Rand Club - Historical Association - THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIRFORCE (SAAF) IN ITALY - WW2

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Join the Rand Club Historical Association for a talk by Martin Urry on THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIRFORCE (SAAF) IN ITALY - WW2

FRIDAY 19 JANUARY 2024

Guest Speaker: MARTIN URRY Event Time: 12h00 for 12h45

By early October 1944 the Allies were pushing the German forces northwards through Italy, and Italian partisans were active behind the German defensive lines. The South African Air Force 2 Wing, comprising 31 and 34 squadrons, flying B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, were stationed near Foggia in southern Italy, and in early October were tasked with supplying the partisans in the Po valley. The weather was bad and the mission was delayed, finally they were given the go-ahead on the night of 12 October, and 20 aircraft from 31 and 34 squadrons were assigned to fly that night. The weather turned, 11 aircraft returned to base, only 3 found their targets and 6 aircraft did not return, with a loss of 48 men, the largest single mission loss of the South African Air Force during the war.

Cost R150 p/p (Inclusive of soup, sandwiches) excluding wine, soft drinks and coffee Tickets available on Quicket

 33 Loveday Street & Fox Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg

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