[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 68/43 NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

Monday, 13 September 1943 Other

Document

SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 68/43 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.
13th September, 1943.
Para. 243. National Savings Association. F/Lt. S.L.F. BURGESS has been appointed as Honorary Agent for this WING, and Nos 12, 21, and 24 (S.A.A.F.) SQUADRONS.
R.A.F. Personnel when desiring to purchase National Savings Certificates should report to No. 3 (S.A.) Wing R.A.F. SECTION.
(3W/1405/Accts.)
Para. 244. BOUNDS. All Towns in Sicily now in bounds between the 06.00 hours and 2000 hours.
Order NO. 62/43 para 211 is here by amended.
(Signal R.H.Q. DAF. P905 d/d 10/9/43.)
Para. 245. SICK AND DENTAL PARADES. All personnel wishing to report Sick can do so at 08.00 to 08.30 hours daily at the Orderly Room.
Dental parade from 08.00 to 08.15 hours daily.
Para. 246. GRASS FIRES. All Personnel are warned of the grave danger of fire in this Camp. The wheat stubble in the lines is HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE and once alight, particularly in a wind is extremely difficult to extinguish and spreads with amazing rapidity. Sparks from cigarette ends or pipes are sufficient to start a fire that could have disastrous results.
Para. 247. TRANSPORT. With effect from the 14th September, 1943 a regular transport service will be run between the camp and the aerodrome. Transport will leave from the Ops. Tent at the following times:-
Morning at 09.00 hrs,
10.00 "
11.00 "
12.00 "
Afternoon. 13.00 hrs
16.00 "
17.00 "
18.00 "
ALL AIRCREWS AND GROUND STAFF ARE TO MAKE USE OF THIS SERVICE AS NO INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORT WILL BE ALLOWED.
Transport will return from the aerodrome to the Ops. Tent at the following times:-
Morning. 09.15 hrs. & 10.15
11.15 " 12.15
Afternoon. 13.15 & 17.15
16.15 & 18.15 "
Para. 248. UNJACKETED BULLETS. All Unjacketed Bullets are to be returned to the "T" Stores Immediately.
(Sgd) [unclear] Capt.
for .............................. Lt. Col.
Officer Commanding, No. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

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 (the military forces of the Union of South Africa).
* M.E.F.: Middle East Forces.
* F/Lt.: Flight Lieutenant.
* R.A.F.: Royal Air Force.
* DAF: Desert Air Force.
* d/d: Dated.
* Ops. Tent: Operations Tent.
* "T" Stores: Likely Technical or Tool Stores.
* Observations on Individuals:
* Lt. Col. J.F. Britz, D.F.C.: Jacobus "Jack" Frederik Britz was a distinguished officer and the Commanding Officer of 21 Squadron during the Italian campaign. His leadership spanned critical periods from the conclusion of operations in North Africa through the liberation of Sicily and the invasion of Italy.
* F/Lt. S.L.F. Burgess: Appointed as the Honorary Agent for the National Savings Association for No. 3 (S.A.) Wing. This wing comprised squadrons 12, 21, and 24, all of which were South African units operating under the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force.
* Location and Historical Context:
* Cuticchi, Sicily: On September 13, 1943, 21 Squadron was based at Cuticchi, near Gerbini in the Catania plain of Sicily. This airfield served as a forward operating base for medium bombers like the Martin Baltimore used by the SAAF.
* Operation Avalanche: These orders were issued just four days after the Allied landings at Salerno (September 9, 1943). While ground forces were struggling to expand the beachhead, 21 Squadron was intensely engaged in night-time armed reconnaissance and interdiction missions, targeting German supply lines at Eboli, Auletta, and Potenza to prevent enemy reinforcements from reaching the front.
* Unjacketed Bullets (Para. 248): This order is a recurring and grave warning. Carrying "unjacketed" (soft-point or expanding) ammunition was a violation of the Hague Convention and the Geneva Convention. Allied personnel found with such ammunition after capture were reportedly executed by German forces, making this a critical life-safety instruction for aircrews.
* Environmental Hazards: The warning about grass fires (Para. 246) highlights the mundane but dangerous reality of operating from temporary airfields in the dry Sicilian summer, where a single spark in wheat stubble could destroy essential tents, equipment, and potentially aircraft.

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Verification: The date written in the header of this document to identify the image is 16th September, 1943.