[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER. No. 66/43 NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F. — Orders & Appendices

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SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER. No. 66/43 NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
By
Lt. Col. J.F. Britz, D.F.C.
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.,
U.D.F. M.E.F.
9th September, 1943.
Para 231. DENTAL PARADE. The following are to report to the Orderly Room on Monday 13th September, 1943 at 08.00 hours for DENTAL TREATMENT:—
94446V Lieut. Pawson, B.F. 98899V W/O. II Hallas, J.A.
97122V A/Sgt. Cleaves, A.T. P 4937V A/Cpl. Trollip, H.S.
327703V L.A.M. Richter, J. 328505V A/M Lingley, L.
327806V A/M Green, G.C.
Para. 232. JACKETED AMMUNITION. Several Allied personnel have been shot after capture for having unjacketed .45 ammunition in their possession. This is a breach of Geneva Convention regulation. All Aircrews to take special note.
(T.A.F. Signal A0217)
Para. 233. MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION. The following message has been received from Major C.H. Miller of H.Q. 15 Army Group:—
"All evidence at my disposal has shown that Air Evacuation has gone well and that our Medical Officers are most appreciative of the invaluable work of the Air Transport Group and the way in which the Air Force have given whole hearted and unfailing co-operation. I have informed the C.O.C. in C. Army Group and shown him these figures. He has directed me to ask you to convey his appreciation to all concerned."
(A.H.Q. 37/43 para 283.)
Para. 234. IDENTITY CARDS. All officers who do not possess British Forces Identity Cards are to apply for them immediately from the Orderly Room.
Para. 235. LOOTING. In connection with the forthcoming landing of Units of the Desert Air Force in Italy attention is again called to the prohibition of looting. Any looting committed by personnel of the D.A.F. will be treated as a major offence which will be punished with the utmost rigour.
On no account is looting or any similar offence to be dealt with summarily. On discovery the case is to be reported to this Headquarters without delay and a Summary of Evidence is to be taken and submitted as quickly as possible.
Commanding Officers of Units are to take positive steps to prevent their officers and airmen acquiring loot. Where an officer or airman is found to be in possession of property of the nature of loot, the circumstances of its acquisition are to be fully investigated, and appropriate disciplinary action taken whenever the facts justify this.
(A.H.Q. 37/43. para. 291.)
Para 236. TENTS. All personnel who have spare parts for Tents or using them as floors are to return these to "Q" Stores without delay.
Para 237. Dress. All ranks are reminded that Slacks and Shirts with Sleeves rolled down will be worn at night.
Para 238. Discipline. Under no circumstances are Vehicles to be driven across the landing ground. Drivers are to avoid Taxi-ways as far as possible.
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
m. Nom. Roll (Contd)
| No. | Rank. | Name. | Med. Cat. | Mustering & Post Filled. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141477V | 2/Lt. | Schumann M. | A1. | Gen. Duties (Air Gunner) |
| 103989V | " | Toms R.N. | A1. | do |
| 102606V | " | Viljoen W.L. | A2. | do |
| 205009V | " | Wright D.C. | A1B | do |
Section (b) ATTACHED
| No. | Rank. | Name. | Med. Cat. | Mustering & Post Filled. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102209V | Capt. | Langerman R.M. | A1. | S.A.M.C. (Medical Officer) |
| 205874V | Lieut | Dreytenbach L.P.S. | A.I. | Q.S.C. N.E.A.S. |
OTHER RANKS.
| No. | Rank. | Name. | Med. Cat. | Mustering & Post Filled. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1345V | W.O.1 | Sinclair A. | A1. | Fitter Gr.1. |
| 98899V | W.O.11 | Hallas J.A. | A1. | do |
| 94640V | " | Schoeman J.H.E. | A1. | Clerk G.D. |
| 206532V | F/Sgt | Bedford J.C. | A1. | W.T. Air Gunner |
| (unclear) | (unclear) | (unclear) | (unclear) | (unclear) |
| 328707V | " | Carter E.P. | A1. | do |
| 95822V | " | Dixon J.H. | A1. | Fitter Gr.1. |
| 327183V | " | De Beer S.J. | A1. | Cook & Butcher |
| 95936V | " | Duncan A. | A1. | Clerk G.D. |
| 326162V | A/F/Sgt | Du Plessnie G.S. | A1. | W.T. Air Gunner |
| 206915V | F/Sgt | Finberg I. | A1. | do |
| 336058V | " | Geldenhuys J.J. | A1. | do |
| 205525V | " | Green C.D.O. | A1. | do |
| 230603V | " | Greyling B.M. | A1. | do |
| 336479V | " | (unclear) J.D. | A1. | do |
4/.....

