Operational Order No. 19

Saturday, 1 November 1941

1941-11-01

721 SQUADRON OPERATIONAL ORDER NO. 19. COPY NO.....(Ref. 261 Wing Operation order No. "A" 197) DATE: 1. 11. 41.MAP REF: Target map D./4LIST OF APPENDICES. "A"INFORMATION. Derna is 70 miles West of the Northern point of theGulf of Bomba. It has a small harbour, protected bya Mole, near the point of which a sunken wreck islying, on the harbour side. Small ships use thisharbour, and excellent targets are provided by thedock yard area.Landing Ground, some 3 1/2 miles South East of the town,has a large hangar at its North West corner.The area just North, North West and West of thehangar is the site of many dumps of fuel, stores,and repair shops, and constitutes the most importanttarget. Dump 26 formerly described as a dummy, is nowconsidered likely to contain fuel. Aircraft are alsolikely to be dispersed in this vicinity.Briefing by S. O. and S. I. O.INTENTION. High level attack on (1) Shipping and docks and(2) on dump area at Landing Ground. (3) 2000pamphlets to be dropped.EXECUTION. (a) List of aircraft and crews see appendix "A"(b) o/c "A" Flight will provide 3 aircraft.o/c "B" Flight will provide 6 aircraft.(c) Time of start up 1135 hours.(d) Time of take off 1150 hours.(e) Course: L.G. 21 -- Fuka Point -- Derna. Returnat the discretion of Leader according to weatherconditions or Fighters.(f) Flying instructions: Climb to 10000 ft., cruisein square vic at 22000 r.p.m., 2 1/2" boost.80 miles from target, climb to 19000 ft., in richand form line astern. 12 miles from target dive to18000 ft.(g) Attack: On approaching harbour, Nos. 2 and 3Flights will drop slightly below and behind.No. 1 Flight will bomb shipping or docks,releasing on their No. 1. Mickey Mouse 500 ft.No. 1 Observer will keep one bomb, and lead 2 and3 Flights over second target. No. 2 Flight willrelease on strip from North of hangar, No. 3 Flighton Western strip. Mickey Mouse 522 ft.(h) After release: Form line astern, and when wellclear, form square vic at 10000 ft. and cruisein lean at 1725 r.p.m. 25" boost.(i) Photography: 5 cameras.(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 fuse N. D. T.(d) All necessary desert equipment.INTER COMMUNICATION. W/T Officer.DISTRIBUTION. Same as order No. 18.[handwritten signature] L Saunders Lt.For O. C. 21 Squadron.

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Original page(s): 111

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 November 1941, the unit was a medium bomber squadron operating the Martin Maryland as part of the Desert Air Force (DAF). * 261 WING / A. H. Q. WESTERN DESERT: The higher tactical commands responsible for the coordination of S.A.A.F. medium bomber sorties. * FUSE N. D. T.: Nose Delay Tail fuzing. This setting allowed General Purpose (GP) bombs to penetrate dock structures or fuel containers before detonating, maximizing blast damage. * L.G. 21: Landing Ground 21 (Fuka, Egypt), the primary operational base for the squadron during the autumn of 1941. * MICKEY MOUSE: The intervalometer used by Observers to regulate the physical distance between bombs in a "stick". Settings of 500 ft. and 522 ft. were specified to ensure a wide "straddle" of shipping and dispersal areas. * R.P.M. / BOOST: Engine power settings. The order specifies high power for the climb to 19,000 ft. and a fuel-efficient "lean" setting for the long reciprocal transit back to Egypt. * S. O. / S. I. O.: Squadron Officer and Squadron Intelligence Officer. * VIC / LINE ASTERN: Tactical flying formations. "Vic" (V-shape) was used for transit; "Line Astern" (column) was required over the target to allow individual aircraft independent sighting while avoiding the fragmentation of leading sticks. * W/T: Wireless Telegraphy. Operational Context Operational Order No. 19, dated 1 November 1941, tasks 21 Squadron with a precision daylight strike against Axis logistical infrastructure in Derna, Cyrenaica. Strategically, Derna was a critical forward terminal for Rommel's Panzergruppe Afrika. This raid occurred during the intensive interdiction phase prior to Operation Crusader, with the MAAF aiming to paralyze Axis fuel supply and air reinforcement capabilities. The identification of Dump 26—previously considered a "dummy" but now targeted as an active fuel depot—highlights the role of intelligence and aerial reconnaissance in refining tactical targeting. By straddling both the harbor shipping and the inland Derna Landing Ground, the command sought to simultaneously disrupt maritime offloading and destroy the fuel required for Axis airframe dispersal. Execution Constraints The mission profile demands significant technical discipline from the Martin Maryland crews. The unescorted formation was required to climb to 19,000 ft. 80 miles from the target to evade early detection and Axis flak batteries, followed by a tactical dive to 18,000 ft. for the final bomb run. This high-altitude approach was a defensive necessity against modern Italian and German interceptors. Tactical coordination was complex; while No. 1 Flight focused on the harbor, Nos. 2 and 3 Flights were ordered to lag "slightly below and behind" before striking the airfield hangers and the fuel dump. The order explicitly grants the Leader discretion for the return course based on "weather conditions or Fighters," acknowledging the persistent threat of Messerschmitt Bf 109 interception in the Derna sector. Furthermore, the deployment of 2000 pamphlets demonstrates the integration of psychological warfare with kinetic operations, targeting the civilian and military population of Derna. The order, signed by Lt. L. Saunders, represents a comprehensive effort to degrade the Axis logistical pivot point in Eastern Libya. 124 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 3. 11. 41.