[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO.46 Middle East Command

Thursday, 1 October 1942 Other pp. 38

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/273/273
38
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO.46 Middle East Command
by
LIEUT.COL.A.D.IRVINE
Officer Commanding.
No.21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
Middle East Command,
1st October 1942.
Para.181: DUTIES:
----------------- Orderly Duties for period 2nd to 8th October 1942.
Orderly Officer Orderly Sergeant
2/10/42 Lieut.Martin C.A. A/Sgt Bradfield A.G.
3/10/42 " Metcalf A.M. " Clark L.G.
4/10/42 " Moore T.G. " Dyson W.A.
5/10/42 " Pocock A.A. " Forrest A.
6/10/42 " Rich A.P. " Rowe W.K.
7/10/42 " Smythe J.O. " Smith J.M.
8/10/42 2/Lt. Noakes D.R. F/Sgt Van Schaik J.F.
In Waiting: 2/Lt/ Phelan D.H. A/Sgt Woods C.R.
" Te Water Pohl Sgt Edmeades R.H.
Duty pilots for the period 2nd to 8th October 1942. Instructions as
laid down in Order No.44 dated 24/9/42.
A. B.
2/10/42 Lieut. Mouton Lieut. Venter
3/10/42 " Martin A.R. " Sadler
4/10/42 " Carlisle " Mulholland
5/10/42 " Klette " Davies
6/10/42 " Hotchkiss " Morrell
7/10/42 " Chisholm " Evans
8/10/42 " Meredith 2/Lt. Baillie
Para.182:"Q" STORES - ISSUES:
Mondays : Kit Issues 09.00 - 12.00 hrs. 14.00 - 16.00 hrs.
All unserviceable clothing must be returned before new issue can be
obtained.
Tuesdays : No Issues.
Wednesdays : Kit Issues 09.00 - 12.00 hrs.
Thursdays : Cigarette Issue only.
Fridays : Kit Issues 09.00 - 12.00 hrs.
Saturdays : Paraffin Oil issue for lamps only - no paraffin will be issued
in bottles.
Sundays : No issues whatsoever.
The S.A.A.F.I. will be open from 15.00 hours to 18.00 hours daily.
Each tent is entitled to one lamp only for the occupants thereof. All additional
lamps held in tents must be returned to the Stores forthwith.
There will be no further issues of mosquito boots.
Shoes may only be obtained on certificate from the Medical Officer.
There are still, kit bags, tool boxes etc. belonging to members of the Squadron,
lying in the Stores. These must be claimed, and collected, forthwith.
(Sgd) J.Friedman 2/Lt/f.Lieut.Col.
Officer Commanding.
No.21 Squadron S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (Transcriber's Notes)
Glossary of Terms:
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* LIEUT.COL. / Lieut.Col. / f.Lieut.Col.: Lieutenant Colonel, the rank held by the Officer Commanding (O.C.), A.D. Irvine. The notation "f.Lieut.Col." indicates J. Friedman signing for the Lieutenant Colonel.
* 2/Lt / Lieut. / Sgt / A/Sgt / F/Sgt: Standard military rank abbreviations for Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Acting Sergeant, and Flight Sergeant.
* "Q" STORES: Equipment and Quartermaster stores responsible for the issue of clothing, kit, and general squadron supplies.
* S.A.A.F.I.: South African Air Force Institute, providing canteen and welfare services to SAAF personnel in the field.
Operational Context:
Squadron Routine Order No. 46, dated 1 October 1942, reflects the administrative stabilization of No. 21 Squadron SAAF at a forward Landing Ground (likely L.G. Y) in the Western Desert. This period immediately precedes the launch of the Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October 1942).
The strategic importance of this location during the early October window was centered on technical readiness and aircrew availability for the upcoming offensive. The Duty Pilot roster, divided into "A" and "B" Flights, includes names of pilots who operated the squadron's Martin Baltimore light bombers. These crews were tasked with maintaining a high sortie rate to interdict German-Italian supply lines and harass armored concentrations in the Axis rear.
The stringent "Q" Store regulations—specifically regarding paraffin oil for lamps and the cessation of mosquito boot issues—illustrate the logistical constraints of the Western Desert campaign. Paraffin was a vital fuel for illumination in the "lines" (living areas), but its conservation was paramount to ensure technical and combat needs were prioritized. The mention of "mosquito boots" highlights the ongoing battle against malaria and environmental hazards in the desert echelons. This document, preserved as Folio 38 of the war diary (AIR 27/273), provides essential prosopographical data on the squadron's junior officers and NCOs who maintained the unit's operational discipline during the definitive buildup to the Allied breakthrough in North Africa.

48
Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check: 6th October 1942.