Document
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER 60/43 No. 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.
P 109
By
Lt. Col. J.A.G. Britz D.F.C.
Commanding Officer,
No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.
Middle East;
24th. August, 1943.
Para. 196. SABOTAGE.
Some Air Force personnel have been firing at insulators and damaging communication lines, a practice which has been prevalent in the vicinity of airdromes. These communication lines are essential for operational purposes and this action is nothing other than a form of sabotage.
2. The immediate attention of all personnel is drawn to the seriousness of this offense and this practice must stop forthwith.
(By Command of Lt. General SPAATZ.)
Para. 197. LOOTING.
Reports of looting on the part of Royal Air Force personnel indicate Commanding Officers do not appreciate seriousness of this offence. Personnel are warned that enemy property not being public or private may not be removed from occupied or unoccupied premises and severe discip. action will be taken against future offenders, moreover that sentries are authorised to shoot persons in looting. All units are not (R) not authorised to requisition enemy property but reasonable requirements may be obtained if application is made to Rear Headquarters Desert Air Force for requirements orders.
(Sig. A.O.C. in C Adv. AHQ W.D.)
Para. 198. SECURITY.
Higher Authority has long been concerned over the difficulty of bringing home to members of the forces the imperative need for security, and constant breaches of elementary security measures are in evidence.
2. It is clear that members of the S.A.A.F. are grave offenders in this respect and information regarding certain highly secret moves and re-equipment of units has been recently spread in Cairo by personnel arriving from forward units. The offenders include Officers as well as other ranks.
3. It might be mentioned that security in correspondence still maintains quite a high standard, but all ranks are very much too prone to discuss these matters referred to with all and sundry on arrival in Cairo.
4. Please impress upon all ranks in your unit that, apart from rendering themselves liable to most severe disciplinary action, they are prejudicing an early termination of the war by this constant irresponsible chattering about matters which must be maintained on a most secret plane.
(SAO A/ME/A37/7 Serial 3)
Para. 199. Reporting changes of MEDICAL CLASSIFICATION.
When personnel on posted or attached strength of a Unit, are medically up-graded or allotted an "equivalent grade" by a single Medical Officer in terms of S.A.A.F. 9M.E.F. G.RO. 945/43 the O.C. Unit will report this on D.D. 645/6 in duplicate to A.D.A.P. S.A.A.F. H.Q.R.A.F. M.E.
External Administrative Instruction (Personnel No. 9) refers.
2. All such cases which have been dealt with subsequent to 14 May 43 and prior to the receipt of this instruction, will now be so reported.
U.D.F. (MEF) GRO 94/43.
2. ....................2/-
S.R.O. 60/43 (Contd)
Page 2
Para. 200. DANGER OF USING PETROL DRUMS.
Two accidents which have occurred recently have been due to the use of naked flames in the vicinity of or on drums which had originally contained highly inflammable liquids.
2. In the first accident, a 40-gallon petrol drum was in use as an improvised work-bench at which welding was carried out. A violent explosion occurred, as a result of which an airman received fatal injuries.
3. In the second accident, brazing was being carried out on a 5-gallon drum, the original contents of which had not been determined. In this case also there was an explosion, and a non-commissioned officer and an airman were seriously injured.
4. The following instructions are to be introduced in all air headquarters or group headquarters engineer instructions:—
(a) The use of petrol drums for any purpose in a workshop where a naked flame is employed is strictly prohibited.
(b) The use of such containers for any other purpose, i.e., as water containers, etc., is to be regarded as a highly dangerous practice and is to be discouraged.
(c) In cases where it is necessary to carry out work involving the application of heat on, or heat to, any type of container which has previously held, or may have held, any inflammable liquid, the fullest precautions are to be taken to ensure that it is free from traces of liquid, sediment and fumes by the methods prescribed for dealing with aircraft fuel tanks before repair, as laid down in A.P. 1464A, Vol. 1 Sections 3, Chapter 2.
(RAF. (ME) RO. 611/43.)
Para. 201. HEALTH PRECAUTIONS - LETTUCE.
Owing to the structure of this vegetable, it is more likely to harbour and retain the germs of amoebic dysentry than any other vegetable that is commonly eaten raw. Washing cannot be relied upon to remove these germs; and, as amoebic dysentry seems to be on the increase, the purchase of lettuce from native contractors by units is strictly forbidden. The consumption of lettuce in restaurants is also prohibited.
2. Lettuce is only to be consumed when grown under direct supervision, or in certain clubs where its production is supervised by Army or R.A.F. authorities. Such lettuce is to be chopped up into small pieces and then soaked for two hours in 1/1000 potassium permanganate (i.e., potassium permanganate solution having a definite reddish tinge), and then wash in clean purified water before consumption.
(RAF (ME) RO 619/43 serial 34.)
Para. 202. COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE.
Payable at Married rates to other than Married Male Personnel.
1. Reports have been received that personnel with dependants whether or not they have been granted dependants' allowances are not aware of their potential entitlements to married rates of Cost of Living Allowance.
2. In addition to married male personnel COST OF LIVING Allowances at married rates is payable to:
(a) Married women; (d) Divorced personnel
(b) Widowers; (c) Unmarried personnel;
(c) Widows;
provided that their dependants are wholly dependent on them and normally resident with with them.
3. Where a member who is not entitled to the married rate a dependant partially dependent upon him, Cost of Living Allowance at two thirds of the appropriate married rate is payable, providing that the dependant:—
(i) is normally permanently resident with the member and;
(ii) does not possess means of support or income from extraneous sources in excess of £72 per annum.