BIR DUFAN NO. 2 L.G. - DISPERSED A/C

Operational Record

Target

BIR DUFAN No. 2 L.G. - Dispersed A/C.

Duty

BIR DUFAN L.G. No. 2.

Committed

18 Glenn Martin Baltimore

Time of attack

0949 hrs. (L.T.)

Airborne

0505 hrs

Returned

0750 hrs

From

Gzina

Map

(MISURATA: 1:500,000 Sheets 3/9.)

Day / night

Day

Casualties

1) A/C 842 : (Lt Lindenberg and crew.) A/C was hit by A.A. and fire from M.E. 109. Last seen under control; approximately 10 mls. SOUTH EAST of BIR DUFAN L.G.'s, with smoke coming from engine. Starboard engine had stopped. A/C and crew missing. 2) A/C 873 : (Lt. Liddiard and crew.) A/C was attacked by ME 109 over (R) X9105. Top gunner, F/Sgt. Kruger was killed by ME fire and A/C was damaged. Force-landed at TAMET WEST L.G. 3) A/C 933 : (Lt. Meredith and crew.) A/C was hit by A.A. over (R) X4580 and attacked by ME 109 before formation bombed. Starboard engine was hit and seized up.

Bombing

Medium level attack. 9000 ft. 107 x 250 G.P. 43 Det. (Rods) One hang-up: A/C 932.

Air defences

1. Intense barrage of H.A.A. and L.A.A. from BIR DUFAN area. Low and inaccurate. 2. Heavy A.A. from GHEDDAHIA and SOUTH in WADI ZEMZEM. 3. H.A.A. from TAUOGRA and BIR el CHURGIA area. A.A. inaccurate. The formation was attacked by fighters. (See Bomber combat report.)

Results

Poor visibility combined with heavy dust storms made location of target impossible. Formation attacked camp of 50 tents at (R)X 2050 and bombs burst in good stick across camp. No detailed results observed. A/C 842 : Missing. at TAMET WEST. A/C 873 : Cat. 2. Force-landed. A/C 933 : Cat. 2. Force-landed SOUTH WEST of NOFILIA. A. Lt. S. Lindenberg (Pilot), Lt. J.F. van Ryneveld (Observer), F/Sgt. C. Engelbrecht and Sgt. (R.A.F.) R.C. MacIntyre missing. B. F/Sgt. E.L. Kruger (A/C 873) killed. (All by enemy fighter action. One ME 109 F destroyed and one damaged by rear gunners.