[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 76/43 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. C.M.F. — Orders & Appendices

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SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 76/43 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. C.M.F.
(cancelling S.R.O. No. 74/43)
By
LT. COL. J.F. BRITZ, D.F.C.
Commanding Officer,
21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
C.M.F.
24th September, 1943.
Para. 267. AERODROME AND CAMP AREA DEFENCE.
1. ALARMS.
(A) The following alarms will be used in this Squadron (and throughout 3 Wing)
* Air Raid - Siren.
* Chemical - Rattle.
* Paratroops - Short blasts on whistles.
* Airborne troops - Beating on tin cans or shell cases.
(B) On the sounding of "air-raid" or "chemical" alarms, the normal action will be taken, e.g. Slit-trenches, gas equipment etc, action.
2. GROUND DEFENCE STATIONS.
(A) Three mobile Sections will be formed for ground defence purposes as follows:-
* Section No. 1. : Flight Commander, Deputy Flight Comm., 3 N.C.O's and 10 Other Ranks of "A" Flight.
* Section No. 2. : Flight Commander, Deputy Flight Comm., 3 N.C.O's and 10 Other Ranks of "B" Flight.
* Section No. 3. : Armament Officer, Capt. Dugmore, 3 N.C.O's and 10 Other Ranks of Armament Section.
(B) Static Defence Sections will be formed as follows:-
* (a) Ops. Tent. : Senior Intelligence Officer and Staff and 10 Air-crew Officers.
* (b) Armoury : Lt. Kay, 1 Senior N.C.O. and 10 Other Ranks.
* (c) "T" Stores : "T" Stores Officer, 1 Senior N.C.O. and 10 Other Ranks.
* (d) H.Q. Flight. : Squadron Engineer Officer, 1 Senior N.C.O. and 10 Other Ranks.
3. ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
The following arms have been allotted to each Section:-
* (a) Mobile Sections : 2 Tommy Guns and 10 Rifles each.
* (b) Ops Section : 2 Tommy Guns and 3 Rifles.
* (c) H.Q. Flight, "T" Stores and Armoury : 1 Tommy Gun and 3 Rifles each.
4. ORGANISATION AND TRAINING OF SECTIONS.
Officers in charge of Defence Sections are personally responsible for the Organisation and Training of their Sections and will ensure that their Sections are up to strength at all times.
5. ACTION.
1. Paratroops: Upon the sounding of the "Paratroops" alarm, the following action will be taken IMMEDIATELY:-
(a) All Defence Sections as detailed in para. 2. above will proceed to the Q.M. Stores where Section Commanders will take charge and arm their men.
(b) The Static Defence Sections will then proceed to their Defence Stations as detailed in para. 2(B).
P.T.O.

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes
Expanded Abbreviations
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* C.M.F.: Central Mediterranean Force.
* LT. COL.: Lieutenant Colonel.
* D.F.C.: Distinguished Flying Cross.
* S.R.O.: Squadron Routine Order.
* e.g.: Exempli gratia (for example).
* Comm.: Commander.
* N.C.O's: Non-Commissioned Officers.
* Ops.: Operations.
* "T" Stores: Technical Stores.
* H.Q.: Headquarters.
* Q.M.: Quartermaster.
Observations on Individuals
* Lieutenant Colonel J. F. Britz, D.F.C.: Known as Jacobus "Jack" Frederik Britz, he was a highly respected Officer Commanding (OC) of No. 21 Squadron. He personally led the squadron through the intense interdiction campaigns in Italy following the invasion.
* Captain Dugmore: A senior pilot often identified in lead roles during operational sorties, here tasked with commanding a mobile ground defense section.
* Lieutenant Kay: Assigned to the Static Defence of the Armoury, Kay is frequently noted in squadron personnel lists as an officer involved in technical and defensive roles.
Location and Historical Context
* Cuticchi, Sicily: On September 24, 1943, No. 21 Squadron was based at the Cuticchi airfield in the Catania plain of Sicily. This area is now primarily agricultural, situated near the modern-day Sigonella Naval Air Station.
* Operation Avalanche Support: This order was issued during the critical weeks following the Allied invasion of the Italian mainland at Salerno (September 9, 1943). While the squadron’s Martin Baltimore bombers were striking German supply lines in Italy, the base in Sicily required comprehensive defense plans.
* The Threat of Counter-Attack: The specific alarms for "Paratroops" and "Airborne troops" reflect a legitimate fear that German Fallschirmjäger (paratroops) might launch counter-strikes against Allied airbases to disrupt the air support being provided to the beachhead.
* Improvised Security: The use of "beating on tin cans or shell cases" for an airborne troop alarm highlights the makeshift nature of ground security in forward airfields during the rapid expansion of the Mediterranean theater.

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The target file, 276-2__14.jpg, is a continuation page and does not contain a specific 'Date' column. However, the document is verified as part of Squadron Routine Order No. 76/43, which is dated 24th September, 1943 on its first page.