Operational Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 4. 10. 41
- Aircraft
- 9 Marylands
- Duty
- High level bombing dump 496407
- Took off
- 0710 hrs
- Map reference
- Tobruk 1:500000
21 SQUADRON S. A. A. F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NO 8.( O. O. Nos [blank] and Squadron O. O. Order No. 8 attached hereto.)COPY NO. 6Date: 4. 10. 41MAP REF: Tobruk 1:500000DATE OF OP. 4th. October 1941.NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 9 Marylands.DUTY. High level bombing dump 496407.NARRATIVE. 9 Marylands took off at 0710 hours, and set off for thedumps previously attacked. Taking the sea route, andflying at 15000 ft. they re crossed the coast atRas el Aora, and dived down towards the target.The attack was made by the 3 Flights independently, at12000 ft., 12500 ft. and 13000 ft. respectively.The resulting bombing was good, photos taken show 5sticks and 1 odd burst well in the target.Six cameras were used with excellent results.The solitary Aircraft seen previously on the coast,was photographed successfully. Another large aircraft,obviously crashed, was reported at 490400. Littletransport was seen.WEATHER. FineE/A AND A/A. NILTIMES. Airborne 0710 hoursAttack 0830 doLanded 0953 doTotal hours flown. 22 hours 30 min.APPENDIX "A" ANALYSIS OF BOMBINGOn Target 41Near misses 3Overshot 20Hung up andJettisoned later 872 = 18000 lbsAPPENDIX "B" /2
Transcriber's Notes
- O. O
- Operational Order. Operational Context Operational Report No. 8, dated 4 October 1941, documents a repeat strike against an Axis supply dump at grid 496407. This target, situated along the Bardia-Tobruk Road, was strategically vital as it served as a primary fuel and logistics hub for Rommel's Panzergruppe Afrika following maritime deliveries to Bardia. The mission was part of a broader Allied interdiction campaign intended to degrade German and Italian mobile reserves before the launch of the winter offensive, Operation Crusader. The narrative describes a tactical evolution from the previous raid on 2 October; the formation utilized a "sea route" to mask their approach, crossing the coast at Ras el Aora at 15,000 feet before diving to multiple bombing altitudes between 12,000 and 13,000 feet. This multi-level approach was designed to saturate the target area and complicate any potential ground defense tracking. Execution Constraints The operation was conducted with high technical discipline and efficiency. Total flight time for the nine-aircraft formation was 22 hours and 30 minutes. Unlike the previous engagement where seven fighters were sighted, this sortie encountered "NIL" enemy aircraft or anti-aircraft fire. The bombing results were evaluated as "good," with 41 direct hits on the target area confirmed by photographic evidence from six cameras. However, the squadron continued to face technical reliability issues: 8 bombs (2,000 lbs) were recorded as "Hung up" and had to be jettisoned later, representing a significant portion of the intended strike load. Additionally, aircrews conducted secondary reconnaissance during the egress, documenting a crashed "large aircraft" at grid 490400 and noting a lack of significant motor transport movement in the sector. This report concludes the interdiction phase for this specific logistics hub, providing the MAAF with detailed Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) for post-mission intelligence analysis. 72 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: There is no specific 'Date' column on this page of the document. However, this file serves as Appendix "B" to Operational Report No. 8, which is dated 4. 10. 41..
- E/A AND A/A
- Enemy Aircraft (Luftwaffe/Regia Aeronautica) and Anti-Aircraft artillery fire (Ack-Ack).
MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied ordnance designations for high-explosive demolition bombs. The analysis shows 72 x 250 lb GP bombs were utilized, totaling 18,000 lbs of ordnance.