[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 42/43 No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. — Orders & Appendices

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SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 42/43 No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
by 'O'
LIEUT. COL. C.S. COPPEN D.F.C. 163
Officer Commanding,
No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
Middle East.
13th June 1943
* CONGRATULATIONS:
The following message has been received from A.O.W.A.A.F.:-
"To the Officer Commanding, Officers and Men of No. 21 Squadron, with the
best wishes of the S.A.W.A.A.F. and our hearty congratulations on your
grand work in the present battle"
* BIRTHDAY GREETINGS - FIELD MARSHAL SMUTS:
The following copies of signals which passed between Field Marshal Smuts and
General Theron, on the occasion of the former's birthday, are published for
general information.
From General Theron to Field Marshal Smuts:-
"S.A.A.F. and all other non-division units including S.A.N.F. send you our
heartiest good wishes for a very happy birthday. Mag Here's segen rijklik
op u en Ouma dalen. Alles van die beste."
From Field Marshal Smuts to General Theron:-
"My sincere thanks for good birthday wishes to S.A.A.F. non-divisional units
and S.A.N.F. all of whom are constantly in my thoughts. In return I wish you
all of the best with hopes of early complete victory. Good Luck."
* OUT OF BOUNDS:
The farmhouse north of No. 2 runway is Out of Bounds to All Ranks at all times.
(S.R.O. Para. 76)
* FIRE PRECAUTIONS:
The danger of fire by dropping of burning cigarette ends or matches into corn-
fields or foliage is stressed. Personnel are warned that disciplinary action
will result from any negligent act of this nature.
(S.R.O. Para. 77)
* BUTTERFLY BOMBS:
All personnel are warned against the danger of handling or even approaching
the German butterfly anti-personnel bomb. This bomb is being dropped with two
new types of fuzes. (i) Number 70.B which is a very sensitive vibrating fuze
and any handling of the bomb is sufficient to set it off. It is a booby trap.
(ii) Number 67 is a clockwork delay fuze which can be set to explode the bomb
over settings varying from 5 min. to 30 min. after being dropped. Therefore do
not approach any butterfly bomb until a full hour has elapsed after dropping.
Should any one see a butterfly bomb in the vicinity of the landing ground,
advise the nearest Squadron Armament Officer of the location.
(S.R.O. Para 78)
* .380 REVOLVER AMMUNITION:
All Ranks are notified that .380 ammunition is not to be used under any
circumstances for practice purposes pending adequate stocks becoming available.
(S.R.O. Para 79)
[Signature] Capt
for ........................Majar.
Adjutant No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
N O T I C E
A pair of spectacles. Owner to claim same at the Orderly Room.

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion
Glossary of Terms
The document utilizes several standardized military abbreviations common to the South African and Commonwealth forces during the Middle East campaign. S.A.A.F. expands to the South African Air Force, which operated as part of the Desert Air Force within the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF). The handwritten annotation 'O' and 163 serve as internal archival filing and sequence references. LIEUT. COL. stands for Lieutenant Colonel, the rank held by C.S. Coppen, who is also cited with the D.F.C., or Distinguished Flying Cross, a high-level gallantry award for officers. A.O.W.A.A.F. likely refers to the Air Officer commanding the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, while S.A.W.A.A.F. specifically denotes the South African Women's Auxiliary Air Force. S.A.N.F. expands to the South African Naval Forces. S.R.O. denotes Squadron Routine Orders, which are official administrative directives. The rank Majar. is a clerical variant of Major, the officer serving as the unit Adjutant. Technical fuzing terminology for the German SD2 anti-personnel munition includes the Number 70.B vibrating fuze and the Number 67 clockwork delay fuze.
Operational Context
This Routine Order, dated 13th June 1943, was issued from the Middle East theater immediately following the successful conclusion of Operation Corkscrew—the aerial reduction and capture of the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. The strategic importance of this period cannot be overstated; the fall of these islands on June 11th and 12th removed the final Axis outposts blocking the maritime approaches to Sicily, directly enabling the planning and execution of Operation Husky. The congratulations from the S.A.W.A.A.F. acknowledge the "grand work in the present battle," reflecting the historic significance of the first major territory to surrender solely to air power.
The orders also reveal the immediate tactical and environmental pressures facing the squadron following the Tunisian campaign's end. The explicit warning regarding "Butterfly Bombs" (the German SD2 munition) highlights the persistent danger of Axis ordnance in the vicinity of Allied landing grounds, with specific technical detail provided on fuzes designed to booby-trap the area or detonate on a delay to disrupt flight operations. Administrative constraints, such as the prohibition on using .380 revolver ammunition for practice, indicate logistical shortages common during the transition to the next phase of the war. Furthermore, the mundane mention of "corn-fields" and "foliage" fire hazards underscores the precarious environmental conditions of forward airfields in North Africa and the Mediterranean during the summer months.

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Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check
The exact date found in the document header is 21st June 1943.