Operational Order No. 8

Saturday, 4 October 1941

1941-10-04

S E C R E T. 21 SQUADRON OPERATIONAL ORDER NO 8. COPY NO...6.... ( Ref: Medium Bomber Wing Telephonic instructions) DATE: 4. 10. 41. MAP REF: Tobruk 1 : 500000 LIST OF APPENDICES: "B" INFORMATION. A well dispersed dump on the Bardia - Tobruk Road, 17 miles from Bardia. This dump has been made up considerably since the arrival of a ship in Bardia Harbour, and is thought to consist largely of fuel. ( Briefing by Commanding Officer and S. I. O. ) With Target maps. INTENTION. High level attack by 9 Aircraft. Heights 13000ft., 12500 ft., 12000 ft. EXECUTION. (a) List of Aircraft and Crews see appendix "B" (b) o/c "A" Flight will provide 4 Aircraft. o/c "B" Flight will provide 5 Aircraft. (c) Time of starting up 0700 hours. (d) Time of take off 0710 hours. (e) Formation: Squadron, Flights line astern. (f) Route: Landing Ground 21 - Fuka Point - 292 degrees * turn in to cross coast at Ras - El - Aora. (g) Approach: From seaward at 16000' diving to 12000 ft. 12500 ft. and 13000 ft., and attacking from the North. If Fighters are reported, leader will signal as arranged and Target will be attacked from North in Squadron, Flights line astern. (h) After release: Turn slightly, to allow gunners to take oblique photos, reform into original formation and return via Sidi Barr. (i) Photography: 6 cameras. (j) Landing order: Order of take off. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. (a) All Aircraft must carry full capacity [strike-through] XXXX 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 N. ( inst.) (d) All necessary desert equipment. INTER COMMUNICATION. W/T Officer. ACKNOWLEDGE. [handwritten signature] L Saunders. Lt. For O. C. 21 SQUADRON.

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Original page(s): 69

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. During this period of the Western Desert Campaign, the unit operated as a light/medium bomber squadron within the Desert Air Force (DAF). * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): The R.A.F./SAAF operational code for the Martin Baltimore medium bomber. While 21 Squadron became the primary operator of the Baltimore in 1942, in October 1941, they utilized the Martin Maryland, the Baltimore's direct technical and tactical predecessor. * FUSE N. (INST.): Nose Fuse (Instantaneous). These fuzes were selected for surface-level targets to ensure the 250 lb General Purpose (GP) bombs detonated immediately upon impact, maximizing blast and fragmentation against unarmored logistics. * LANDING GROUND 21 (LG 21): The squadron's forward operating base located in Egypt. * MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied ordnance types. Each aircraft was ordered to carry a full load of 8 x 250 lb GP munitions. * MET: Meteorological data. Precise MET conditions were required for the high-altitude approach at 16,000 feet and the subsequent dive to bombing altitudes. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * W/T: Wireless Telegraphy (Morse code radio communications). Operational Context Operational Order No. 8, dated 4 October 1941, targets a critical Axis logistical node: a "well dispersed dump" located 17 miles from Bardia along the Bardia-Tobruk Road. The strategic importance of this location centered on its role as a receiving point for fuel and supplies recently unloaded from shipping in Bardia Harbour. Interdicting these mobile reserves was a key component of the Allied strategy to degrade Rommel’s frontier logistical sustainment prior to the launch of Operation Crusader. Execution Constraints The mission profile dictated a high-level horizontal bombing run involving 9 aircraft divided into two flights ("A" and "B"). The approach was planned from seaward at 16,000 feet, masked from land-based detection until a final diving turn at Ras - El - Aora to bombing altitudes between 12,000 and 13,000 feet. This multi-altitude approach was intended to complicate Axis anti-aircraft (A/A) tracking. A significant execution constraint was the threat of Luftwaffe interception; the order includes specific contingencies for attacking in "Flights line astern" if fighters were reported. Technical requirements also included the use of 6 cameras to secure oblique photographs post-release, requiring a precise turn to align the gunners' camera ports. The route involved navigating via Fuka Point and returning via Sidi Barr. [Sidi Barrani], underscoring the long-range navigational discipline required for sorties across the Egyptian-Libyan frontier. This order, signed by Lt. L. Saunders for the O.C., illustrates the squadron's continued pressure on Axis supply lines following the heavy strikes of late September. 71 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 4. 10. 41.