Thursday, 3 February 1944 — War Diary

21 Squadron War Diary

Tortorella, Italy

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/269/2APPENDIX "C"SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. NO. 7/44. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.ByLT. COL. A.C. JANDRELL, D.F.C.Officer Commanding,21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.3rd February, 1944.Para. 35. CREW TENT (previously Flight Tent)The Old Flight Tent is now available as a Crew Room.Personal clothing can be left there during standby orduring an "Op". The Operations Room is not to be used asa Crew Room.Para. 36. PARACHUTE HUT.The parachute racks are in the Nissen hut. Aircrewsmust use the racks and pegs allotted to them, and on noaccount are Parachutes and Mae Wests to be left in theOperations Room.When on standby, parachutes and Mae Wests are not tobe taken into the Crew Tent, or left on the ground, butare to remain in the racks or in the Ops. trucks.SMOKING IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN in the Parachute Hut.Para 37. M.T.The attention of ALL RANKS is directed to the follow-ing instructions when operating Dodge self starters :Depress starter pedal firmly until engine starts.Then disengage immediately, if a second application ofstarter is necessary the Driver must wait until the startermotor has stopped spinning before engaging again.Para. 38. PAY BOOKS.Officers and Other Ranks who have not yet handed intheir Pay Books for Audit must do so IMMEDIATELY, to thePay Office.(Signature illegible) LT. COL.,OFFICER COMMANDING, 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

S.A.A.F: South African Air Force.
L.T: Local Time.
D.F.C: Distinguished Flying Cross.
Mae Wests: Inflatable life preservers worn by aircrew.
M.T: Motor Transport.
Other Ranks: Enlisted personnel (Non-officers).
Pay Books: The "Soldier's Pay Book" (AB64 in the British Army, similar in the UDF) was the primary record of a soldier's service, pay, and vaccination history.

Operational Infrastructure:

Military Transport (M.T.) - Dodge Trucks:

The specific instruction regarding "Dodge self starters" (likely referring to the Dodge WC series trucks widely used by Allied forces) highlights a common mechanical issue. The starter gears could be stripped if the driver engaged the starter motor while the flywheel was still spinning. This kind of "vehicle discipline" was critical in a theatre where spare parts were precious.

Administration: