After keeping well out to sea, flying 6

OPERATIONAL REPORT NO. 2 O. O. Nos. COPY NO..7.... DATE: 24th. Sept. MAP REF: Tobruk 1:500000 DATE OF OP. 24th. September 1941 NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT: 9 Marylands DUTY. High level bombing of 2 dumps North West of Bardia at 515309, and Photography. NARRATIVE. 9 Marylands took off at 1143 hours L.T. and set off for their Target. After keeping well out to sea, flying 6 Aircraft in box, 3 in "V" at 300 yards to starboard, they crossed the coast a few miles North of Bardia. At coast the leading Flight turned to Port and dived from 20,000 ft. to 18,000 ft., turned to starboard, then ran in. No. 2 Flight turned to starboard, diving to 19,000 ft. then turned to port and made their run. No. 3 Flight made a straight run at 20,000. The Target was attacked from 3 directions at 3 different heights. Owing to cloud, the two top Flights had to make a second run. After releasing their bombs, they dived into defensive box formation against Fighters, of which 5 (unidentified type) were seen above and astern at 1000 yards. Evasive action, using clouds, was taken. One ME. 109 approached to 800 yards, but retired after a short burst had been fired by a rear gunner. The lowest Flight No. 1 were approached by 2 ME. 109s, which turned away when fired upon by a gunner. With regard to bombing results, clouds made observation very difficult. The analysis (Appendix "B") is a conservative estimate. Four small ships, possibly wrecks, were seen in Bardia Harbour. A considerable amount (200) of dispersed M.T. was reported South East of Bardia, at 545305 and also in Square 5136 South West of Sallum (200). WEATHER. Good, with 4/10 cloud. PHOTOGRAPHY. 3 cameras, of which one was for oblique shots. One of the verticals jammed after 3 exposures, and many of the other exposures were unsuccessful, owing to cloud. A.A. A/A was of medium intensity, fairly accurate direction and of very accurate height. It did not come into action until after the first Flight had left the Target area. at least one Battery was observed at 518401, on Coast. TIMES. Airborne 1143 hours L.T. Attack 1308 " " Landed 1430 " " Total hours flown 22 hours 40 min. CASUALTIES. Own Personnel and Aircraft "NIL" APPENDIX "A" Enemy Personnel "UNOBSERVED". Target Straddled 2 sticks of 8 X 250 = 4000 lbs. Near Misses 5 " " = 10000 " Tobruk Road 1 " " = 2000 " Amongst Buildings Bardia 1 stick " = 2000 " ---------- 18000 lbs. Appendix "B" / 2.

1941-09-24

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Form 541

MAP

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 based in the Western Desert of Egypt, operating as a light/medium bomber unit equipped with Martin Marylands. * A.A.: Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak). * BA-BH (Martin Baltimore): A twin-engine medium bomber utilized by the squadron beginning in early 1942. During this September 1941 operation, the squadron utilized the Martin Maryland, the Baltimore's technical predecessor. * BARDIA: A strategic Axis-held port and fortress in Libya, situated near the Egyptian border. * L.T.: Local Time. * M.T.: Motor Transport. * MC/GP (Medium Capacity / General Purpose): Standard Allied high-explosive ordnance. The aircraft in this mission carried 250 lb bombs, with a total expenditure of 18,000 lbs across the 9 Marylands. * ME. 109: Messerschmitt Bf 109, the primary German single-engine fighter encountered during the mission. * MET: Meteorological data or section. Weather for the mission was recorded as "Good," though 4/10 cloud cover hampered both bombing observation and photography. Operational Context Target File 272_4 provides the detailed results of the high-level bombing mission against Axis supply dumps North West of Bardia on 24th September 1941. This kinetic strike was part of the ongoing Allied interdiction efforts in North Africa, aimed at degrading German and Italian logistical capabilities prior to the launch of Operation Crusader. The target at coordinate 515309 was strategically significant as a hub for M.T. and stores supporting the defense of the Bardia frontier. The execution utilized a complex tactical approach: 9 Martin Marylands attacked from three different directions and altitudes (between 18,000 and 20,000 feet) to saturate the target area and complicate Axis Flak responses. Despite "fairly accurate" and "very accurate height" anti-aircraft fire from a coastal battery at 518401, no aircraft casualties were sustained. The squadron successfully fended off attacks from several ME. 109s, with rear gunners engaging the fighters at ranges of 800 to 1000 yards. The technical mission data highlights the challenges of desert aerial operations: 4/10 cloud cover rendered many of the intelligence photographs unsuccessful and made direct observation of bombing results "very difficult". Despite these constraints, the squadron estimated that 18,000 lbs of ordnance were dropped, with two sticks of bombs straddling the target. Re-strike intelligence also provided valuable reconnaissance, identifying approximately 400 dispersed M.T. vehicles in the Bardia and Sallum sectors, information that was critical for the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) precursor units in planning subsequent tactical strikes against the German Afrika Korps. 5 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: No specific 'Date' column is present on this page; however, the narrative is identified as Appendix "B" to Operational Report No. 2, which lists a date of 24th Sept..