Bardia Harbour

SECRET BOMBING REPORT 28 39 REFERENCE Pilot : 2/Lt. Long-Innes Observer : 2/Lt. Cheeseman Squadron : 21 BR Details of Target : Sgts. Cockin & Rogers Ship lying N. S. in Harbour Place : Bardia Harbour Date : 27 / 9 / 41 Weather : Time : 1620 hrs. Good 2/10ths cloud Height : 17000 feet. (1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures : 8 X 250 lbs. GP. Nil (3) Observed effects : Bombs fell to right and a couple of hundred yards away from ship. Hit quayside with four, two in water and remaining two on land South West of quay and sheds. (4) Details of photographs taken : Nil (5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel : Few shrapnel holes from heavy A/A in our fuselage and tail plane (6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel : Unknown (7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength : Very heavy A/A intense (8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted : Saw no enemy fighters (9) Special comments : Nil Signed H. W. Cheeseman 2/Lt. 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 Harbour

__o_O_o__

Form 541

17,000ft.

MAP

Baltimore

2/Lt. Long Pilot

2/Lt. Cheeseman 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. In September 1941, the unit was equipped with Martin Marylands and operated as a light/medium bomber unit within the Western Desert Air Force (WDAF). * A/A: Anti-Aircraft fire. The report specifies "Very heavy A/A intense" ground fire during the raid on Bardia Harbour. * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): The R.A.F./SAAF telegraphic designator and operational code for the Martin Baltimore twin-engine medium bomber. Although 21 Squadron became the primary operator of the Baltimore (BA-BH) in 1942, during the mission dated 27 September 1941, they were utilizing the Martin Maryland, the technical and tactical precursor to the Baltimore. * GP (GENERAL PURPOSE): A classification for high-explosive bombs designed for blast and fragmentation effects against unarmored targets and infrastructure. * MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The standard Allied ordnance designations for demolition and blast bombs. The aircraft (Machine "J") carried 8 x 250 lbs GP munitions. * MET: Meteorological data or section. Weather (MET) conditions for this afternoon sortie were recorded as "Good" with 2/10ths cloud. Operational Context Target File 272_39 documents the individual bombing results for Martin Maryland "J," piloted by 2/Lt. Long-Innes, during the afternoon strike against shipping in Bardia Harbour on 27th September 1941. The strategic importance of Bardia Harbour was paramount as the primary Axis port for the frontier region, serving as a vital conduit for fuel, munitions, and reinforcements for Rommel’s Panzergruppe Afrika. This raid was part of a broader Allied interdiction campaign intended to degrade Axis logistical sustainment ahead of Operation Crusader. The mission was executed as a high-level horizontal bombing run, with this specific aircraft releasing its ordnance at 17,000 feet at 16:20 hours. Technical analysis of the strike indicates the bombs overshot the primary target—a ship lying North-South in the harbour. Instead, the stick of eight 250 lb GP bombs impacted the quayside and shore installations, with four hits on the quay and two on land near sheds to the southwest. Execution Constraints The operation faced severe tactical opposition. The observer, 2/Lt. Cheeseman, recorded "Very heavy" and "intense" anti-aircraft fire. The accuracy of the Axis ground defenses is evidenced by the "few shrapnel holes" sustained in the fuselage and tail plane of Maryland "J". While this specific crew saw no enemy fighters, the formation as a whole was heavily engaged by approximately 23 interceptors (Me 109s), resulting in the loss of Maryland 1660 and its four-man crew earlier in the engagement. Despite the mechanical and combat damage, the crew successfully returned to base, providing essential data on the port's defensive strength and the efficacy of high-altitude strikes against maritime targets. 40 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 27 / 9 / 41.