Sortie — Tuesday, 4 November 1941

Operational Report (Form 541)

Date: 4.11.41
Aircraft: 6 Marylands
Duty: High level bombing attack on Dumps "L" and "M"
Map reference: Tobruk 1:100000 and Target Map No. 1/415 (Gazala Box)

21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NO. 21 COPY NO.....6(O.O. Nos: 261 Wing Operation order No. "A" 216 andSquadron Operation order No. 21). DATE: 4.11.41.MAP REF: Tobruk 1:100000 and Target Map No. 1/415 (Gazala Box).DATE OF OPERATION. 4th. November 1941.NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 6 Marylands.DUTY. High level bombing attack on Dumps "L" and "M".NARRATIVE. Aircraft took off from L.G. 21 at 1245 hours, andapproached the inlet on a course of 021 deg. The targetswere attacked on a course of 100 deg. No 1 Flightinstructed to bomb Dump "L". Observed fairly neatly parkedM.T. and likely dumps, about 800 yards long, and extendingfor nearly the entire distance between the N. and S. roads.5500 lbs. were dropped in this area and explosions andmore than ten small fires were started, mostly in a circlearound individual bomb bursts. Fair amount of movementand fresh tracks were seen. A fair size tented camp ispitched half way between L. G. No. 2 and "L" immediatelyNorth of main road. About 15 aircraft were parked alongthe Northern boundary of L. G. No. 2 and some were seen [handwritten: 10 holes near the road]dispersed on either side of the road, house. No. 2 Flightwho were to bomb "M", experienced difficulty in locatingtheir objective and they dropped their bombs ( 6000 lbs.)within the area immediately South of the bend in the mainroad, and started a fire, which appeared to be in thecentre of bomb bursts. Bombing height 14000 ft. for bothFlights. At the time of run up to target, a C.R. 42, anda J.U. 87 approached from the starboard side, but turned offwhen 1000 yards away and flew South West. Numerous trackswere observed to converge at a point approximately32 deg. 06 min N. and 23 deg. 15 min E. Only smallamount of traffic seen on roads.Dump "M" appeared well filled and M.T. movement wasobserved in and around.WEATHER. Hazy over desert. Clear Targets.TIMES. Airborne 1245 hoursTime over Target 1459 hoursBase 1635 hours.Total hours flown 23 hoursPHOTOGRAPHY. 2 Cameras were used. Results shown.DISTRIBUTION.

S. I. O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.

Intelligence A.H.Q.W.D.

Operations do

S. I. O. 261 Wing

War Diary

File[handwritten signature] L Saunders Lt.For SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.

Transcriber's Notes

21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. During late 1941, the unit operated the Martin Maryland, an American-built twin-engine medium bomber utilized by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) for unescorted daylight interdiction.

DUMPS "L" AND "M": Specific Axis logistical depots located near Gazala, Libya. Dump "L" was identified as containing Motor Transport (M.T.), while Dump "M" was suspected to hold ammunition and fuel.

S. I. O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.: Squadron Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force Middle East. Operational Context Operational Report No. 21, dated 4 November 1941, documents a medium bomber strike against the Axis logistical pivot at Gazala. Strategically, Gazala served as a primary supply and maintenance hub for German and Italian forces during the final preparation phase for Operation Crusader (commencing 18 November 1941). The Allied intention was to paralyze Axis mobility and sustainment by destroying fuel, ammunition, and transport assets. The attack delivered 11,500 lbs. of high explosives onto logistical targets. No. 1 Flight’s strike on Dump "L" successfully straddled an 800-yard concentration of M.T., igniting ten fires. Although No. 2 Flight struggled to pinpoint the partially buried Dump "M," their ordnance started a fire in the immediate vicinity of the main road bend, potentially disrupting transit routes toward the Tobruk road. The sighting of approximately 15 aircraft at Gazala No. 2 provided critical intelligence on Axis air force dispersal levels. Execution Constraints The mission profile highlights the tactical friction of desert bombing.