[Routine Order] 'T' — Orders & Appendices

Document

'T'
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 46/43 No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
by 169
LIEUT. COL. C.S. COPPEN D.F.C.
Commanding Officer,
No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
Middle East.
28th June 1943.
Para. 153: COURTS MARTIAL FOR BREACHES OF FLYING REGULATIONS:
* A number of Officer and Airman Pilots have been convicted by court martial
during the past few months for flying offences. Brief particulars of some
of these cases are given below:-
i. A Pilot Officer was convicted on charges of:-
a. improperly diving his aircraft below 2000 feet over an airfield,
and b. so negligently performing his duty as Pilot as to cause
his aircraft to collide with the ground.
Sentenced to be dismissed from His Majesty's Service.
ii. A Pilot Officer was convicted on a charge of so negligently flying his
aircraft over a landing ground as to strike and injure another Officer
Sentenced to be dismissed from His Majesty's Service.
iii. A Pilot Officer was convicted on charges of:-
a. flying his aircraft at a height of about 100 feet over houses in a
manner likely to cause damage to the aircraft, and
b. improperly diving his aircraft below 500 feet near an airfield.
Sentenced to be dismissed from His Majesty's Service.
iv. A Pilot Officer was convicted on a charge of so negligently flying his
aircraft as to cause it to collide with a tree.
Sentenced to be dismissed from His Majesty's Service.
v. A Pilot Officer was convicted on a charge of flying his aircraft in a
manner likely to cause unnecessary annoyance to persons on the ground
in the vicinity at the time.
Sentenced to be dismissed from His Majesty's Service.
vi. A Pilot Officer was convicted on a charge of so negligently flying his
aircraft as to cause it to collide with a house.
Sentenced to be dismissed from His Majesty's Service.
vii. A Pilot Officer was convicted on charges of:-
a. flying his aircraft with such wilful neglect as to cause it to
collide with a motor car, and
b. flying his aircraft in such a manner as was likely to cause loss of
life to persons.
Sentenced to be dismissed from His Majesty's Service.
viii. A Pilot Officer was convicted on a charge of flying his aircraft so
negligently as to cause it to strike and kill a civilian.
Sentenced to be cashiered.
ix. A Pilot Officer was convicted on a charge of so negligently flying his
aircraft as to cause it to collide with a telegraph pole and thereby
cause bodily injury to his passenger.
Sentenced to be dismissed from His Majesty's Service.
x. A Pilot Officer was convicted on two charges of improperly flying his
aircraft at an altitude of less than 2000 feet.
Sentenced to be dismissed from His Majesty's Service.
xi. A Sergeant was convicted on a charge of flying his aircraft so low as
to cause it to strike and kill a civilian on the ground.
He was sentenced to be reduced to the ranks and to undergo detention for
six months; but ninety days of the detention were remitted.
(A.M.O. Para. N. 258)
Para. 154: FIELD GENERAL COURTS MARTIAL:
615567 Cpl. Clark R. of No. 260 Squadron, was on 11th May 1943, convicted by
Field General Court Martial of two charges alleging that as a flight rigger
in charge of an aircraft he signed an incorrect daily inspection certificate
(Form 700) and failed to comply with the Maintenance Schedule relating to the
type of aircraft concerned.
He was sentenced to forfeit 2 Months seniority and to be severely reprimanded.
The sentence has been duly confirmed. (A.R.O. Para. 218)
[Signature] Major.
Adjutant No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion
Glossary of Terms
The document utilizes standard administrative and technical nomenclature pertinent to the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. S.A.A.F. expands to the South African Air Force, which operated Martin Baltimore medium bombers during this period.
LIEUT. COL. stands for Lieutenant Colonel, the rank of the Commanding Officer, C.S. Coppen, who is also cited with the D.F.C., or Distinguished Flying Cross. The handwritten annotation "T" and the number 169 serve as internal archival filing and sequence references. A.M.O. expands to Air Ministry Orders, providing the regulatory framework for the summary of flight offences. Cpl. denotes the rank of Corporal. Form 700 refers to the standard Aircraft Logbook used to document maintenance and airworthiness inspections. A.R.O. denotes Air Routine Orders. The term "cashiered" in sub-para viii refers to a severe form of dishonorable discharge for officers, usually accompanied by public disgrace and forfeiture of commissions.
Operational Context
This Squadron Routine Order, dated 28th June 1943, was issued from the Middle East during the operational lull following the capture of the Pelagie Islands and immediately preceding Operation Husky—the invasion of Sicily. During this period, 21 Squadron SAAF was based at Soliman North, Tunisia, focusing on intensive maintenance and training to transition from the Western Desert and Tunisian campaigns to the tactical demands of the upcoming Italian Campaign.
The strategic importance of this order lies in its role as a disciplinary deterrent during a period of reorganization. Para. 153 details a significant surge in "flying offences," specifically "flying off fences" or low-level unauthorized maneuvering. The detailed list of court-martial convictions—ranging from collisions with ground objects and motor cars to the death of civilians—illustrates the severe attrition Allied commands faced from pilot negligence rather than enemy action. The consistent sentence of dismissal from His Majesty's Service across ten different pilot cases underscores a theater-wide effort to enforce flight discipline and preserve scarce airframes, such as the Martin Baltimore, for the impending invasion.
Furthermore, Para. 154 documents the conviction of a Corporal from No. 260 Squadron—a famous P-40 Kittyhawk unit—for maintenance malpractice. The failure to comply with maintenance schedules and the falsification of Form 700 inspection certificates directly threatened pilot safety and aircraft availability. This emphasis on technical accuracy and legal accountability reflects the MAAF command's focus on ensuring unit readiness and safety as the Allied forces prepared to launch the first major assault on the European mainland in early July 1943.

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Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check
The exact date found in the 'Date' column of the image is 29 JUN 43.