[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER No. 11/44 continued. — Orders & Appendices

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER No. 11/44 continued.
PAGE TWO.
Para. 48. POISONING : ETHYLENE GLYCOL.
Several fatalities have been reported resulting from the
drinking of ethylene glycol.
This highly poisonous substance is used as a cooler for air-
craft engines and as an anti-freeze liquid in the radiators of motor
vehicles.
It should never be drunk under any circumstances.
(G.R.O. Ser. 80. Order 73 dd. 29.1.44.)
Para. 49. DRESS:
An increasing tendency on the part of both Officers and Other
Ranks to disregard U.D.F Dress Regulations and to appear in public in a
slovenly dressed manner has been observed and has been the subject
of critical comment by Senior R.A.F. and Land Force commanders in the area.
It is fully appreciated that in many cases it is not possible
for personnel to conform in detail to prescribed dress regulations owing
to the fact that certain items of clothing peculiar to the U.D.F. are
not available. This must not however be regarded as justification for
irregular and untidy dress, such as the wearing of the battle dress
blouse unbuttoned at the neck and without collar and tie and the wearing
of multi-coloured jerseys and pullovers which protrude beneath the blouse.
It is fully understood that these remarks do not apply to
personnel when they are actually engaged on their operational duties, but
are directed against personnel who are walking out or on leave. Neverthe-
less, when a member of the U.D.F. on duty is called upon to proceed bey-
the environs of the camp he should be correctly dressed as far as possibl
and in as neat and tidy condition as the circumstances permit.
(Adv/3/Ops/413/2 dated 3. 2. 44)
Para. 50. MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION:
MESSAGE FROM AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR ARTHUR W. TEDDER. G.C.B.
"On handing over the Command I wish to express to all ranks of
the Allied Air Forces my deep appreciation of the gallantry, determinati-
and devotion to duty you have displayed during the past year's campaign.
"The great command to which you all belong was created as an
expression of unity of air power: National and personal feelings have b-
set aside to achieve that Unity. If ever there was an example of the old
saying that "unity is strength" you have given it in what you have achie-
in this theatre during the past year; the overthrow of the vaunted
Luftwaffe; the crippling blows at Fascism; the support you have given t-
our comrades on sea and land in their share of the battle.
"I am proud to have been a member of so united a team. I regret
leaving it before the job is completed, but I leave it in good hands. I
send you my heartfelt good wishes"
(Signature illegible) LT. COL.
OFFICER COMMANDING. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2
18
BA: COLLEFERRO RR STATION G170490
BB: From 1132 to 1135 A Hrs
BC: Medium level bombing attack 280°/300° 13400/14300'
22 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol
33 x 250 GP do do
2 x 500 MC do do ) hung-up, jettisoned G310594 N.B.G.
3 x 250 GP do do )
1 x 250 GP do do dropped late at PALIANO
Aircraft "K" returned after T.O. (20 mins) due to engine trouble
Aircraft "L" took off to replace "K" but returned after 50 Mins
being unable to contact formation.
BD: Boxes bombed independently on respective box leaders, second box
slightly astern and to left of leading box. Stick across N.W.
portion of R/Yds. Numerous direct hits on track, sticks extending
into buildings beyond. Direct hit, followed by billowing white
smoke, on large building WEST of main Road leading to station.
BE: NIL
BF: NIL
BG: Verticals and Obliques of before and after attack
BH: Roads SULMONA to ISERNIA and PESCARA to ISERNIA snowbound. At
ROCCAPIA G9771 Rds in village in use, but secondary Rds snowbound
Road from AVEZZANO to SORA clear. At COLLELONGO G6565 Roads in &
out of town in use - 14 M.T. in town. All Rds open around target
area.
AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.
437N LT/COL JANDRELL CAPT CARTER LT THOMPSON LT TE WATER POHL
383W LT GREDER LT KIRBY F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY
649U CAPT DIEU LT VANDE PUTTE F/SGT BAILEY F/SGT DU RANT
414P LT BENNETT LT HARLE 2/LT STRYDOM A/SGT SCHOUMBIE
612T/
167S LT ASKEW LT COCKBURN F/SGT GELDENHUYS A/SGT CRAWHALL
545A CAPT JOB LT STUART LT CASE A/SGT EARP-JONES
586K LT MUSGROVE LT GILDENHUYS LT V.SCHALKWYK A/SGT LEIPOLDT
412B LT ASHTON LT ROSE F/SGT HARMSE A/SGT BROUGH
441F LT FROST LT WHITE F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN
637C LT WITTE LT RUSHFORTH F/SGT EATON A/SGT MARAIS
467D LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN A/SGT MACKAY
The following a/c returned early as stated above :-
341L CAPT V. BREDA LT NAUDE F/SGT GRATTON A/SGT LIESCHING
614F CAPT DE WET LT MELTZ LT DU PREEZ A/SGT PEENS

