Operational Order No. 25

Saturday, 8 November 1941

1941-11-08

6 [handwritten] 21 SQUADRON OPERATIONAL ORDER NO. 25. COPY NO..... (Ref. 261 Wing Operation order No. "A" 241) DATE: 8.11.41. MAP REF: Target Map E1-Coefia and Benghazi 1:100000. LIST OF APPENDICES "A" INFORMATION: On the Benghazi - Tocra road, South West of the small Salt lake, and immediately South of the road, is a square courtyard which houses a fuel pumping apparatus for filling cans from bulk. There is therefore at all times a large quantity of fuel stored in and about the buildings, and it is likely that a fair number of M.T. would be parked around the area. The target is "A" on the target map and obliques taken by ourselves on the 6th. inst., clearly show its situation, in relation to the surrounding landmarks. Alternative target is Benina L. G. and dumps, eleven miles West of Benghazi, on the road to El - Abia. INTENTION: To destroy target "A" or [strike-through: XXXX] attack the L. G. and dumps at Benina, if "A" cannot be located. High level bombing. EXECUTION. (a) List of aircraft and crews see appendix "A" (b) o/c "A" Flight will provide 6 aircraft. o/c "B" Flight will provide 1 aircraft to go as far as L. G. 75 (e) Time of starting up 1515 hours. (d) Time of take off 1525 hours. (e) The aircraft will leave L. G. 21 on 7.11.41 at 1530 hours for L. G. 75, where the aircraft will be refuelled and be prepared for an early take off on 8.11.41. Time over target 0830 hours. (f) Course out: L. G. 75 to 20 miles South of Maddelena, cruising at 10000 ft. at 1725 r.p.m. and 26" boost. When 50 miles from target, climb to 22000 ft. and approach and attack from 15 miles North of target diving to 19000 ft. (g) Attack: Observers to do individual aiming and attack from the North, on a course along the road. Mickey Mouse at 300 ft., close formation, obtain photographs of dumps and run up. (h) After release: Formation to turn to port and in tight vic - box. Increase speed loosing height to 10000 ft., returning to base on a reciprocal course. Any aircraft short of fuel to land at L.G. 75 and continue after refuelling. (i) Photography: 4 cameras (j) Landing order: Order of take off ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. (a) All aircraft must carry full capacity of fuel & oil. (b) All magazines and pans to be fully loaded. (c) Each aircraft to carry full bomb load, i.e. 8 X 250 lbs. fused 43 DET. (d) All necessary desert equipment. INTER COMMUNICATION. W/T Officer. DISTRIBUTION. * Intelligence A.H.Q.W.D. * Operations do * S.I.O. 261 Wing 4.5.6.7. War Diary * File [handwritten signature] L Saunders Lt. For O.C. 21 Squadron.

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Original page(s): 129

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms * 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. At the date of this order, the unit was equipped with the Martin Maryland, an American-built twin-engine medium bomber utilized by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) for high-altitude daylight interdiction and reconnaissance in the Western Desert. * 261 WING / A.H.Q.W.D.: 261 Wing, Air Headquarters Western Desert. These echelons formed the tactical command structure of the Desert Air Force (DAF) under the broader MAAF umbrella. * C. O. / S. I. O.: Commanding Officer and Squadron Intelligence Officer (Lt. L. Saunders). * FUSED 43 DET.: Fuse No. 43 Detonator. This fuzing setting for the 250 lb General Purpose (GP) bombs was selected to ensure effective detonation against logistical targets like fuel containers and buildings. * L. G. 21 / L. G. 75: Landing Ground 21 (Fuka, Egypt) and Landing Ground 75. LG 75 served as a forward staging and refueling strip essential for extending the operational radius of the Marylands into central Cyrenaica. * M.T.: Motor Transport. * MICKEY MOUSE: The bomb intervalometer used by the observer to set the physical distance (300 ft.) between bombs in a released "stick" to ensure a straddle of the target. * R.P.M. / BOOST: Engine revolutions per minute and manifold pressure. Specific settings were mandated for fuel conservation during the long reciprocal transit and for maximum performance during the tactical climb to the bombing altitude. * VIC - BOX: A tight tactical flying formation designed to maximize the mutual defensive fire of the Maryland's machine guns against Axis interceptors during the withdrawal from the target. * W/T: Wireless Telegraphy (radio communication). Operational Context Operational Order No. 25, issued on 8 November 1941, tasks 21 Squadron with a specialized strike against Axis fuel infrastructure in the Benghazi sector. Strategically, the targeting of the fuel pumping apparatus at Coefia was part of a broader Allied effort to paralyze Rommel's land-based mobility and logistics during the final preparatory phase of Operation Crusader (commencing 18 November 1941). By neutralizing high-value logistical nodes like Target "A," the MAAF sought to degrade the Afrikakorps' ability to maintain mechanized movement along the coastal road toward the frontline. The identification of Benina L. G. as an alternative target reinforces the priority placed on suppressing Axis air reinforcement and transport capabilities in the region. Execution Constraints The mission profile emphasizes the extreme logistical and tactical friction of long-range desert interdiction: * Staging and Endurance: The strike required a pre-positioning flight from L. G. 21 to L. G. 75 on 7 November to facilitate an "early take off" on 8 November. This highlights the dependency on forward strips to manage the Maryland's fuel endurance for deep-penetration missions. * Vertical Performance and Approach: The formation was required to climb to 22,000 ft. 50 miles from the target to evade early detection and heavy anti-aircraft fire, followed by a tactical dive to 19,000 ft. for the final visual approach from the North. * Intelligence-Led Targeting: The order references "obliques taken by ourselves on the 6th. inst.," illustrating the squadron's reliance on its own tactical reconnaissance to identify and verify small, dispersed logistical targets that might otherwise be overlooked. * Independent Aiming: Observers were mandated to perform individual aiming rather than dropping on the leader's signal, a tactical adjustment likely intended to ensure that at least one stick in the formation successfully hit the specific pumping courtyard and fuel canisters. The document, signed by Lt. L. Saunders, stands as an official record of the methodical Allied effort to degrade the Axis logistical pivot in Cyrenaica despite the persistent hazards of unescorted daylight bombing. 143 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 8. 11. 41.