Sunday, 4 June 1944 — War Diary

21 Squadron War Diary

1400 hrs Biferno, Italy

SQUADRON ROUTINE ORDERS. No. 52/44. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.APPENDIX "F"310ByLT. COL. A. C. JANDRELL. D.F.C.Officer Commanding.21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.4th. June 1944.Para. 199. CENSORING OF MAIL - DUTY OFFICERS.The undermentioned Officers will report to the AssistantAdjutant for the above duty at 14.00 hours on the dates set outopposite their names:-Lieut. J. A. Troup. Monday 5. 6. 44.Lieut. P. H. Nicolay. " "Lieut. O. J. van Niekerk. Tuesday 6. 6. 44Lieut. J. Thompson. " "Lieut. J. F. Le Roux. Wednesday 7. 6. 44Lieut. T. L. Williams. " "Lieut. R. Buchanan. Thursday 8. 6. 44.2/Lt. J. D. Nysschen. " "Lieut. R. H. Hulley. Friday 9. 6. 44Lieut. A. A. Smellie. " "2/Lt. P.L.M. Wolff. Saturday 10. 6. 44Lieut. J. W. Sandenbergh. " "Lieut. J. K. du Preez. Sunday 11. 6. 44.Lieut. H. S. Kent. " "Should an Officer be unable to report owing to operations,he will notify the Assistant Adjutant before his tour of duty is tocommence and hand in the name of a substitute. It will be hisresponsibility to obtain, and warn, the Officer who is taking his place.Censoring will take place in the R.S.M's tent near theOrderly Room.Para. 200. SECURITY MEASURES.D.A.F. has advised the immediate tightening up of allsecurity measures and heads of sections are requested to impress ontheir sections the necessity of preventing unauthorised civilians, whoare to be considered a potential source of trouble, from wanderingabout the camp area.Para. 201. BOUNDS - FURCI.The village of Furci is placed out of bounds to all personneluntil further notice. (A.R.O. Ser. 21. para. 203. dd. 26.5.44)Para. 202. LEAVE - SENIOR N. C. O's (GROUND CREW).Senior N.C.O's (Ground Crew) will no longer be accommodatedat No. 2 Aircrew Rest Camp, Sorrento. Those personnel are in futureto report to the Ground Crew Rest Camp (Senior N.C.O's.)ALBERGO REALE, SORRENTO.Knife, fork, spoon and blankets are to be carried.(A.R.O. Ser. 21. para. 204. dd. 26.5.44).Para. 203./

Transcriber's Notes

S.A.A.F: South African Air Force.
L.T: Local Time.
D.F.C: Distinguished Flying Cross.
2/Lt: Second Lieutenant.
R.S.M: Regimental Sergeant Major.
D.A.F: Desert Air Force.
A.R.O: Administrative Routine Order (likely).
N.C.O: Non-Commissioned Officer.

The Censorship Roster (OpSec):

Notable Names:

Lieut. O. J. van Niekerk: Listed for duty on June 6th (D-Day). He would later pilot the aircraft that force-landed at Tortoreto on June 29th (see File 12).

Lieut. J. F. Le Roux: Listed for June 7th. He was the Observer on Van Niekerk's plane during the June 29th crash landing.

Lieut. J. K. du Preez: Listed for June 11th. The diary (File 8) notes he was posted "Tour Expired" (O.T.E.) later in the month on June 27th.

Security and Civilians:

Rest and Recuperation (Sorrento):

A "Royal" Stay? The order redirects Senior N.C.O.s to the "Albergo Reale, Sorrento." While "Reale" means Royal, the reality of war is evident in the instruction: "Knife, fork, spoon and blankets are to be carried." Even in a hotel in the beautiful coastal town of Sorrento, the military could not guarantee basic bedding or cutlery.

"Out of Bounds":

Abbreviations:

dd.: dated.