Sunday, 19 March 1944 — War Diary

21 Squadron War Diary

1400 hrs Biferno, Italy

SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. No. 23/44. 21 SQUADRON. S.A.A.F.ByLT. COL. A. C. JANDRELL, D.F.C.Officer Commanding,21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.19th March, 1944.Para. 92. CENSORING OF MAIL : DUTY OFFICERS.The undermentioned Officers will report to the Assistant Adjutant for the above duty at 14.00 hours on the dates set out opposite their names.Lieut. J. C. Emslie Monday 20. 3. 44." C. H. v.d. Westhuizen. " "" A. Meiring. Tuesday 21. 3. 44." A. J. Bester " "" G. C. Elliott. Wednesday 22. 3. 44." M. J. Gildenhuys. " "" K. J. Barnes. Thursday 23. 3. 44." P. J. Naude " "" H. C. Longmore Friday 24. 3. 44." E. L. Potgieter " "" W. J. D. Musgrove. Saturday 25. 3. 44." D. B. Jordaan " "" H. G. Maiman Sunday 26. 3. 44" W. S. Wolters. " "Should an Officer be unable to report owing to operations, he will notify the Assistant Adjutant before his tour of duty is to commence and hand in the name of a substitute. It will be the responsibility to obtain, and warn, the Officer who is taking his place.Para. 93. TRAFFIC ON TAXY TRACKS.The successful completion of operations is dependent on accurate timing, and to that end all aircraft have the right of way over vehicles using taxy track.All M. T. Drivers must observe the following points.(a) Speed limit on taxy track 10 m.p.h.(b) A sharp look out is to be kept at all times.(c) All vehicles must leave the track when aircraft are taxying. They should park in a dispersal area or pull off on to a cross road.(d) Trucks and other vehicles with poor backward visibility are not to be reversed unless guided by a person outside the vehicle.(Signed for...)LT. COL.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.

Internal Security (Censoring of Mail):

Airfield Safety (Taxi Tracks):

Right of Way: Paragraph 93 establishes that "all aircraft have the right of way over vehicles". On a muddy, crowded airfield like Biferno, collisions between trucks and taxying bombers were a major risk. A Baltimore bomber had poor forward visibility on the ground (being a "tail-dragger" until the tail lifted), meaning the pilot often couldn't see a jeep or truck in front of him.

Abbreviations:

m.p.h.: Miles per hour.

v.d.: van der (common prefix in Afrikaans surnames).