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

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APPENDIX "I"
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS NO. 76/44
21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
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By
LT. COL. A.C. JANDRELL, D.F.C.
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
20th August, 1944.
288. DUTY SQUADRON.
This Unit is Duty Squadron for the week 21st August to 28th August, 1944.
Instructions as laid down in Squadron Routine Order No. 23/44 dated 2.4.44 will be complied with.
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duty Driver | 1168V. | A/M | Arbuthnot H.M. |
| Crash Tender Driver | 338949V. | A/M | Davis P.G. |
| N.C.O. i/c Fire Crew | 212440V. | A/Sgt. | van Staden P. |
| Fire Crew | 101018V. | A/M | Stokes F.E. |
| | 57394V. | A/M | Petrowski B.L. |
289. IMPRESSION OF UNIT CENSOR STAMPS.
From time to time complaints are received from the G.P.O. that correspondence from S.A.A.F. personnel cannot be delivered, because the address particulars are partly obliterated by the impression of the unit censor stamp.
It is laid down in "Field Censorship Regulations, Middle East Forces, 1942" and in O.D. 127 that unit censor stamps will be applied on the top left-hand corner of the cover, clear of the address and over the franking officer's signature.
(G.R.O. Serial 94, Para. 292 d.d. 10.8.44).
290. PREVENTION OF ROAD ACCIDENTS.
The number of road accidents to service personnel in this theatre is still large. The risk of road accidents will be reduced if the following rules are observed :-
(a) Never walk along the carriageway where there is a pavement or suitable footpath. If there is no footpath, it is generally better to walk on the left of the carriageway so as to face the oncoming traffic.
(b) When, for any reason, walking on the carriageway is unavoidable, pedestrians should not be more than two abreast and should walk as close as possible to the side of the carriageway, so that they may have a reasonable opportunity of avoiding oncoming vehicular traffic.
(c) Personnel are warned against stepping out in front of a Car in the black-out with a view to getting a lift. The driver's field of vision is so limited that personnel expose themselves to serious risk of being run down by the car they attempt to stop.
(G.R.O. Serial 94 para. 296 d.d. 10.8.44).
291. DELIVERY OF LETTERS TO TROOPS ABROAD.
It is desired to impress upon all ranks the necessity for ensuring that their full residential particulars and correct addresses are inserted on all their mail to the Union.
Much of the work now being carried out by the Army Post Office in re-directing mail for troops overseas is due to the original senders not having used the correct addresses. It is imperative therefore, if personnel are to receive their letters promptly, that particular attention is paid to this at all times. (G.R.O. Serial 94 para. 305. 10.8.44)
(Signed) [illegible] for LT. COL.
COMMANDING, NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
* Abbreviations Expanded:
* S.A.A.F. / SAAF: South African Air Force.
* LT. COL.: Lieutenant Colonel.
* D.F.C.: Distinguished Flying Cross.
* A/M: Air Mechanic.
* N.C.O. i/c: Non-Commissioned Officer in charge.
* A/Sgt.: Acting Sergeant.
* G.P.O.: General Post Office.
* G.R.O. / d.d.: General Routine Order / Dated.
* Observations about Individuals:
* LT. COL. A.C. Jandrell, D.F.C.: Officer Commanding of No. 21 Squadron. Jandrell was a veteran leader who oversaw the squadron's critical transition from the Martin Baltimore to the Martin B-26 Marauder just days before these orders were issued.
* Duty Personnel (Arbuthnot, Davis, van Staden, Stokes, Petrowski): These men represent the essential ground staff (Air Mechanics and Sergeants) tasked with the airfield's safety and logistics for the week. Their service numbers (ending in 'V') denote they were volunteers for overseas service.
* Location and Modern Names:
* Pescara: The squadron's base during August 1944, located on the Adriatic coast of Italy. The wartime airfield is now the site of the Abruzzo Airport (Aeroporto d'Abruzzo).
* The Union: Refers to the Union of South Africa, the home country of the squadron's personnel.
* Historical Context and Tactical Observations:
* The "Black-out" and Road Safety: The warnings about road accidents and the "black-out" highlight the dangerous conditions in rear-area Italian towns during the campaign. Even far from the front, the lack of lighting and heavy military traffic created a high-risk environment for personnel.
* Postal Security and Morale: The detailed instructions on censor stamps and correct addresses underscore the vital importance of the mail service to troop morale. For SAAF personnel thousands of miles from the Union, timely letters were the primary link to their families, and administrative errors that caused mail to be "undelivered" were treated as serious disciplinary matters.
* Strategic Timing: These orders were issued on August 20, 1944—exactly one day before the squadron would undertake its first disastrous raid on Ravenna, where four Marauders were lost. The routine nature of these "Duty Squadron" assignments provides a stark contrast to the high-intensity combat operations about to commence against the Gothic Line.

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Target File Verification: The date written in the 'Date' column is 20th August, 1944.