Operational Order No. 37

Sunday, 16 November 1941

1941-11-16

21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. OPERATIONAL ORDER NO. 37 COPY NO. 7.... (3 Wing (S.A.) Operation order No. "A" 304 refers). DATE: 16.11.41. MAP REF: Target map B./10 LIST OF APPENDICES "A" INFORMATION. Martuba West L. G. is 16 miles S.S.E. of Derna, and 8 miles South West of Martuba Village. It is a moderate sized L shaped drome, with large dispersal areas East and West. Fighters usually West side, Bombers East side. Recognition difficult, not being well defined. Explanation of sketches and photographs, and location in relation to main road, village and big Wadi explained. Briefing by O. C. and S.I.O. INTENTION. High level bombing Martuba West L. G. (dispersed Acft) Alternative Tmimi L. G. To be repeated pm EXECUTION (a) List of aircraft and crews see appendix "A" (b) o/c "B" Flight will provide six aircraft. (c) Time of starting up 0620 hours (d) Time of take off 0630 hours (e) Course out - sea route (f) Flying instructions - as briefed by O.C. (g) Attack: Cross coast at big wadi mouth. Follow just past where Derna - Tobruk road crosses it, turn and fly S.S.E., towards "finger" wadis. Independent aim, Mickey mouse 592 ft., spread out as much as possible. (h) Photography: Good photos essential. (i) After release, if clouds at sea, sea route home, otherwise land, South of Maddalena. (j) 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 to carry full bomb load, i.e. 8 X 250 lbs. Fused 43. (d) All necessary desert equipment. INTER COMMUNICATION. W/T Officer. DISTRIBUTION. * Intelligence A.H.Q.W.D. * Operations do * 3 Wing (S.A.) S.I.O. * War Diary * do * do * do * File. ....... L Lounds ....... Lt. SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.

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Original page(s): 150

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion Glossary of Terms: * 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.: 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. * 3 Wing (S.A.): 3 Wing (South African), the administrative and tactical wing under which 21 Squadron operated. * L. G.: Landing Ground; specifically Martuba West Landing Ground and the alternative Tmimi Landing Ground. * S.S.E.: South-South-East (referring to the location of Martuba West L.G. relative to Derna). * O. C.: Officer Commanding. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer (Lt. Lounds). * dispersed Acft: Dispersed Aircraft, the intended targets on the airfield. * pm: Post meridiem; indicating the intent to repeat the mission in the afternoon. * o/c: Officer Commanding (of "B" Flight). * Mickey mouse 592 ft.: Colloquial term for the bomb release intervalometer, set here to a ground distance of 592 feet between individual bomb impacts. * 8 X 250 lbs. Fused 43: Bomb load consisting of eight 250-pound general-purpose bombs, equipped with No. 43 percussion fuses. * W/T Officer: Wireless Telegraphy Officer, responsible for radio communication. * A.H.Q.W.D.: Air Headquarters Western Desert. Operational Context: This Operational Order was issued on November 16, 1941, during the critical "air phase" immediately preceding the launch of Operation Crusader on November 18. The strategic objective was the neutralization of the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica on the ground to prevent Axis air interference with the impending Allied offensive to relieve Tobruk. Martuba West served as a vital forward base for Axis fighters and bombers; disabling the aircraft dispersed there was essential for establishing air superiority over the Cyrenaican hump. The tactical approach prescribed here reflects the limitations of contemporary navigation and the hazards of the Western Desert. The "sea route" was utilized to bypass known Axis anti-aircraft concentrations along the coast, while the use of "big wadi" mouths and road intersections as waypoints was necessary for locating "poorly defined" desert airfields like Martuba West. The requirement for "independent aim" by observers, rather than formation release, suggests a need for precision against widely dispersed targets. The contingency plan to land "South of Maddalena" indicates the fluidity of front lines and the importance of forward staging areas near the Egyptian-Libyan frontier. 165 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: The exact date found in the 'DATE' column of the image is 17.11.41.