ATTACK AT LEADER'S DISCRETION AS REGARDS HEIGHT OR CLOUD BASE, ON CONCENTRATIONS IN AREA… — Operations

Operational Record

Duty: Bombing attack at Leader's discretion as regards height or cloud base, on concentrations in area bounded as follows: 480 - 450, coastline and Tobruk - Bardia Road.
Committed: 9 Glenn Martin Maryland
Airborne: 1330 hrs
Returned: 1510 hrs
From: L.G. 76
Map: Salum - Tobruk 1: 250,000
Day / night: Day
Casualties: –
Air defences: –

Nine Marylands took off from L.G. 76 at 1529 hours. One aircraft returned through engine trouble, it landed at L.G. 76 at 1600 hours. The rest of the formation S/c to Bir - Sheferzen and then to a point on main Coastal road at 45 Grid line. The three Flights dropped a total of 56 bombs (250 lbs each) on three different concentrations of M.T. and other vehicles in the escarpment and wadi and along the main road. Fairly intense by light A/A fire was encountered from these concentrations. A very large tarpaulin was seen in the centre of dispersed vehicles and two M.T. were seen to race away from the tarpaulin. About eight large vehicles (tanks 7) were seen hidden in a Wadi South of main road near 46 Grid line. The general impression was that three lanes of vehicles were moving in a Westerly direction, above main road. No aircraft were seen on Gambut L.G. nor any activity at Side Omar. The attack took place at 1610 hours.