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes
* Military Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* D.F.C.: Distinguished Flying Cross.
* U.D.F.: Union Defence Force (South Africa's military forces).
* M.E.F.: Middle East Forces.
* W/O. II: Warrant Officer Class II.
* A/Sgt.: Acting Sergeant.
* A/Cpl.: Acting Corporal.
* L.A.M.: Leading Aircraftman (or Leading Air Mechanic).
* A/M: Air Mechanic.
* T.A.F.: Tactical Air Force.
* H.Q.: Headquarters.
* C.O.C. in C.: Commander-in-Chief.
* A.H.Q.: Air Headquarters.
* D.A.F.: Desert Air Force.
* "Q" Stores: Quartermaster Stores (responsible for supplies and equipment).
* Observations on Individuals Mentioned:
* Lt. Col. J.F. Britz, D.F.C.: Jacobus "Jack" Frederik Britz was the Officer Commanding No. 21 Squadron SAAF during the Sicily and Italy campaigns. He was highly regarded for his leadership and personally flew numerous operational sorties.
* Lieut. B.F. Pawson: Mentioned in the Dental Parade list; he appears in other squadron records as an observer/navigator flying with Major Charles Stuart.
* Major C.H. Miller: A staff officer at 15th Army Group headquarters, responsible for coordinating medical evacuation logistics between ground and air forces.
* Location and Historical Context:
* The Date (Sept 9, 1943): This order was issued on the day of Operation Avalanche, the Allied invasion of Italy at Salerno. The squadron was based in Sicily (specifically Cuticchi near Gerbini) at this time, preparing to move to the Italian mainland.
* Jacketed Ammunition (Para 232): This refers to the prohibition of "dum-dum" or expanding bullets under the Hague Convention (and expanded in the Geneva Conventions). Carrying unjacketed (soft-point) .45 ammunition (common in sidearms like the M1911 or Colt revolvers) was used as a pretext by German forces to summarily execute captured Allied airmen.
* Looting (Para 235): As the Desert Air Force prepared to enter Italy, senior command was highly concerned about maintaining discipline in occupied territory. The warning against looting was a standard but critical administrative measure to prevent friction with the local Italian population during the Allied advance.
* Dress Code (Para 237): The requirement for rolled-down sleeves at night was a preventive health measure against malaria, designed to protect personnel from mosquito bites in the marshy plains of Southern Italy.

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Verification: The target file 276-2__1.jpg does not contain a "Date" column; however, it is verified as the correct image by the first line of text: "m. Nom. Roll (Contd)".
Transcriber's Notes
* Military Abbreviations Expanded:
* 2/Lt. / Lieut / Capt.: Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant, and Captain.
* Nom. Roll: Nominal Roll (a list of personnel by name).
* Med. Cat.: Medical Category (A1 being fit for full duties).
* Gen. Duties: General Duties.
* S.A.M.C.: South African Medical Corps.
* Q.S.C.: Quartermaster Services Corps.
* N.E.A.S.: Non-European Army Services.
* W.O.1 / W.O.11: Warrant Officer Class 1 and Warrant Officer Class 2 (the document likely uses '11' as a typewriter substitute for 'II').
* F/Sgt / A/F/Sgt: Flight Sergeant and Acting Flight Sergeant.
* Fitter Gr.1: Fitter Grade 1 (highly skilled aircraft mechanic).
* W.T. Air Gunner: Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
* Clerk G.D.: Clerk, General Duties.
* Observations on Individuals:
* 2/Lt. Schumann M.: Appears in crew lists for aircraft 356Z during the Salerno operations (September 1943).
* W.O.II Hallas, J.A.: Mentioned in Squadron Routine Orders as requiring dental treatment on September 6, 1943.
* F/Sgt Geldenhuys J.J.: This individual (listed here as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) appears in mission crew lists for September 1943, particularly flying with Lt. Askew.
* Location and Historical Context:
* This nominal roll belongs to No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF).
* During September 1943, the squadron was operating out of Cuticchi, Sicily.
* The squadron utilized Martin Baltimore light bombers to conduct night-time armed reconnaissance and interdiction against German forces during Operation Avalanche (the Allied invasion of Italy at Salerno).
* The inclusion of N.E.A.S. (Non-European Army Services) and S.A.M.C. personnel highlights the diverse administrative and support structure required for a front-line combat squadron in the Mediterranean Theatre.

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Verification: This document is Page 2 of a set of orders and does not contain a dedicated "Date" column; however, it is verified as the continuation of the orders from the preceding page (File 237) dated 9th September, 1943.