Saturday, 8 April 1944 — War Diary

21 Squadron War Diary

1400 hrs Biferno, Italy

APPENDIX "I"190SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS No. 31/44. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.BYLT. COL. A.C. JANDRELL, D.F.C.Officer Commanding,21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.8th April, 1944.Para. 111. CENSORING OF MAIL - DUTY OFFICERS.The undermentioned Officers will report to theAssistant Adjutant for the above duty at 14.00 hours on thedates set out opposite their names.Lieut. T.H. Ashton. Monday 10. 4. 44.Lieut. C. Bennett. " "Lieut. N.S. Hewitt. Tuesday 11. 4. 44.Lieut. A.J. Case. " "Lieut. K.J. Barnes. Wednesday 12. 4. 44.Lieut. E.A. Vande Putte. " "Lieut. O.C. Elliott. Thursday 13. 4. 44.2/Lt. T.L. Williams. " "Lieut. F.J.N. Ross. Friday 14. 4. 44.Lieut. J.C. Emslie. " "Lieut. J.F. Le Roux. Saturday 15. 4. 44.Lieut. R.M.P. Stuart. " "Should an Officer be unable to report owing tooperations, he will notify the Assistant Adjutant beforehis tour of duty is to commence and hand in the name of asubstitute. It will be his responsibility to obtain, andwarn, the Officer who is taking his place.Para. 112. MISUSE OF SERVICE TRANSPORT - THEFT OF PETROL.Misuse of Service transport is still prevalent andfurther efforts on the part of all concerned are needed toput an end to such malpractice. It does not appear to besufficiently appreciated that the improper use of Servicevehicles, whether by officers or airmen, constitutes aserious offence in respect of which severe punishments arebeing imposed.All ranks are warned that any person using Govern-ment petrol when on an unauthorised journey in a Servicevehicle is not only guilty of misusing the vehicle but maybe also as guilty of stealing the petrol as if he had abstr-acted it from the Service vehicle and used it in a privatecar.If any officer, airman or airwoman is found to haveused a Service vehicle for an unauthorised journey, the C.O.is to report the matter to the Group, which is, in suitablecases, to obtain the advice of the Air Force Department ofthe Judge Advocate General's Office as to whether a charge ofstealing Government petrol can be sustained. A charge ofstealing is to be dealt with by court-martial and on convic-tion a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed.(C.R.O. Serial No.20 para. 7 d.d. 23.3.44).

Transcriber's Notes

S.A.A.F: South African Air Force.
L.T: Local Time.
D.F.C: Distinguished Flying Cross.
E.A: Enemy Action.
O.C: Officer Commanding.
2/Lt: Second Lieutenant.
C.O: Commanding Officer.
C.R.O: Command Routine Orders (or Corps Routine Orders).

Discipline & Logistics (The Black Market War):

Theft of Petrol: Paragraph 112 addresses a critical disciplinary issue: the "Misuse of Service Transport" and "Theft of Petrol". In the Italian theater, military fuel was "liquid gold." The local civilian economy was shattered, and fuel was virtually unobtainable for Italians except through the black market. This created a massive temptation for Allied soldiers to siphon fuel or use military vehicles for unauthorized "joyrides" or trading.

Officer Roster & Administrative Friction:

Abbreviations:

d.d.: dated.