[Routine Order] APPENDIX "E" — Orders & Appendices

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2
APPENDIX "E"
75
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No 8/44 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
By
LT. COL. A. C. JANDRELL. D.F.C.
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
5th February, 1944.
Para. 39. CENSORING OF MAIL.
DUTY OFFICERS.
The undermentioned Officers will report to the Assistant
Adjutant for the above duty at 14.00 hours on the dates set out opposite
their names.
Lieut. L. T. White. Monday 7. 2. 44.
" C. te Water-Pohl. " "
" K. J. Barnes Tuesday 8. 2. 44.
" J. H. v. d. Merwe " "
" F.H. Dove Wednesday 9. 2. 44
" C. von Schalkwyk " "
2nd/Lt. J. Thompson Thursday 10. 2. 44.
" J. K. du Preez. " "
" A. J. Case Friday 11. 2. 44
Lieut. E. Jansen " "
" R. C. Witte Saturday 12. 2. 44.
2nd/Lt. J. L. Pieters " "
" C.T.M. Cockburn Sunday 13. 2. 44.
" C. Strydom " "
Should an officer be unable to report owing to operations, he
will notify the Assisant Adjutant before his tour of duty is to commence
and hand in the name of a substitute. It will be his responsibility to
obtain, and warn, the Officer who is taking his place.
(Signature illegible) LT. COL.
OFFICER COMMANDING, 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
N O T I C E.
L O S T
ONE LEICA CAMERA in leather shoulder case;
Lens, F 3.5 - Kodachrome filter.
Left hanging on J.U.88 in 3 Wing H.Q. Comp. Property of
Lt. N. C. Debevoise, 4th P. R. S., 90th P. W. R., San Severo.
REWARD : Lire 1500. Finder please report to Major Viljoen, Adjutant.

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Notes:
* The "Lost Leica" Incident:
* The Item: A Leica Camera with an F 3.5 lens and a Kodachrome filter. Leicas were the gold standard of 35mm photography, highly prized and expensive. The mention of a "Kodachrome filter" implies the owner was shooting color film (Kodachrome), which was rare and valuable in the field compared to standard black and white.
* The Owner: Lt. N. C. Debevoise of the 4th P.R.S. (Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron), part of the 90th P.W.R. (Photographic Wing Reconnaissance). This confirms the close interaction between South African and American units. The 90th Photo Wing (USAAF) was based at San Severo, a major airfield complex just north of Foggia.
* The Location: The camera was left "hanging on J.U.88 in 3 Wing H.Q. Comp." This refers to a captured German Junkers Ju 88 bomber kept at the No. 3 SAAF Wing Headquarters Compound, likely as a trophy, a "hack" aircraft, or a technical curiosity. It paints a vivid picture of off-duty officers examining captured enemy tech.
* Reward: 1500 Lire (Allied Military Currency).
* Personnel & Ranks:
* Lt. Col. A.C. Jandrell, D.F.C.: The new Officer Commanding (C.O.), having taken over on February 1st.
* Major Viljoen: Identified here as the Adjutant, responsible for administrative matters like lost property.
* Duty Officers: The list includes several junior officers (2nd Lieutenants and Lieutenants) who appear in flight logs, such as Lt. C. te Water-Pohl (Observer) and Lt. C. von Schalkwyk (who would bail out of Capt. van der Riet's aircraft on Feb 28th).
* Routine Duties:
* Censoring of Mail: The daily roster for censorship duty highlights the constant administrative burden on combat officers. Every letter written by the enlisted men had to be read and redacted by an officer to prevent operational details (locations, targets, morale issues) from leaking home.
* Abbreviations:
* P.R.S.: Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron.
* P.W.R.: Photographic Wing Reconnaissance (90th Photographic Wing).
* H.Q. Comp.: Headquarters Compound.
* J.U.88: Junkers Ju 88 (German medium bomber).

26
Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is an "APPENDIX 'F'" Sortie Report. The date in the header is 8 Feb 44.