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes:
* Safety Warning - Ethylene Glycol:
* Context: The warning against drinking Ethylene Glycol (coolant/anti-freeze) points to a grim reality of service life. Soldiers, desperate for alcohol, sometimes resorted to filtering or drinking industrial fluids. Glycol is sweet-tasting but metabolizes into oxalic acid, causing kidney failure and a painful death.
* Aircraft Use: The Baltimore bombers used by 21 Squadron were powered by Wright R-2600 Cyclone engines, which were air-cooled radials. However, the squadron's motor transport (Dodge trucks, Jeeps) used liquid-cooled engines requiring anti-freeze in the freezing Italian winter.
* Discipline - Dress Regulations:
* U.D.F. vs. R.A.F.: The order highlights the tension between the Union Defence Force (UDF) (South African) identity and the broader Royal Air Force (RAF) command structure.
* "Items... peculiar to the U.D.F.": South African uniforms differed slightly from British issue (e.g., "polo" style pith helmets in the desert, distinct shades of khaki). The shortage of correct UDF kit forced men to improvise, leading to the "multi-coloured jerseys" and "unbuttoned" look that annoyed the rigid British "Land Force commanders."
* "Walking Out": Military slang for off-duty time spent in local towns (e.g., Foggia or Naples). This was where soldiers were most visible to the public and senior officers, hence the strict dress code.
* High Command - Sir Arthur Tedder:
* The Message: This is a farewell message from Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder . He had been the architect of Allied air power in the Mediterranean (as Air Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces - MAAF).
* Significance: Tedder was leaving the Mediterranean theater in early 1944 to become the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander under Eisenhower for Operation Overlord (the invasion of Normandy). His reference to the "overthrow of the vaunted Luftwaffe" reflects the achievement of total air superiority in the Med by 1944.
* "Unity is Strength": This phrase (the motto of South Africa, Ex Unitate Vires) would have resonated specifically with the South African troops, though Tedder uses it here in the context of Allied coalition warfare.

110
Verification:
Target File Verification: This document is "Part B" of the Sortie Report for the mission on February 14th, 1944 (Colleferro raid). Although there is no date header on this continuation sheet, the content (Target: COLLEFERRO RR STATION) corresponds directly to Appendix "J" (Part A) dated 14 Feb 44 found in file 269-1__110.jpg.
Transcriber's Notes:
* Operational Irregularities:
* Hang-ups and Jettisoning: Several aircraft experienced mechanical failures ("hung-up"). The bombs were jettisoned at G310594 (safe area). The notation N.B.G. typically stands for "No Bloody Good" (a common British military slang for unserviceable or useless), but in this context of jettisoning, it likely indicates the bombs were dropped "Safe" (unarmed) so they would not detonate on impact.
* Dropped Late: One 250lb bomb was "dropped late at PALIANO." Paliano is a town just a few kilometers east of the target (Colleferro). This implies a "hung bomb" that released moments after the main stick, or a delay in the toggle switch.
* Abortions: The crew list confirms the diary entry for Feb 14th:
* Aircraft "K" (Capt. De Wet) returned after 20 mins (Engine trouble).
* Aircraft "L" (Capt. V. Breda) launched as the spare but failed to find the formation ("returned after 50 Mins").
* Intelligence & Reconnaissance (Section BH):
* Snowbound Roads: The report provides crucial strategic intelligence on the mobility of German forces. "Roads SULMONA to ISERNIA... snowbound" meant the Germans could not easily shift forces through the central Apennines. Conversely, "Road from AVEZZANO to SORA clear" identified an active supply artery that would likely become a priority target for subsequent missions.
* Target Damage: "Billowing white smoke" from a large building suggests a hit on a chemical or explosives store, consistent with the industrial nature of Colleferro (BPD explosives factory).
* Personnel:
* Lt. Case (Aircraft 545A): Listed here as Observer for Capt. Job. He would be wounded by flak a week later (Feb 22nd).
* A/Sgt Earp-Jones (Aircraft 545A): Listed here as gunner. He would be R.T.U. (Returned to Union) at the end of the month.
* Lt. Te Water Pohl: Observer for the C.O.
* Locations:
* Collelongo: A village in the Abruzzo mountains. Seeing "14 M.T. (vehicles) in town" indicated German activity in these remote mountain passes.
* Roccapia: A village on the road to Sulmona.

112
Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is an "APPENDIX 'K'" Sortie Report. The date in the header is "14 Feb 44".