Operational Order No. 10

Friday, 21 August 1942

1942-08-21

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/273/273 28 quadron Movement Order No. 10 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. A N N E X U R E "A" Schedule of Vehicles for Transporting Personnel and Equipment OFFICERS: Transport for Officers will be parked at 06.00 hours, alongside the Adjutant's Van for loading of personal kit and to Transport Officers. SERGEANTS' MESS: Two Trucks will be provided and will be ready at 08.00 hours for loading mess and barrack room equipment and kitchen personnel. Additional Transport will be available for the transport of personal kit and personnel. AIRMENS' MESS: Two Trucks will be provided and will be ready at 08.00 hours for loading Mess, barrack room equipment and kitchen personnel. Additional Transport will be available for the transport of personal kit and personnel. CAPE CORPS: Transport will be available in the Cape Corps Lines from 06.00 hours for the Transport of Mess and equipment, personal kit and personnel. SECTIONS: Transport will be available for the loading of equipment of each section of the Squadron. ADMINISTRATIVE: Transport will be provided for the Administrative Section for the transportation of equipment. PERSONNEL: Transport will be provided for all personnel of the Squadron and each truck will carry 14 details with kit.

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Original page(s): 28

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * ANNEXURE "A": A formal technical appendix to Squadron Movement Order No. 10 detailing the logistical allocation for a unit relocation. * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * ADJUTANT'S VAN: The mobile office and transport vehicle for the squadron's senior administrative officer, the Adjutant, responsible for personnel records and daily administration. * CAPE CORPS: A non-European South African military unit primarily utilized for essential logistical, labor, and support duties within the SAAF structure during the North African campaign. * SECTIONS: Refers to the various specialized sub-units within the squadron, such as Signals, Armoury, Photography, and Transport, as specified in the parent Movement Order. * DETAILS: Individual personnel or airmen assigned to a specific transport vehicle. Operational Context: Annexure "A" serves as the detailed vehicle schedule for the relocation of No. 21 Squadron SAAF from Kasfareet to Shandur, effective August 24th, 1942. This move took place during the significant Allied logistical reorganization and buildup following the first Battle of El Alamein. The strategic objective of the move to Shandur was to provide "better dispersal facilities" for the squadron's aircraft and personnel. Dispersal was a tactical priority for the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) to protect vital light bomber assets, such as the Martin Baltimore, from potential Axis air strikes while preparing for future offensive operations. The loading schedule indicates a high degree of organizational density, with trucks assigned to carry "14 details with kit" to maximize limited motor transport resources. The prioritization of the "Adjutant's Van" and the "Administrative Section" highlights the necessity of maintaining operational command and control during the transit. The inclusion of specialized transport for the "Cape Corps" and various "Sections" ensures that the squadron's support infrastructure—including mess facilities and technical equipment—remained integrated and mobile. This document, marked as folio 28, is a primary administrative record of the logistical coordination required to sustain the fighting efficiency of a SAAF light bomber squadron in the Western Desert theater. 38 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: No specific date is present in a 'Date' column on this image; however, internal cross-referencing with the parent document, Squadron Movement Order No. 10, identifies the associated date as August 21st, 1942.