BARDIA

SECRET "Q" 1649 BOMBING REPORT 13 15 REFERENCE Pilot : Lt. M. MacDonald Observer : 2/Lt. J. M. du Plessis 21 Squadron BR Details of Target : A/Sgts. Russell and du Pre Squadron : S. A. A. F. AMMUNITION DUMPS OPPOSITE CROSSROADS, 5 MILES Place : BARDIA WEST OF BARDIA Date : 24 / 9 / 41 Time : 1301 hrs. Weather : FINE: 4/10 CLOUD 3 - 6000' OVER TARGET Height : 18000 feet. (1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures : ONE STICK 8 X 250 LBS. G.P.S. NONE (3) Observed effects : NIL (4) Details of photographs taken : NONE (5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel : NONE (6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel : NONE OBSERVED (7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength : HEAVY INTENSE AND ACCURATE (8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted : NONE (9) Special comments : SIGNED 2/LT. J. M. du PLESSIS. 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.

1941-09-24 BARDIA

__o_O_o__

Form 541

18,000ft.

MAP

Baltimore

Lt. M. MacDonald Observer Pilot

2/Lt. J. M. du Plessis 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 this phase of the North African campaign, the unit operated within the Western Desert Air Force, supporting Eighth Army operations against Axis forces. * A.A.: Anti-Aircraft artillery (Flak). * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): A twin-engine light/medium bomber manufactured by Glenn L. Martin. While the squadron would later become synonymous with the Baltimore, in September 1941, it was equipped with the Martin Maryland (e.g., No. 1649 "Q"), the technical precursor to the Baltimore in SAAF service. * BARDIA: A strategic coastal fortress and logistical hub in Libya, located near the Egyptian frontier. * G.P.S. (GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied high-explosive demolition bombs. * MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The broader classification for Allied munitions, including the 8 x 250 LBS G.P.S. load carried by Maryland "Q" during this sortie. * MET: Meteorological data. The report cites "Fine" MET conditions but with 4/10 cloud between 3,000 and 6,000 feet directly over the target, which obscured visual damage assessment. Operational Context Target File 272_15 is the technical Bombing Report for Martin Maryland aircraft "Q," piloted by Lt. M. MacDonald, during the high-level strike on 24th September 1941. The strategic importance of the location—specifically ammunition dumps situated opposite crossroads 5 miles west of Bardia—centered on the Allied objective to degrade Axis mobile reserves and logistical support prior to the launch of Operation Crusader. The mission was executed from an altitude of 18,000 feet at 13:01 hours. Technical data confirms the successful release of a full stick of 8 x 250 LBS G.P.S. bombs with no mechanical failures. However, execution was severely hampered by environmental constraints; the 4/10 cloud layer between 3,000 and 6,000 feet prevented the observer, 2/Lt. J. M. du Plessis, from witnessing the impacts or obtaining intelligence photography. Defensively, Maryland "Q" encountered anti-aircraft fire described as "heavy intense and accurate". This correlates with broader squadron reports of effective height-finding by Axis coastal batteries in the Bardia sector. Despite the intensity of the ground defenses, no casualties were sustained by the aircrew, and no hostile aerial patrols were encountered by this specific aircraft. This report, signed by 2/Lt. du Plessis, documents the difficulties of high-altitude horizontal bombing in the desert where localized cloud interference and intense Flak necessitated strict adherence to technical release protocols despite the lack of visual confirmation. 16 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 24 / 9 / 41.