[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 84/43 21 SQUADRON. S.A.A.F. C.M.F. — Orders & Appendices

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SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 84/43 21 SQUADRON. S.A.A.F. C.M.F.
By
MAJOR J. I. STUART.
Act. Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron. S.A.A.F. C.M.F.
5th November, 1943.
Para. 284. HANDLING OF BOMBS
Attention of all personnel who might be employed in the handling of transport or storage of Bombs is drawn to the following instruction.
Rough handling of bombs of AMERICAN manufacture filled AMATOL is extremely dangerous. The practice of rolling these bombs off trucks by braking suddenly or dropping off bombs from the tail and etc., will result in fatal accidents if attempted with AMERICAN made Bombs containing the above filling. In transporting Bombs so filled proper dunnage and lashing will be provided to prevent rolling and bumping in trucks.
(A.R.O. 30/1943. Para. 131 d/d 2nd Nov., 1943)
Para. 285. INTERFERENCE WITH ENEMY AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES.
Attention of all personnel is again directed to the dangerous consequences of tampering with enemy or allied fuzes, ammunition and explosives. Two accidents have occurred in this Wing during the last month, one with serious results. In future severe disciplinary action will be taken against any personnel so doing.
(A.R.O. 30/1943. Para. 132 d/d 2nd Nov., 1943)
Para. 286. PARACHUTES.
Parachutes issued to Flying Personnel will NOT (Repeat) NOT be stored in Squadron Parachute Section, and under no circumstances, may any item of equipment be drawn from this Section without the authority of the N.C.O. in charge.
Extract from A.P. 1182 Vol. 1. Part 1. Sect., 6. para. 12.
Daily Inspection - The attention of all personnel to whom a parachute is a personal issue is directed to Section. 1. Chap. 1. para. 16. wherein the primary responsibility is assigned to them for the care and maintenance of the equipment on their charge.
Para. 287. DENTAL PARADE.
The following personnel are to report to the Orderly Room at 08.00 hours on Monday, 8th November, 1943. (They will also report to the Orderly Room at 14.00 hours on Sunday, 7th November, 1943.)
No. 206045V. Lieut. Longmore H.C. No. 97388V A/Cpl. Cloete V.
No. 1.5588V. A/Cpl. Slabbert. J.J. No. 327370V. L/M. v. Jaarsveld.R.J.
No. 543546V. A/M. Freeman. R.E. No. 211427V. A/M. Kehl. E.L.G.
No. 210139V. A/M. Shenker. S. No. 313492V A/M. Zandberg.G.T.
(Sgd) J.I. Stuart
Major.
Acting Officer Commanding. 21 Squadron. S.A.A.F.
N O T I C E S
HOLY COMMUNION will be held in the Orderly Room Tent at 08.00 hrs on Sunday, 7th Nov. 1943.
CHURCH SERVICE will be held in the Airmens' Mess at 19.00 hrs on Sunday, 7th Nov. 1943.
LIBRARY - Padre Barker is now living with this Squadron and has a private library of approx. 200 books, and ALL ranks are welcome to make use of this Library at anytime.
PARACHUTES - All Flying Personnel who joined this Squadron on or subsequent to the 23rd Sept., 1943 are requested to report to Squadron Parachute Section, their parachute registration number, together with any other item of personal safety equipment, as soon as possible.

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes
Expanded Abbreviations
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* C.M.F.: Central Mediterranean Force.
* Act.: Acting.
* A.R.O.: Air Routine Order.
* d/d: Dated.
* N.C.O.: Non-Commissioned Officer.
* A.P.: Air Publication.
* Lieut.: Lieutenant.
* A/Cpl.: Acting Corporal.
* L/M.: Leading Marksman (likely internal trade designation).
* A/M.: Air Mechanic.
* Sgd: Signed.
Observations on Individuals
* Major Charles Stuart (J.I. Stuart): This is a significant entry. Stuart is now signing as the Acting Officer Commanding. This follows the tragic death of the previous commander, Lieutenant Colonel Britz, in a mid-air collision just two days prior on November 3, 1943. Stuart’s leadership in the immediate aftermath was crucial for unit stability.
* Lieutenant H.C. Longmore: Listed for the Dental Parade. Longmore was a recurring pilot in the unit’s operational sorties during October and November, often flying Martin Baltimore bombers on interdiction missions.
* Padre Barker: Mentioned in the notices as bringing a private library to the squadron. In the isolated and often dismal conditions of Italian winter airfields, such amenities were vital for maintaining morale among the ground and air crews.
Location Information and Modern Context
* Tortorella Landing Ground (Foggia No. 2): While the orders do not explicitly name the base, 21 Squadron was operating from Tortorella during early November 1943.
* Modern Name: The site is located in the Foggia plain of Southern Italy. Today, the area remains primarily agricultural land near the modern Foggia "Gino Lisa" Airport. The original wartime landing ground has long since reverted to farmland.
Historical Context
* Amatol and Explosives Safety (Para. 284 & 285): The specific warning regarding American-made Amatol-filled bombs highlights the technical hazards of the era. Amatol, a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate, could become increasingly sensitive if handled roughly, especially in the damp, cold environment of an Italian winter. The mention of accidents in the Wing underscores that these were not idle warnings but responses to real-world fatalities.
* The Aftermath of Tragedy: These orders represent the first administrative acts under Major Stuart following the loss of the unit's CO. The focus on safety (bombs and parachutes) and mundane tasks (dental parades and library notices) reflects the necessity of maintaining military discipline and "business as usual" even in the wake of significant combat losses.
* Logistics and Parachutes: Para. 286 emphasizes personal responsibility for parachutes. In the event of an emergency over the rugged Apennine mountains, the integrity of a pilot’s parachute was his only hope for survival, a reality brought home by the fact that only one parachute was seen during the collision that killed the unit's CO on Nov 3rd.

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The verification date for the target image 276-2__45.jpg is 7 Nov. 43.