Operational Order No. 17

Monday, 27 October 1941

1941-10-27

S E C R E T. 21 SQUADRON OPERATIONAL ORDER NO. 17 COPY NO...4.... (Ref: 261 Wing Operation order No. "A" 168) DATE: 27.10.41 MAP REF: Target Map B./2 LIST OF APPENDICES "A" INFORMATION. Benghazi Docks. Target to be area along base of Cathedral Mole from Pinpoint 6 to 12. Alternative Target: Benina Aerodrome. Dispersed Aircraft and hangars. INTENTION. High level bombing attack. 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 3 aircraft. o/c "B" Flight will provide 1 spare aircraft to go as far as L. G. 075. (c) Time of starting up 0545 hours. (d) Time of take off 0615 hours. (e) Land at L. G. 075 and take off immediately after refuelling. (f) Formation: Flights in Squadron Vic. (g) Time over target: 1130 hours. (h) Route: From L. G. 075 course 20 miles South of Maddalena, then marshes — Benghazi marshes — Maddalena 075 L. G. — 021 L. G. After take off at 075 L. G. cruise in lean at 1750 r.p.m. at 25" boost in Squadron Vic. (i) Attack: 90 miles from target climb to 21000 ft. in rich and form line astern. Fifteen miles from target No. 1 Flight to dive from 21000 ft. to 18000 ft. Nos. 2 and 3 Flights to space about 200 ft. and dive below No. 1 Flight about 200 ft. interval. (j) After release: After bomb release No. 1 Flight to turn to right and other Flights to follow loosing height and forming up immediately. (k) Alternative Target: The tactics for this target will be to loose height steadily to 10000 ft., and return at 1725 r.p.m. at 26" boost. (l) Mickey Mouse: Observers to set Mickey Mouse at 366 ft., and rear flights must space themselves and get independent aim. (m) Fighters: Keep sharp look out for Fighters. (n) Photography: 5 cameras (o) Landing order: Order of take off. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. (a) All aircraft must carry full capacity fuel and oil. (b) All magazines and pans to be fully loaded. (c) Each aircraft will carry full bomb load i. e. 8 X 250 lbs. Fuse 43, tail live. (d) All necessary desert equipment. INTER COMMUNICATION. W/T Officer. DISTRIBUTION. Intelligence A. H. Q. Western Desert. Operations do do 261 Wing War Diary. File. [handwritten signature] L Saunders 2/Lt. For O. C. 21 Squadron.

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Original page(s): 94

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 this stage of the Western Desert Campaign, the unit operated the Martin Maryland (Model 167), an American-built twin-engine medium bomber utilized for high-altitude horizontal bombing. * 261 WING / A. H. Q. WESTERN DESERT: The higher Royal Air Force tactical and operational commands (Wing and Air Headquarters) overseeing S.A.A.F. operations in the Mediterranean theater. * B./2 (TARGET MAP): A specific 1:500000 tactical map of Benghazi used for identifying precision targets within the harbor and city. * BENINA AERODROME: A major Axis airfield complex located near Benghazi, designated here as the primary alternative target for dispersed aircraft and infrastructure. * CATHEDRAL MOLE: A primary breakwater and docking infrastructure in Benghazi Harbour; the order specifies "Pinpoint 6 to 12" as the intended impact zone. * FUSE 43: A standard British/Commonwealth tail fuse used for General Purpose (GP) bombs, such as the 250 lb munitions carried on this sortie. "Tail live" indicates the ordnance was primed for detonation upon impact with structures or vessels. * L. G. 021 / L. G. 075: Landing Ground 21 (Egypt) and Landing Ground 75 (Libya). LG 075 was essential as a forward refueling point to enable long-range strikes against targets deep in Cyrenaica. * MICKEY MOUSE: Technical slang for the intervalometer, a device used by the Observer to time the release of bombs; the setting of 366 ft refers to the calculated ground distance between individual bomb impacts in a "stick". * R.P.M. / BOOST: Revolutions Per Minute and manifold pressure (measured in inches of mercury). These settings for the Maryland's Pratt & Whitney engines were carefully balanced between "lean" for fuel-efficient transit and "rich" for maximum combat performance during the climb to 21,000 feet. * VIC / LINE ASTERN: Tactical flight formations. "Vic" is a standard three-aircraft "V" formation; "Line Astern" involves aircraft following in a vertical column to allow for independent aiming and bombing runs. * W/T: Wireless Telegraphy (radio communication). Operational Context Operational Order No. 17, dated 27 October 1941, initiates another deep-penetration daylight strike against the Benghazi Docks. Strategically, Benghazi was the principal logistical terminal for Rommel's Panzergruppe Afrika. This mission focused on the Cathedral Mole, a vital point for offloading fuel and supplies from maritime transport. Neutralizing this infrastructure was a core objective of the Desert Air Force (DAF) to degrade Axis reserves and logistical capacity prior to the launch of Operation Crusader in November 1941. The inclusion of Benina Aerodrome as a secondary target highlights the MAAF’s dual focus on logistics and air superiority; destroying dispersed Axis aircraft and hangars at Benina was intended to thin the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica fighter screen protecting the Cyrenaican interior. Execution Constraints The mission profile reflects the extreme endurance required for unescorted strikes into the Cyrenaican interior. Execution mandated an early 06:15 takeoff and a mid-mission landing at L. G. 075 to refuel. A spare aircraft was provided to go as far as the refueling point to ensure the formation remained at full strength. The attack required a high-altitude approach, with the formation climbing to 21,000 feet while 90 miles from the target. The bombing run involved a staggered tactical dive: No. 1 Flight to 18,000 feet, with Nos. 2 and 3 Flights spacing themselves 200 feet below to saturate the target area. A significant tactical constraint was the requirement for Observers in rear flights to achieve "independent aim," ensuring a broader coverage of the Mole pinpoint area. The administrative directive for "all necessary desert equipment" underscores the high risk of unescorted daylight operations; should a Maryland be forced down in the remote desert, crew survival was dependent on onboard supplies. The document is signed by 2/Lt. L. Saunders, reflecting his role in coordinating the squadron's tactical output during this intensive phase of the campaign. 97 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 27. 10. 41.