Operational Order No. 6

Monday, 29 September 1941

1941-09-29

S E C R E T. 21 SQUADRON OPERATIONAL ORDER NO. 6. COPY NO...6.... ( ref. Medium Bomber Wing OP. Order No. "A" 49. ) DATE. 29. 9. 41. INTENTION. Reconnaissance and Photos of Ship in Bardia Harbour. EXECUTION. (a) List of Aircraft and crews see appendix "B" (b) Time of starting up 0815 hours. (c) Time of take off 0830 hours. (d) Photography. Make sure that the Ship is clearly photographed. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. (a) All Aircraft must carry full capacity of fuel and oil (b) All magazines and pans must be fully loaded. (d) All necessary desert equipment. INTER COMMUNICATION. W/T Officer. Message must be sent back immediately Ship sighted . ACKNOWLEDGE. DISTRIBUTION LIST. * R. A. F. No. S. I. O. * 204 Intelligence. * 204 Ops. * Medium Bomber Wing S. I. O. * S. A. Liaison Officer. H. Q. RAF. ME. * * * * War Diary. * File [handwritten signature] L Saunders. Lt. S.I.O. for O/C 21 SQUADRON.

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Original page(s): 61

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. In September 1941, the unit was based in Egypt and functioned as a light/medium bomber force within the Western Desert Air Force (WDAF). * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): The R.A.F./SAAF operational code and designator for the Martin Baltimore medium bomber. While 21 Squadron became the primary operator of the Baltimore (BA-BH) in 1942, during the missions of late 1941, they utilized the Martin Maryland, the Baltimore's direct technical and tactical precursor in SAAF service. * MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied ordnance designations for high-explosive demolition bombs. While this specific order (No. 6) focuses on reconnaissance, the requirement for fully loaded magazines and pans reflects the standard defensive posture for SAAF aircraft. * MET: Meteorological data. Precise MET conditions were critical for high-altitude reconnaissance to ensure clear photographic documentation of shipping. * O/C: Officer Commanding. * S. I. O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * W/T: Wireless Telegraphy (Morse code radio communications). Operational Context Operational Order No. 6, dated 29th September 1941, tasks 21 Squadron with a dedicated reconnaissance and photographic sortie targeting shipping in Bardia Harbour. The strategic importance of Bardia was centered on its function as a fortified logistical bottleneck and port of entry for German and Italian reinforcements destined for the frontier defensive line. This order follows two consecutive days of heavy strikes against the same target ship on 27 and 28 September, which resulted in the loss of one SAAF Maryland and significant shrapnel damage to the entire formation. The primary objective was to provide visual confirmation of the effectiveness of the preceding 18,000 lbs of ordnance dropped and to monitor Axis salvage or reinforcement efforts. Such intelligence was vital for the Desert Air Force to assess whether further interdiction was required to degrade Axis logistical sustainment ahead of Operation Crusader. Execution Constraints The mission profile reflects the high-threat environment of the Bardia sector. Despite being a non-bombing run, the order mandates that all magazines and pans be fully loaded, acknowledging the persistent threat of Luftwaffe interception (such as the Me 109s encountered on 27 September) and the "intense" anti-aircraft batteries surrounding the bay. A specific technical constraint was the immediate reporting requirement; the W/T Officer was instructed to transmit a message back to base immediately upon sighting the ship. This underscores the time-sensitive nature of maritime intelligence in the Mediterranean theater. The order, signed by Intelligence Officer Lt. L. Saunders, emphasizes that the ship must be "clearly photographed," indicating that the success of the mission hinged on high-quality oblique or vertical imagery for post-strike analysis. 63 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 29.9.41.