Sortie Report (Form 541)
Page 1
BA: Strong positions at Z 527010BB: 1620/2 Hours L.T.BC: Medium level attack. Height 7000/8000 ft.102 x 250 lbs. G.P. 43 det with rods.6 x 250 Hang up. Hit before bombing run. Bomb doors U/SJettisoned North of ZUARABD: Formation bombed on leader on course of 250 deg., and all bombsburst on or around dug-in positions, pillar-boxes and Ack Ackgun emplacement in target area. One direct hit and two nearmisses claimed on three brownish coloured defence boxes, whichhad the shape of large E.P.I.P.tents. Near misses (15 yds) onfive badly dispersed M.T.; One stick of bombs fell across A.A.post of approx. 4 batteries, which were firing. Dust smoke andflashes were seen and the guns ceased firing during the burstof the bombs. The guns however, went into action again immediatelyafterwards.BE: Light A.A. inaccurate below formation.Heavy A.A. intense and very accurate from East of SARAT tobeyond target.Pinpoints: H.A.A. 8 guns TZ 5405" 3 guns TZ 5303" 2 guns TZ 5506" 6 guns YE 5595" 16 guns around TZ 27010BF: All aircraft in the Leader's Box together with the leading air-craft of No. 2 Box, were hit by Ack Ack which caused about150 holes. All Cat.1. Lt. van der Meulen was slightly woundedin left foot and Capt Farrant received a scratch on his handfrom Ack Ack splinter.BG: Complete line overlap from TZ 7010 to point South of Target,course 220 deg - 250 deg. Height 7/8000ft ± 210 I.A.S.BH: The Aircraft of No. 2 Box Leader was badly holed over targetand starboard engine stopped. Aircraft returned to base onone engine escorted by two fighters, On a bearing of 260 deg fromtarget,three to four miles, levelling of ground was in progress.Tracks were parked near the area. Fair amount of M.T.welldispersed around East and South of MARETH. Dust trails South andSouth West of MARETH, movement North and North-West.Explosion, blue-white smoke, 150 yds. long seen at QJ 6122 onway to fighter rendezvous. sgd. J. Bester.......Capt. Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- L.T
- Local Time.
- ZUARA
- Landing Ground Zuara, the forward operational base in Western Tripolitania.
- E.P.I.P.tents
- European Private, Indian Pattern. Large military tents used for personnel or storage; in this context, the document describes "brownish coloured defence boxes" camouflaged as tents.
- M.T
- Mechanical Transport, referring to enemy supply or troop vehicles.
- H.A.A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire.
- Cat.1
- Category 1 damage, denoting aircraft that are damaged but repairable within the unit's own technical resources.
- I.A.S
- Indicated Air Speed, the airspeed shown on the aircraft’s instrument.
G.P. 43 det with rods: General Purpose bombs fitted with No. 43 Detonators and extended 6-inch nose fuzes ("rods" or "daisy cutters"). These were utilized for a medium level attack to maximize lateral fragmentation upon surface impact.
Hang up: A mechanical failure where a bomb remains fixed to the release shackles.
Bomb doors U/S: Unserviceable. Indicates a hydraulic or mechanical failure in the aircraft's bomb bay operation.
pillar-boxes: Low, reinforced concrete or stone defensive structures used for machine-gun or observer posts.