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

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/2
APPENDIX "N"

SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. NO. 17/45 21 SQUADRON. S.A.A.F.
By

LT. COL. D. ORD. DFC.
-------------------------
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron. S.A.A.F.

26th February, 1945.

SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 6/45 para. 14 cancelled.
Para. 59. G R O U N D D E F E N C E.
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ALARM:
On receipt of general alarm from 3 Wing Headquarters
Operations Room, 21 Squadron Ops Room will immediately instruct the
telephone exchange to sound the air raid alarm, and at the same time
sound the Ops briefing gong. This will constitute a general alarm.

AIRFIELD:

1. Two Flight Commanders and 50 fully armed Other Ranks will
proceed to about 150 yards S. E. of Taxying Strip (next to
Repair and Service Echelon). On arrival the senior officer
will immediately contact 3 Wing H.Qrs., Operations Room by
phone or runner and will be ready for any instructions that
may be issued by Wing H.Q. 4 men will be maintained
permanently at 21 Squadron H.Q. Flight phone.

2. The M. T. Officer will immediately despatch three vehicles
with drivers to Officers' Mess, take the two Flight Commanders
and 50 Other Ranks to the Airfield.

3. All communications will be made by phone, D. R. or runner.

CAMP AREA:

1. The remaining M. T. Drivers will standby at the M. T. Section
with trucks fully mobilised and await instructions.

2. As many as possible of the remaining personnel will be armed
and stand by awaiting instructions. They will come under the
command of the C. O. and will be utilised to defend this camp
area and as reinforcements for any area which may be seriously
threatened.

3. Switch Board telephone operators will remain on duty at the
Telephone Exchange.

[Handwritten signature: D Ord]
-------------------------------
[Handwritten addition: P.O. Rautenbach] LT. COL.
COMMANDING. 21 SQUADRON. S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes")
Glossary of Terms:
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
* LT. COL. D. ORD. DFC.: Lieutenant Colonel Donald Ord, Distinguished Flying Cross; Commanding Officer of 21 Squadron.
* 3 Wing Headquarters: The administrative and tactical higher formation (3 SAAF Wing) comprising 12, 21, 24, and 30 Squadrons.
* Other Ranks: Enlisted personnel below commissioned officer rank.
* M. T. Officer / Section: Mechanical Transport Officer/Section, responsible for the maintenance and deployment of squadron ground vehicles.
* D. R.: Despatch Rider.
* C. O.: Commanding Officer.
* Ops Room: Operations Room.
Operational Context:
The "Ground Defence" order of 26 February 1945 highlights the persistent threat of enemy air attack or ground infiltration at Jesi Landing Ground during the late stages of the Italian Campaign. While 21 Squadron was transitioning its focus toward the Po Valley interdiction during "Operation Bingo," the security of the airfield remained paramount.
This defensive posture is a direct extension of tactical requirements established earlier in the campaign. During the November 1943 offensive against the Bernhardt Line, 21 Squadron—then operating Martin Baltimores—occupied airfields that were often within range of German long-range artillery and counter-air sorties. Strategic bottlenecks, such as the rail and road infrastructure at grid H055630 (Mignano Gap), were targeted to relieve pressure on Allied ground forces; however, the vulnerability of the "medium bomber" bases necessitated the strict ground defense protocols seen in this document. The 1945 orders specifically organize a mobile "Other Ranks" force to protect the Repair and Service Echelon, ensuring that the squadron's Martin Marauders remained operational despite any localized Axis disruption.
Interpretations of Marginalia and Markings:
* Folio Number "72": Stamped archival index number in the upper right quadrant, following the record sequence in AIR 27/271/2.
* "APPENDIX 'N'": Designates this administrative order as a formal annex to the primary February 1945 war diary narrative.
* Signature and Authentication: The document features the original handwritten signature of Lt. Col. Donald Ord. Additionally, there is a second signature and name, P.O. Rautenbach, the Squadron Adjutant, who signed on behalf of the C.O. to authenticate the routine orders.
* Cancelled Order: The note "SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDER NO. 6/45 para. 14 cancelled" indicates a standard military administrative update, replacing an outdated defensive or procedural protocol with this comprehensive "Ground Defence" plan.

20
The following archival entry constitutes a high-fidelity transcription and historical analysis of the specified document from the official war diary of 21 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF), currently held by The National Archives under reference AIR 27/271/2.
Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check: The exact date recorded in the heading of the document is 26th February, 1945.