Identity of SAAF Unit Sought

[HAHalliday]

An RCAF press release dated 9 September 1944 stated, in part, "More than a dozen Canadians fly with a South African Air Force bomber squadron in daily attacks on the German retreat paths [in Yugoslavia]. Among these are WO George Blake of Manchester Avenue, Toronto, P/O Guy Pelletiier, Moncton, New Brunswick, WO Norm Britton, Saint John, New Brunswick, F/L Gordon Cook, Lethbridge, Alberta, F/O Bill Wickens, Revelstock, British Columbia and F/O Bert Knapp, Sackville, New Brunswick."

The SAAF history "Eagles Victorious" mentions a F/L Wickens (who might or might not be the man above) as operating with No.16 Squadron SAAF, but as a Beaufighter unit it hardly meets the description of a "bomber squadron". No.25 Squadron has been suggested as the unt. Is anyone aware of a SAAF squadron in the Italian/Adriatic theatre that had an unsually high concentration of RCAF aircrew ?

[Dan Johnson]

Could it be 31 or 34 Squadron SAAF? They were flying Liberators in those areas.