Operational Order No. 2

Wednesday, 24 September 1941

1941-09-24

SECRET. 3 21 SQUADRON OPERATIONAL ORDER NO. 2 COPY NO..7.... (Ref. Medium Bomber Wing OP. Order No.....) DATE: 24.9.41 MAP REF: Tobruk 1:500000 LIST OF APPENDICES: "B" * INFORMATION. 2 Dumps, (A+B) on Target sketches, consisting of M.T. and Stores. No Fighter escort, but our Fighters patrolling in indicated area, which should be avoided. A/A chiefly from Bardia and Coast. * INTENTION. High Level Bombing attack by 9 Marylands from 18000-20000', with photos, alternative target Bardia. * EXECUTION. (a) List of Aircraft and Crews see Appendix "B" O/C "A" Flight will provide Aircraft. O/C "B" " " " " (b) Time of starting up 1135 hours. (c) Time of Take off 1145 hours. (d) Formation. 6 in box, 3 in "V", Bombing in threes. (e) Route. To Ras El Kanayis, S/C Bardia, approaching North East. (f) After release. Formate and S/C Base. (g) Photography. 2 Vertical cameras to operate while bombing, Oblique on leaving. (h) Landing Order. Same as 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............ (d) All necessary desert equipment. * INTER COMMUNICATION. W/T Officer * ACKNOWLEDGE. * DISTRIBUTION LIST. * Hq. RAF. ME. S. I. O. * 204 Metis. * 204 Ops. * Med. Bomber Wing S. I. O. * S. A. Liaison Officer Hq. RAF. ME. 6/7 War Diary. * File. [handwritten signature] J.D. Pretorius Lt. Col. O/C 21 SQUADRON.

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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 the Western Desert of Egypt, operating as part of the Western Desert Air Force (WDAF). * A/A: Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak). The order notes expected resistance from the Bardia sector. * BA-BH (Martin Baltimore): A twin-engine medium bomber utilized by the squadron starting in 1942. At the time of this order in 1941, the unit was equipped with the Martin Maryland, which preceded the Baltimore in SAAF service. * M.T.: Motor Transport. * MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive bombs. The order specifies a load of 8 x 250 lbs per aircraft, likely of the GP variety, for use against supply dumps. * METIS: Meteorological information or section. * O/C: Officer Commanding. * S/C: Set Course. * S. I. O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer. * W/T: Wireless Telegraphy (Morse code communications). Operational Context Target File 272_3, Operational Order No. 2 dated 24th September 1941, details a high-level strike against Axis logistical infrastructure in North Africa. The strategic importance of the primary targets—two motor transport (M.T.) and stores dumps designated as "A+B"—lay in their role as forward supply points for Rommel's Panzergruppe Afrika as both sides prepared for the winter campaign. The mission profile involves 9 Martin Maryland aircraft performing a high-altitude attack from 18,000 to 20,000 feet. This altitude was chosen to mitigate the effects of German and Italian anti-aircraft fire concentrated around Bardia, a vital Axis-held port and defensive anchor on the Libyan coast. Execution constraints are strictly defined: the formation was to fly in a combined box and "V" pattern, bombing in threes to ensure maximum pattern density on the dumps. A critical technical requirement was the use of two vertical cameras during the bomb run and oblique photography upon egress to provide the Air Historical Branch and Intelligence with damage assessment data. Notably, the aircraft were ordered to proceed without a direct fighter escort, relying instead on independent fighter patrols in the sector to be avoided. This underscores the high-risk nature of medium bomber operations in the desert where long-range Marylands often outpaced the endurance of available short-range fighter protection. The signature of Lt. Col. J.D. Pretorius confirms the command authorization for this strike during the squadron's early, intensive desert service. 4 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 24th Sept..