Pinpoints: H.A.A. 8 guns TZ 5405

Page 1

BA: Strong positions at Z 527010 BB: 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/S Jettisoned North of ZUARA BD: Formation bombed on leader on course of 250 deg., and all bombs burst on or around dug-in positions, pillar-boxes and Ack Ack gun emplacement in target area. One direct hit and two near misses claimed on three brownish coloured defence boxes, which had the shape of large E.P.I.P.tents. Near misses (15 yds) on five badly dispersed M.T.; One stick of bombs fell across A.A. post of approx. 4 batteries, which were firing. Dust smoke and flashes were seen and the guns ceased firing during the burst of the bombs. The guns however, went into action again immediately afterwards. BE: Light A.A. inaccurate below formation. Heavy A.A. intense and very accurate from East of SARAT to beyond 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 27010 BF: All aircraft in the Leader's Box together with the leading air- craft of No. 2 Box, were hit by Ack Ack which caused about 150 holes. All Cat.1. Lt. van der Meulen was slightly wounded in left foot and Capt Farrant received a scratch on his hand from 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 target and starboard engine stopped. Aircraft returned to base on one engine escorted by two fighters, On a bearing of 260 deg from target,three to four miles, levelling of ground was in progress. Tracks were parked near the area. Fair amount of M.T.well dispersed around East and South of MARETH. Dust trails South and South West of MARETH, movement North and North-West. Explosion, blue-white smoke, 150 yds. long seen at QJ 6122 on way to fighter rendezvous. sgd. J. Bester.......Capt. Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1943-03-13

Page 1 BA: Strong positions at Z 527010 BB: 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/S Jettisoned North of ZUARA BD: Formation bombed on leader on course of 250 deg., and all bombs burst on or around dug-in positions, pillar-boxes and Ack Ack gun emplacement in t…

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * L.T.: Local Time. * 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. * ZUARA: Landing Ground Zuara, the forward operational base in Western Tripolitania. * pillar-boxes: Low, reinforced concrete or stone defensive structures used for machine-gun or observer posts. * Ack Ack / A.A.: Anti-Aircraft fire. * 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. * No. 2 Box Leader: The lead aircraft of the second formation group within the larger 18-aircraft strike. Operational Context: The Sortie Report for 13 March 1943 documents a high-intensity daylight formation strike by 18 Martin Baltimores against "Strong positions" at grid Z 527010, part of the defensive infrastructure protecting the Axis-held sector of Gabes. Strategically, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were employing the Desert Air Force (DAF) to execute coordinated attrition against the Mareth Line, the primary Axis defensive system in southern Tunisia. The engagement illustrates the significant density of Axis anti-aircraft defenses during the approach to the Tunisian frontier. The squadron encountered "intense and very accurate" Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire (H.A.A.) from multiple pinpointed gun positions, which resulted in 150 holes across the formation and the loss of a starboard engine on the No. 2 Box Leader. Despite this, the formation successfully delivered 102 General Purpose bombs, achieving direct hits on camouflaged fortifications and temporarily suppressing an anti-aircraft post. The report also provides critical intelligence on Axis movements, noting "dust trails" and "movement North and North-West" around Mareth, signaling the shifting of German and Italian forces behind the Wadi Zigzaou obstacle. This mission, executed just days after the unit’s forward relocation to Zuara, serves as primary evidence of the squadron's re-entry into large-scale daylight operations to soften Axis defenses before the general Allied offensive. 163 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 13th March 1943.