Operational Order No. 36

Saturday, 15 November 1941

1941-11-15

21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. OPERATIONAL ORDER NO. 36. COPY NO. 5....(No. 3 Wing (S.A.) Operation order No. "A" 297 refers).2nd. Sortie DATE: 15.11.41.MAP REF: Target map No. 1/H15 (Gazala Box) Tobruk 1:100000.LIST OF APPENDICES. "A"INFORMATION. Two Dumps "L" and "M" situated about six miles Eastfrom Gazala Landing Ground No. 2, immediately Southof bend in road.INTENTION. To destroy dumps by high level bombing attack.Alternative target: Gazala L. G. No. 2, dispersedaircraft and aircraft shelters.EXECUTION. (a) List of aircraft and crews see appendix "A"(b) o/c "A" Flight will provide six aircraft.(c) Time of starting up 1230 hours(d) Time of take off 1250 hours(e) Route. Climb to 10000 ft. Cruise in lean at 1725r.p.m. and 26" boost. Cross line 20 miles Southof Maddalena. When 80 miles from target climbto 21000 ft. in rich.(f) Time over target 1500 hours.(g) Approach and Attack: Approach from West and when10 - 15 miles from target, dive to 18000 ft. andfly parallel to road. No.1 Flight will bomb "L"and No. 2 Flight "M". Flights will spread, unlessfighter opposition is experienced.(h) Observers to do individual aiming and MickeyMouse to be at 592 ft.(i) Photography: Verticals (2) Take overlap of runup and Dumps. Obliques (2) To take results andany enemy information possible.(j) After attack and photo run, turn to port, diveand S/C for base over sea, keeping 20 milesfrom coast; cruising in lean at 1725 r.p.m. and26" boost at 10000 ft.(k) Landing order: Order of take offADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.(a) All aircraft must carry full capacity 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.(d) All necessary desert equipment.INTER COMMUNICATION AND W/T Signals Officer.DISTRIBUTION.

Intelligence A.H.Q.W.D.

Operations do

3 Wing (S.A.) S.I.O.

War Diary

File[Signed] J S Be... 2/Lt.For O. C. 21 Squadron.

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Original page(s): 145

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force, the service branch of 21 Squadron. * No. 3 Wing (S.A.): The 3 Wing (South African) of the SAAF, providing tactical and administrative oversight to 21 Squadron. * Gazala Landing Ground No. 2: An Axis airfield complex (L.G. No. 2) located in the Gazala area, utilized by the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica. * o/c: Officer Commanding (of "A" Flight). * ft.: Feet, the unit of measurement for altitude (climbing to 10,000 ft., 21,000 ft., and diving to 18,000 ft. for the attack). * lean / rich: Fuel-to-air mixture settings for the aircraft's engines; "lean" used for fuel efficiency during cruise and "rich" used for maximum power during climb and combat. * r.p.m.: Revolutions Per Minute, the engine speed setting (1725 r.p.m.). * 26" boost: Manifold pressure measured in inches of mercury, used here as a standard cruise setting for the engines. * Mickey Mouse: RAF/SAAF slang for the bomb-release intervalometer, which controlled the spacing of the bomb "stick" (set here to 592 ft.). * S/C: Set Course (for base). * 8 X 250 lbs. Fused 43: The standard bomb load for the Martin Maryland, consisting of eight 250-pound general-purpose bombs equipped with No. 43 percussion fuses. * W/T: Wireless Telegraphy, referring to radio communications overseen by the Signals Officer. * A.H.Q.W.D.: Air Headquarters Western Desert. * S.I.O.: Senior Intelligence Officer. * O. C. 21 Squadron: Officer Commanding of 21 Squadron SAAF. Operational Context: Dated 15 November 1941, this Operational Order documents the 2nd Sortie of the day, occurring only three days prior to the commencement of Operation Crusader (18 November 1941). The strategic objective of striking supply "Dumps L and M" in the Gazala Box was critical to Allied pre-offensive preparations. These dumps were essential logistical nodes supporting Axis armor and infantry positions west of Tobruk. The tactical deployment of Martin Maryland aircraft for a "high level bombing attack" at 18,000 to 21,000 feet was designed to mitigate the threat from Axis anti-aircraft artillery (flak) and to avoid interception by German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. The mission profile highlights the use of specialized engine settings (lean cruise at 1725 r.p.m. and 26" boost) and precise intervalometer ("Mickey Mouse") settings to ensure a concentrated "stick" of bombs across the dump areas. The alternative target, Gazala L.G. No. 2, underscores the Allied priority of neutralizing Axis air assets on the ground to ensure air superiority for the upcoming Eighth Army advance. The order for the return leg to be "over sea, keeping 20 miles from coast" was a standard defensive measure to bypass Axis coastal defense sectors and fighter patrol zones. 160 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: The exact date is not present on this specific page (Sheet 146). However, contextual evidence from the preceding document in the sequence (Sheet 145) identifies this as the Appendix "A" for Operational Order No. 36, dated 15.11.41.