[Routine Order] PAGE TWO. — Orders & Appendices

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PAGE TWO.
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SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. No. 72/44 continued.
Para. 271. M. T. – DRIVING LICENSES.
Personnel of this Unit who are not in possession of a
Squadron driving license are forbidden to drive 21 transport vehicles.
Any member of this Unit who is driving a vehicle in the course of his
duty and not in possession of the necessary license will be tested by
the Transport Officer and if passed as capable will be issued with
the necessary certificate which will be endorsed by the O. C.
Para. 272. MOSQUITO AND MALARIA CONTROL.
All troops visiting ROME or the ROME AREA are enjoined to
observe the following precautions to avoid the contraction of
malaria :
a. Use a mosquito net at night.
b. The wearing of long trousers and shirts with sleeves
rolled down after sunset.
c. The use of insect repellent on exposed surfaces of the
skin.
d. The use of atabrine (mepacrine).
e. The spraying of quarters with insect spray immediately
after dark or before retiring for the night.
(Adv UDF Adm HQ CMF UDF/M/CMF/16/1 dd 21.7.44)
Para. 273. MESSAGE FROM GENERAL EISENHOWER.
The following message from General Eisenhower has been
received by General Baker, Air Commander in Chief, Mediterranean
Allied Air Forces.
"Recent operations of yours have been of inestimable value
to us here. My congratulations and grateful appreciation to you and
all serving under you. Good luck and best wishes."
(A.R.O. Ser.29. para. 268. dd 21.7.44.)
Para. 274. M.T. DRIVERS.
Any soldier who drives an official vehicle or a private car
when in uniform upon a public road with his elbow on the sash of the
side window nearest to the driver will be guilty of an offence.
"80% of accidents are due to failure to comply with the above
instruction." (G.R.O. Ser.89. para. 248 dd. 28.6.44.)
[Signed] R Alexander Capt.
for LT. COL.
COMMANDING, 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes:
* Validation of Command (Para 271 & 274):
* Licensing and Liability: The strict prohibition against driving without a Squadron driving license reflects a need to control the high rate of vehicle loss and accidents mentioned in previous orders. The O.C. (Officer Commanding) personally endorsed these licenses, making vehicle management a direct command responsibility.
* The "Elbow" Rule: Para 274 contains a seemingly minor but strictly enforced safety rule. Driving with an "elbow on the sash" was considered a serious offense. In the narrow, congested, and often unpaved roads of wartime Italy, this posture limited a driver's ability to react to sudden obstacles or mechanical failures. The claim that "80% of accidents" were due to this habit was likely a statistical exaggeration used for disciplinary emphasis.
* Medical Warfare (Para 272):
* The Malaria Threat: By July 1944, the fight against malaria was as critical as the fight against the Germans. The Rome Area, specifically the recently captured Pontine Marshes, was a notorious breeding ground for mosquitoes.
* Mepacrine (Atabrine): The mention of atabrine marks the finalized transition from quinine to this synthetic prophylactic. The detailed precautions—nets, long sleeves, and repellent—underscored that pills alone were not enough to protect the "fighting strength" of the squadron.
* Inter-Theatre Relations (Para 273):
* General Eisenhower’s Message: This congratulatory signal from General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander, Europe) to the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) is of immense historical significance. By late July 1944, the Normandy Campaign (Operation Overlord) was in its critical breakout phase. Eisenhower was acknowledging that the intense air pressure maintained by units like 21 Squadron SAAF in Italy was successfully pinning down German divisions and preventing them from being moved to France to reinforce the crumbling Western Front.
* Observations on Individuals:
* General Baker: Mentioned as the Air Commander in Chief, MAAF, he was the senior recipient of Eisenhower's praise.
* Captain R. Alexander: Signing again for Lt. Col. Jandrell, Alexander's signature appears on nearly all administrative documentation for the squadron during this conversion period, indicating his role as the administrative engine of the unit.
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* M. T.: Motor Transport.
* O. C.: Officer Commanding (Lt. Col. Jandrell).
* Adv UDF Adm HQ: Advanced Union Defence Force Administrative Headquarters.
* CMF: Central Mediterranean Force.
* UDF/M/CMF: Union Defence Force / Mediterranean / Central Mediterranean Force.
* dd: Dated.
* A.R.O.: Administrative Routine Order.
* G.R.O.: General Routine Order.
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* LT. COL.: Lieutenant Colonel.

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Verification:
Target File Verification: The document is dated 6th July, 1944 in the "Date" field. It is a Sortie Report labeled 63 in the bottom right margin.