The National Archives' reference AIR 27/273/273
COPY OF SIGNAL APPENDIX "D" 35
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TO: 21 SQUADRON (R) REAR 3 WING
FROM: 3 WING ADVANCED A.W. 331 21/9
21 SQUADRON TO MOVE FORTHWITH TO SITE ON L.G. Y (R) Y
BEFORE DOING SO 21 SQUADRON MUST CONTACT COLONEL
TINDALL AT 3 WING REAR WHO WILL ARRANGE SITE WITH THE
ARMY IN AREA
I M M E D I A T E
T.O.O. 1800/21/c
T.O.R. 2030/21/c
Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes")
Glossary of Terms:
* 21 SQUADRON: No. 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force (SAAF).
* (R): Repeated to. This indicates the signal was sent to the following address for information purposes rather than direct action.
* REAR 3 WING / 3 WING REAR: The rear-echelon headquarters of No. 3 (South African) Wing, responsible for administrative and logistical depth.
* 3 WING ADVANCED: The forward-deployed headquarters of No. 3 (S.A.) Wing, managing tactical operations closer to the front lines.
* L.G. Y: Landing Ground Y. A coded geographical designation for a specific desert airfield, used to maintain operational security in signaled communications.
* I M M E D I A T E: A high-priority signal precedence requiring the fastest possible handling and execution.
* T.O.O.: Time of Origin (18:00 hours on the 21st).
* T.O.R.: Time of Receipt (20:30 hours on the 21st).
Operational Context:
This signal, dated 21 September 1942, documents the second phase of the squadron's urgent forward displacement during the final preparations for the Second Battle of El Alamein. Following the initial move to the temporary camp at L.G. "Z" on 16 September, this "FORTHWITH" order directs the squadron to its intended operational site at L.G. "Y".
The requirement to coordinate with "Colonel Tindall" at 3 Wing Rear and "The Army in Area" underscores the complex inter-service logistics of the Western Desert. Landing grounds were often shared with or protected by Army ground units, and the exact site placement within the L.G. "Y" perimeter was critical for both aircraft dispersal and defensive coordination against Axis air interdiction.
Strategically, this move finalized the squadron's tactical positioning. By occupying L.G. "Y," No. 21 Squadron—equipped with Martin Baltimore light bombers—was placed within optimal striking distance of the German-Italian front lines and supply bottlenecks. This positioning was a prerequisite for the high-tempo "shuttle bombing" campaign the Desert Air Force (DAF) launched in October 1942 to shatter the Axis defenses. The document is archived as Appendix "D" (Folio 35), marking the conclusion of the unit's major September movements in the permanent historical record.
45
Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check: 19th September 1942.