Malukwal, Khartoum, Wadi Alfa and Cairo over four days from 17-20 October 1944.
- Conversion and operational training on the B26 MARTIN B-26F/G MARAUDER from 13 November 1944.
- Posted to 25 Sqd SAAF at BIFERNO (now Campomarino), Italy, 2 March 1945.
- Reported missing (all 7 crew of HD667) on 4 May 1945.

Last mission: The logbook states "Interdiction of railway line DUGO SELO - POPOVACO at RK840870".

- Total flying hours 390
- On B26 Marauder 136
- Operational Sorties 25
- The Logbook is signed off by Maj. Gericke, OC 'B' Flight 25 Sqd SAAF on 4 May 1945.

The crew of HD667 was referred to as "The Farmers' Crew". 25 Sqd SAAF was part of what was known as the 'The Balkan Air Force'. All 25 Operational Sorties by Lt Bekker, were flown over Yugoslavia, in aid of Marshall Tito's partisans, in cutting off the retreat of German forces from the Balkan to Austria and Germany. Marshall Yosip Broz Tito became President of Yugoslavia, ruling from 1953-1980.

Also refer by 'Spice'
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3110&start=210
and by W407594F
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4153&start=0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_B-26_Marauder

Please feel free to add or comment.

Thank you!

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

The Balkan Air Force continued to fly combat missions when the other Sqns in Italy ceased once the Germans in Italy surrendered as the Balkans had not surrendered and did not do so until Donietz surrendered

The following from the B26 Marauder Association:-

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

On the 2nd May 1945 all German forces in Italy surrendered unconditionally as per the agreement reached during the negotiations with SS-General Karl WOLFF and the C-C of Army Group C General Heinrich VON VIETINGHOFF the day before 1 May 1945

Correct.

The following trivia for the record on the German surrender:-
General Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) cabled the British and American Chiefs of Staff: "The mission of this Allied Force was fulfilled at 0241 local time, May 7, 1945. Eisenhower"

This explains why 25 Sqd SAAF still flew a mission on 4 May 1945 into Yugoslavia from their base in Italy, although hostilities in Italy had ceased.

Source; Purnell's History of WW2 page 2423.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Good stuff Tally-ho

I take it you have seen these Extracts from the war diaries for the 4th May.


OPREF#124


25 Sqdn Operational Review May 1945 - page1


25 Sqdn Operational Review May 1945 - page2


25 Sqdn Operational Review May 1945 - page3

Cheers

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Brent Best

@ Kremlin

Man o man! Now that makes my day. No I've not seen those pages, although I downloaded those files and read them, on this particular story of HD667, but somewhere I've missed this.

I will now go back to them and check it again, if I don't come right I'll give you a shout.

Many thanks!

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Sorted

I extracted the pages from the pdf:

AIR 54-193 No. 22 Squadron 3-3.pdf
(pages 23,24,25 & 36)

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Brent Best

I only downloaded what pertained to 25 Sqd not 22 Sqd, maybe this is why I missed it? Why would it be under 22 Sqd?

Thanks!

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

I have come across this additional info though on Archive documents, AIR 54/193/35046 or page 323:-

This does not surprise me, the Yugs were and are known for their obtuseness, as was witnessed during the civil war in the Balkan of the late 1990's after the break up of Yugoslavia.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

The order is rather confusing..., best to download the AIR 54-205 S.A.A.F. Operations Master List index file, it does help to make sense of the pdf's.

Sometimes the file is labelled as one squadron, then contains only 10 pages on that squadron & 500 pages on another squadron ... so the pdf names are not an indication of what's inside .. the Master List index sorts them by squadron & also lists the individual AIR54 file contents.


All this makes for fascinating, albeit sometimes eye-opening reading

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Brent Best

Thanks for the advice and guidance - most appreciated!

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Where can I download this info please?

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www.monzlyons.co.uk

Download links here

http://www.saairforce.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3723

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Brent Best

Ah, shot Brent!

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www.monzlyons.co.uk