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

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APPENDIX "Y"
256
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. NO. 43/44 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
By
LT. COL. A.C. JANDRELL, D.F.C.
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
15th May, 1944.
Para. 166. SICK PARADE.
As from 17th May, 1944, until further notice,
the Squadron sick parade will be held at 13.30 hours daily.
Para. 167. DRESS.
The following is an extract from a Contact Letter
No. 18 by Maj.-Gen. F.H. Theron, G.O.A., U.D.F.
"No short sleeved shirts or bush shirts may be
worn in M.E. When ordering new requirements, all ranks must
ensure that they order long sleeves. There has been a great
deal of slackness in dress, particularly among officers, and
I ask every officer to take whatever possible steps he can
to ensure that his uniform not only complies with regulations,
but is of standard pattern, that bush shirts, shirts, shorts
and trousers are of the same shade of drill, that epaulette
lips carrying badges of rank are kept clean and the orange
flash of regulation colour. This is our silent witness to
the world that we are proud of being South Africans."
Para. 168. BOUNDS - CAMPOMARINO.
Squadron Routine Order No. 33/44, para. 126 is
repeated for information :-
Campomarino is out of bounds to all ranks of 3
(S.A.) Wing from one hour before sunset until one hour after
sunrise.
Para. 169. M.T.
Squadron Routine Order No. 36, para. 139 is
repeated for information :-
All Section vehicles will be parked and immobilised
in the vehicle park next to Ops. at night.
(Signature illegible) LT. COL.
COMMANDING, 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes:
* The "Orange Flash" (Volunteer Identity):
* Historical Significance: Paragraph 167 contains a deeply significant cultural reference: "the orange flash of regulation colour. This is our silent witness to the world that we are proud of being South Africans.".
* Context: Unlike other Commonwealth nations, the Union of South Africa did not conscript troops for overseas service during WWII due to internal political divisions. Service abroad was entirely voluntary. To distinguish themselves, volunteers wore a narrow strip of orange-red cloth (the "Red Tab" or "Orange Flash") on their shoulder straps. It was a badge of honor for the troops in Italy, signifying their choice to fight, but a symbol of political controversy back home.
* Uniform Standards and "Slackness":
* Maj. Gen. F.H. Theron: The order quotes Major-General Frank Theron, the General Officer Administration (G.O.A.) for the Union Defence Force (U.D.F.) in the Mediterranean. As the senior administrator, his focus on "slackness in dress" and mismatched drill shades indicates an effort to tighten discipline as the campaign dragged on.
* Health Measures: The ban on "short sleeved shirts" in "M.E." (Middle East Command, which administratively included the Italian theater for SAAF) was likely driven by malaria prevention. Anopheles mosquitoes were a severe threat in the coastal plains of Italy, and covering bare skin was the primary defense.
* Camp Security (Campomarino):
* Night Curfew: Paragraph 168 places the local town of Campomarino "out of bounds... from one hour before sunset until one hour after sunrise". This curfew was typical for frontline airfields. It prevented friction with the local Italian population, reduced black market activity under cover of darkness, and ensured airmen got enough sleep for early morning sorties (like the 08:15 takeoffs seen in recent Sortie Reports).
* Abbreviations:
* G.O.A.: General Officer Administration.
* U.D.F.: Union Defence Force (South African Military).
* M.E.: Middle East.
* M.T.: Mechanical Transport.
* Ops: Operations Room.

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Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is dated 17th May, 1944 in the "DATE" field. It is a Sortie Report (No. 675) labeled APPENDIX "Z" (page number 257), detailing the mission flown on the morning of May 16th, 1944.