Operational Order No. 10

Date unknown

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/273/27322SECRET/MOVEMENT ORDER NO. 10.BYLT. COL. A.D. IRVINEOFFICER COMMANDING, NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F., M.E.March 27, 1942MAPS: NIL

INTENTION: Detachments of squadron artisan personnel as detailed below will proceed to 107 M.U. and 223 Squadron, for maintenance duties.

METHOD: Personnel on Schedule "A" attached will proceed to 107 M.U.; those shown on Schedule "B" will report to 223 Squadron. Detachments will move in one convoy of 11 vehicles departing at 0700 hours 28.3.42 from this unit (Signal O.891 27/3 from H.Q. M.E. refers)

EQUIPMENT: Tentage, sufficient to accommodate the personnel of both detachments will be carried and all personnel will carry full person- al equipment with them.

ROUTE: Convoy will proceed to Kasfareet and Shandur via MEHR. Strict convoy discipline will be maintained.

RATIONS: Rations for journey plus one day's rations will be drawn individually and carried with convoy by all personnel concerned.

M. T. Vehicles conveying personnel will return to this unit at completion of move, but sufficient M.T. for domestic needs will be held at Kasfareet.

DETACHMENT Personnel reflected on the attached schedules are detached from Squadron strength with effect from 28.3.42.ACKNOWLEDGE.(Handwritten signature: AD Irvine)Lt. Col.,Officer Commanding, No. 21 Squadron,S.A.A.F.Copy to: H.Q., R.A.F., M.E. (Movements II)S.A.O.A., S.A.A.F., M.E.Air Headquarters, EgyptB.P.O, H.Q., M.E.H.Q., 206 GroupO.C., 107 M.U.O.C., 223 Squadron, R.A.F.N.CO. i/c Shandur DetachmentN.C.O. i/c Kasfareet DetachmentO.C. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.War Diary (Two Copies)File (Two Copies)

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Original page(s): 22

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * LT. COL.: Lieutenant Colonel, the rank held by the Officer Commanding, A.D. Irvine. * S.A.A.F., M.E.: South African Air Force, Middle East. * 107 M.U.: No. 107 Maintenance Unit, a major technical and repair facility located in the Canal Zone. * 223 Squadron: A Royal Air Force light bomber squadron, a sister unit within No. 3 (S.A.) Wing. * H.Q. M.E.: Headquarters, Middle East. * M. T.: Motor Transport. * S.A.O.A.: Senior Air Officer Administration. * B.P.O.: Base Personnel Office. * O.C.: Officer Commanding. * N.C.O. i/c: Non-Commissioned Officer in charge. Operational Context: Movement Order No. 10, dated 27 March 1942, details the logistical redistribution of technical personnel during the "Gazala Gallop" or the preceding stalemate period. During this phase of the Western Desert campaign, the Desert Air Force (DAF) was heavily involved in maintaining high-tempo operations against Rommel's Panzer Army Africa. The detachment of artisan personnel from No. 21 Squadron to No. 107 Maintenance Unit (M.U.) at Kasfareet and No. 223 Squadron at Shandur indicates a strategic pooling of technical resources. Kasfareet and Shandur, located near the Great Bitter Lake in Egypt, served as critical rear-echelon hubs for the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF). Positioning artisan personnel at No. 107 M.U. facilitated major repairs and airframe salvage that could not be performed at forward landing grounds. Similarly, the support for No. 223 Squadron was likely necessitated by that unit's transition from Martin Marylands to Martin Baltimores, a period requiring intensified maintenance man-hours. The handwritten folio number "22" in the upper right margin denotes the chronological position of this order within the collated Appendices of the unit's permanent historical record. 31 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: No specific date is recorded on the document provided in image 273__31.jpg. Based on the preceding document, Movement Order No. 10, this schedule is effective from 28.3.42.