Bardia

SECRET BOMBING REPORT 21 29 REFERENCE Pilot : Capt. Thackwray Observer : 2/Lt. Kiley Squadron : 21 BR Details of Target : Sgts. Phelan & C. E. Jones Bardia Target Map Dump "A" Place : Bardia Date : 27 / 9 / 41 Weather : Time : 0745 hrs. Fair. Visibility Good. 2/10 cloud Height : 22000 feet. (1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures : 1 Stick. 8 X 250 lb. G. P. NIL (3) Observed effects : Bombs fell from South East corner of dump "A" to the road. No effects noticed. (4) Details of photographs taken : 4 Vertical Pin Points (5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel : NIL (6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel : NIL (7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength : Not observed (8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted : NIL (9) Special comments : Signed 2/Lt. Kiley. NOTE — (1) For intelligence purposes RECONNAISSANCE REPORT (A. M. FORM 401) must always accompany a BOMBING REPORT. (2) COMBAT (BOMBER) REPORT also to be completed if engagement with enemy aircraft occurred during flight.

1941-09-27 Bardia

__o_O_o__

Form 541

22,000ft.

MAP

Baltimore

Capt. Thackwray Observer Pilot

2/Lt. Kiley Squadron Observer

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. During late 1941, the unit operated within the Desert Air Force (DAF) as a light/medium bomber squadron, frequently striking Axis logistical hubs along the Libyan-Egyptian frontier. * A.A.: Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. While not observed by this specific crew, other reports from the same mission located a battery at G 12 on the Bardia Target Map "B"/5. * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): A twin-engine medium bomber utilized by 21 Squadron from mid-1942. During this 1941 operation, however, the unit was equipped with the Martin Maryland (e.g., Serial No. 1668 "L"), the direct technical and operational predecessor to the Baltimore in SAAF service. * G. P. (GENERAL PURPOSE): A classification for standard Allied high-explosive demolition bombs designed for use against infrastructure and soft targets. * MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The broader designation for standard Allied munitions, including the 8 X 250 lb. G. P. load carried by Maryland "L". * MET: Meteorological data or section. The report cites "Fair" weather with "Visibility Good" and 2/10 cloud. High-altitude conditions at 22,000 feet were documented as "very cold" by other formation crews. * VERTICAL PIN POINTS: Aerial photographs taken looking directly down at a specific, designated geographical coordinate or target aiming mark to facilitate precision damage assessment. Operational Context Target File 272_29 is the technical Bombing Report for Martin Maryland "L" (1668), piloted by Capt. Thackwray, during the high-level horizontal strike on 27th September 1941. The strategic objective was Dump "A" on the Bardia Target Map, a vital logistical node for Rommel's Panzergruppe Afrika. Neutralizing these fuel and ammunition caches was a prerequisite for Allied operations designed to degrade Axis mobile reserves prior to the launch of Operation Crusader. The mission was executed from a high-altitude ceiling of 22,000 feet at 07:45 hours. Technical data indicates the successful release of the full stick of 8 X 250 lb. G. P. bombs with no mechanical failures. The observer, 2/Lt. Kiley, reported the stick impacted a line extending from the southeast corner of Dump "A" to the adjacent road. While the crew noted "no effects" visually, the acquisition of 4 Vertical Pin Points provided the necessary imagery for post-strike intelligence analysis. Execution constraints for the flight involved unescorted formation flying at high altitude. Although no hostile patrols or A.A. fire were sighted by this specific crew, the 100% serviceability and lack of casualties across the nine-aircraft formation reflect the technical discipline maintained by 21 Squadron during this intensive interdiction phase. This document, signed by 2/Lt. Kiley, authenticates the specific contribution of aircraft "L" to the squadron's total drop of 17,000 lbs of ordnance during the day's operations. 30 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 27 / 9 / 41.