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

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/7
APPENDIX "E"
261
SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. NO. 53/45. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
BY
LT. COL. D. ORD. DFC.
Officer Commanding,
21 Squadron. S.A.A.F.
27th July, 1945.
Para. 202. AIRMENS' MESS:
A GENERAL MEETING of the Airmens' Mess will be held at 19.00 hours
on 31st July, 1945 in the "Beer Garden". It is imperative that ALL MEMBERS
of the Mess attend.
Para. 203. BARS CODROIPA:
The Bar at No. 33 Via Codroipa is placed OUT OF BOUNDS to all
EUROPEAN personnel of this Squadron.
This Bar is set aside for our N. M. C. and they have been instructed
to use it and no other in this village.
The other bars in Codroipa are available to Europeans.
Para. 204. POSTAL - POSTAL INSTRUCTION No. 6.
Air Letters:
(a) The threepenny Air Letter service is in operation
between MEF — CMF and South Africa and most Empire countries
and Force addresses except within MEF and CMF Commands.
(b) Nothing may be enclosed in Air Letters otherwise they
will be sent by surface mail.
(GRO. No. 125. Order. 313.)
Para. 205. CONTROL AND CLEARANCE OF PERSONS AND ARTICLES ENTERING AND LEAVING THE UNITED KINGDOM BY AIR.
The attention of all ranks is drawn to the fact that no person of
whatever nationality, and no article or document of whatever kind, may
enter of leave Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man without full
compliance with the Immigration, Customs, Censorship, Currency, Public Health
and other regulations imposed under British law, whether such entries and exits
be made in service or in civil aircraft and whether on duty or otherwise.
* These regulations not only demand that proper movement authority be
obtained before all such entries and exits are made, but also that all persons
shall report to, and all articles shall be declared to, the appropriate civil
or service controls at the point of entry or exit in order that the identity
of the persons and the authenticity of the movement authority may be checked
and that all articles may be available for examination.
* It is a criminal offence, punishable in the civil courts or by
court-martial, as appropriate, for any person to effect, assist, or connive at,
any entry or exit made without proper authority and without declaration to a
civil or service control. Heavy penalties, up to fourteen years' penal
servitude, are also imposed by law on persons smuggling dutiable or prohibited
goods.
* Although members of the armed forces of the United Nations moving
under approved service authority are not in practice subject to the same
immigration regulations as are civilians, they are nevertheless to report to
the controls for verification of their identity and service status and for
decision as to the liability to the Customs, Censorship and other regulations
of all articles which they are carrying or for which they are responsible.
* An entry by air is deemed to be made into Great Britain, Northern
continued 2/

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes")
Glossary of Terms
* 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. During late July 1945, the unit was based at Rivolto, Italy, engaged in post-hostilities administrative duties and "Air Trooping" operations.
* BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): The twin-engine light/medium bomber utilized by the squadron until late 1943/early 1944. By July 1945, the unit had fully transitioned to the Martin Marauder III (B-26).
* CMF: Central Mediterranean Force.
* D.F.C.: Distinguished Flying Cross.
* G.R.O.: General Routine Order.
* MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied demolition bombs. While kinetic operations had ceased, these were the primary munitions used by the aircrews now tasked with transport duties.
* MEF: Middle East Force.
* MET: Meteorological data. Summer MET conditions in July—characterized by heat and periodic thunderstorms—dictated the squadron's non-operational flying and ground hygiene protocols.
* N.M.C.: Native Military Corps. A non-combatant branch of the South African Army composed of Black South Africans providing logistical and technical support. Para. 203 highlights the enforcement of racial segregation within the local recreational landscape of Codroipo.
Operational Context
Target File 271-7_10, cataloged as Appendix "E", consists of Squadron Routine Orders No. 53/45 issued by Lt. Col. D. Ord, D.F.C. on 27th July, 1945. This document reflects the stabilization of No. 21 Squadron SAAF at Rivolto (near Udine) during the final stages of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) occupational phase in Northern Italy.
The strategic importance of the Rivolto location during this period was primarily logistical, serving as a vital hub for "Air Trooping" missions to Bari and Naples. However, the Routine Orders reveal the administrative complexities of maintaining order during demobilization. Para. 203 explicitly enforces segregated recreational facilities in the nearby village of Codroipo, setting aside a specific bar for N.M.C. personnel while placing it "Out of Bounds" for European staff. This directive underscores the transplantation of South African racial policies into the Italian theater.
Furthermore, the orders emphasize the tightening of Allied security and administrative controls as personnel began moving toward the United Kingdom and the Union of South Africa. Para. 205 provides exhaustive detail on the legal and customs regulations for personnel entering the UK by air, warning of "heavy penalties" for smuggling. This was a critical mandate for the Martin Marauder aircrews who were now flying frequent transport sorties, ensuring that the transition from a combat role to an administrative one did not compromise the technical and legal standards of the Desert Air Force. These orders represent the final bureaucratic preparations for the eventual repatriation of the unit's veteran personnel.

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Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check: No specific 'Date' column is present on this page; however, the narrative explicitly cites effective dates of 1st July, 1945, 14th June, 1945, and 18th June, 1945.