[Routine Order] SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. No. 49/44 continued. PAGE THREE. — Orders & Appendices

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SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. No. 49/44 continued. PAGE THREE.
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Para. 187.
objects to the greatest extent that is possible under
operational conditions,"
(A.R.O. Ser. 14. Para. 119. dd. 7.4.44)
The following message has been received from the A.V.M.,
A.O.C., Desert Air Force:-
"I should like to draw your particular attention to the
message from General Alexander. While this referred
primarily to property of historical and artistic importance,
I wish you to realize that it applies also to private property
of all kinds not authorised for requisition through the proper
authority.
Much material destruction and damage to property is
inevitable when a country becomes the scene of active operations.
But it is essential that this should be limited to real cases
of operational necessity if we are not to be identified in
the minds of the civilian population with the Nazis from whom
we have recently freed them, and if the aims for which we are
fighting this war are to be more than catch-words.
I think that it is generally true to say that a high
standard of discipline has been set by the Desert Air Force
in this respect, but now that active operations have once more
commenced, with the likelihood that we will shortly be on the
move again into territory recently vacated by the enemy, I wish
to impress on all officers and airmen under this command the
need for strict discipline in these matters and scrupulous
respect for private property, as well as for the art treasures
and monuments referred to by General Alexander. It is
particularly important that officers should be free from blame
in view of the necessarily firm action which must be taken in
all cases of looting."
Para. 188. TELEPHONE SECURITY.
No telephone conversation can ever be guaranteed as secure.
This is especially so in an ex-enemy country such as Italy. Greater
care than usual in all telephone conversations is therefore essential.
All telephone users are personally responsible that the
subject of their conversations shall in no way infringe the strictest
needs of security.
(C.R.O. Ser. 28. Para. 2. dd. 13.5.44)
Para. 189. LEAVE.
Officers and airmen granted leave to any of the following towns
are to report to the assistant provost marshal or deputy assistant
provost marshal immediately on arrival: Alexandria, Beirut, Cairo, Haifa,
Jerusalem, Port Said, Suez, Tel-Aviv.
Officers and airmen are further to report to the appropriate
assistant provost marshal or deputy assistant provost marshal immediately
any change of address whilst on leave.
Failure to comply with the terms of this order will be made
the subject of disciplinary action.
(G.R.O. Ser. 85. Order No. 148.d. 11.5.44)
(Signature illegible) Capt.
for LT. COL.
COMMANDING. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes:
* Winning Hearts and Minds (Anti-Looting Order):
* The Message: The message from the A.V.M. (Air Vice-Marshal) commanding the Desert Air Force reinforces General Alexander's previous order but shifts the focus from "art" to "private property."
* Political Sensitivity: The text is remarkably candid about the political stakes: "if we are not to be identified in the minds of the civilian population with the Nazis from whom we have recently freed them.". This reflects the Allied command's awareness that they were occupiers as well as liberators. With the advance into Northern Italy imminent, ensuring the support (or at least neutrality) of the Italian populace was critical to avoiding sabotage and partisan conflict. The warning against "looting" implies that such behavior had been an issue during previous advances.
* Operational Security (Telephone Intercepts):
* The Threat: Paragraph 188 warns that "No telephone conversation can ever be guaranteed as secure," specifically citing Italy's status as an "ex-enemy country.". The infrastructure the Allies were using had often been built by the Fascist regime, and the fear of wiretaps left behind by retreating Germans or operated by local sympathizers was real.
* Rest and Recreation (The Middle East Connection):
* Leave Destinations: Paragraph 189 lists the approved leave destinations: Alexandria, Beirut, Cairo, Haifa, Jerusalem, Port Said, Suez, Tel-Aviv.
* Logistics: This confirms that despite the squadron being based in Italy, the primary R&R centers for South African and Commonwealth troops remained in the Middle East and the Levant. The logistics of flying personnel back to Cairo or Tel-Aviv for leave demonstrates the continued integration of the Italian campaign with the Middle East Command structure. It also suggests that Italy was still considered too unstable or devastated to serve as a proper holiday destination for troops seeking respite.
* Abbreviations:
* A.V.M.: Air Vice-Marshal (Likely AVM William Dickson, who commanded the Desert Air Force in mid-1944).
* A.O.C.: Air Officer Commanding.
* A.R.O.: Army Routine Orders.
* C.R.O.: Command Routine Orders.
* G.R.O.: General Routine Orders.
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.

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Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is dated 29th May, 1944 in the "Date" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 694) labeled APPENDIX "UU" (page number 279), detailing the mission flown on the morning of May 29th, 1944.