Operational Report (Form 541)
- Aircraft
- One Maryland on each Recce
- Duty
- Search for enemy shipping Bardia area
- Map reference
- Bardia 1:500000
21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NOS. 28 & 29 (BARDIA) .131 [handwritten]( Ref. 261 Wing Operational orders "A" 248 & 255) 6 [handwritten]COPY NO.........DATE. 9. 11. 41.MAP REF: Bardia 1:500000DATE OF OPERATION. 9th. November 1941NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. One Maryland on each Recce.DUTY. Search for enemy shipping Bardia area.NARRATIVE. No results either at sea or in Bardia Harbour.TIMES. 1st. Search 2nd. SearchAirborne 0714 hours 1330 hoursLanded 0959 hours 1605 hoursAPPENDIX "A" CREWS AND MACHINES. 1st. Recce 2nd. Recce
Machine No. "X" 1659 "X" 1659Pilot. 2/Lt. Long - Innes Lt. CummingObserver. 2/Lt. Cheesman Lt. ElliottW.Op. Gunner. Sgt. Cookin Sgt. CochraneGunner. Sgt. Rogers. Sgt. RosenDISTRIBUTION. * S. I. O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. * Intelligence A.H.Q.W.D. * Operations do * S.I.O. 261 Wing 5.6.7.8. War Diary * File [handwritten signature] L Saunders Lt. SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.
Transcriber's Notes
- 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F
- No. 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force. During the Western Desert campaign in late 1941, this unit was a key component of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF), specifically the Desert Air Force (DAF).
- BARDIA
- A strategic coastal fortress and secondary port in Cyrenaica, Libya, located near the Egyptian frontier.
- A.H.Q.W.D
- Air Headquarters Western Desert. Operational Context Operational Report Nos. 28 & 29, dated 9 November 1941, details two maritime reconnaissance missions focused on the Bardia sector. Bardia held significant strategic importance as a forward supply depot and logistical pivot point for Axis forces. Monitoring the harbour and surrounding sea lanes was critical during the interdiction phase preceding Operation Crusader (commencing 18 November 1941). The primary objective of these "Recce" sorties was to identify and track Axis shipping attempting to reinforce the Libyan frontier or supply the besieged forces at Tobruk. The negative report—indicating "No results" at sea or in the harbour—provided essential intelligence for Allied command, confirming a temporary absence of significant maritime traffic in this high-priority interdiction zone. Execution Constraints The mission utilized a single Martin Maryland airframe, Machine "X" 1659, for both the morning and afternoon sorties. The Maryland was particularly suited for these unescorted long-range reconnaissance tasks due to its superior speed and high-altitude capabilities relative to contemporary Axis fighters.
S. I. O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.: Squadron Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force Middle East.