Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin and 40 Boston bombers in 1942 – can serials be identified?

[Dan History]

In early July 1942, Roosevelt and Churchill requested that Stalin release 40 A-20 Boston light bomber aircraft, which had been intended for transfer to the Soviet Union, in order to replenish the Boston squadrons of the Western Desert Air Force. Stalin, who at that time was seeking friendly relations with Roosevelt, agreed, and the bombers were transferred to the RAF. They were used by units of the South African Air Force (SAAF), and for this reason and others, their serials remain unknown to the present day. Can members help identify these 40 Bostons?

All I have been able to find is the following RAF document, dated 30 October 1942:

“we have received from C.O., R.A.F. Station, Shaibah (through A.H.Q. Iraq) copies of agreements signed on behalf of the U.S.S.R. and U.S.A. releasing 40 aircraft as below to the R.A.F.

3 Boston III, forming part of the British commitment to Russia, but not handed over to the Russians;

36 Boston A.20.C., forming part of American commitment to Russia

1 Boston A.20.C. forming part of American commitment to Russia and previously handed over to the Russians.

These agreements are merely receipts for the physical transfer of the aircraft under the Lease/Lend programme, and they include details of deficiencies of equipment. The originals of the agreements are being retained at Shaibah, attached to the C.R.Vs bringing the aircraft on R.A.F. charge.”

Two questions stem from the text above:

1. Is it known which specific unit at Shaibah oversaw the transfer of these aircraft, or was it perhaps the Station commander? I am seeking to understand which Operational Record Book (ORB) might contain the aircraft serials.

2. What were CRVs and might these documents still be available at The National Archives in Kew, or perhaps at another archive?


I have looked through the volumes of the excellent Mediterranean Air War book series in an attempt to identify some of these 40 Bostons among the aircraft lost by the SAAF squadrons. I would be grateful if members commented whether some or all of these individual aircraft belonged to this set of 40:

Sunday, 30 August 1942

24 SAAF Sqn Boston III AL787 off from LG. 99 to bomb Fuka-El Rahman road in early hours; shot down while strafing, probably by Flak; Capt J. P. Furstenburg and three KiA

Tuesday, 1 September 1942

24 SAAF Sqn Boston III AL674 off to attack MT at El Alamein. Tail blown off by Flak 15m S target at 1821. Observer, Lt A. B. Sluter baled out and PoW; Lt J. A. Pocock and two KiA


Thursday, 1 September 1942

24 SAAF Sqn Boston III AL723 ‘Z’ collided with Z2156 and damaged DBR, but returned; Lt F. A. L. de Marrilav and two safe, one injured

Sunday, 27 September 1942

24 SAAF Sqn Boston III AL785 ‘S’ one of nine off by night and one of four attacking LG. 13; shot down by Flak over target; Lt G. Cohen and one KiA, two PoW (Night)

Saturday, 24 October 1942

12 SAAF Sqn Boston IIIa 41-19402 leading formation hit by Flak over target and crashed 20km W El Alamein 0943; Lt. A. C. E. Glendinning and three PoW

Tuesday, 3 November 1942

12 SAAF Sqn Boston III AL270 ‘U’ off 0740 to attack Axis ground forces at El Alamein. Hit by Flak over target, burst into flames and spun into ground and exploded; pilot Lt W. B. Dalglish baled out WiA, but died on 7th as PoW, three crew KiA

Sunday, 21 March 1943

12 SAAF Sqn Boston III AL734 shot down by Flak and belly-landed in the desert


Some losses in the Mediterranean Air War books are not identified by serial, and of these a few cannot even be identified using the RAF Commands Aircraft Losses Database, based on the files of the late Henk Welting, at
https://www.rafcommands.com/database....php?crdb=Henk

Can members help and provide the missing Boston serial for the following loss? See below:

Thursday, 8 April 1943

24 SAAF Sqn Boston ‘R’ hit by Flak at 1030, crash-landed in Allied lines; Maj Margo and crew safe