123456789101112

SHIP IN BARDIA HARBOUR

Over target: 1310 hrs Aircraft: X Pilot: Maj. Britz Altitude: 12,000 ft Time: 13:10 hrs

Bombing Report (Form 541)

Place
M. R
Date
28 / 9 / 41
Time over target
1310 hrs
Height
12000 ft
Bombs dropped : (2) Failures
8 X 250 lbs Nil
Observed effects
Exploded 250 yards West from ship on land. Observed also stick on escarpment 400 yards East of Target, 1 stick 10 yards East of Target, 1 stick 400 yards South and few sticks 100 - 300 yards
Casualties to own aircraft and personnel
Hydraulic System damaged by A/A shrapnel.
Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel
Unknown
Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength
Heavy A/A from escarpment East of Bay
Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted
Nil
[handwritten] "X" BOMBING REPORT 58 42REFERENCE Pilot : Maj. Britz Observer : 2/Lt. Wolhuter Squadron : 21BR Details of Target : Sgts. Methven & PettersonShip Bardia Harbour Place : M. R.Date : 28 / 9 / 41Weather : Time : 1310 hrs.Good. Visibility Good Height : 12000 feet.(1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures :8 X 250 lbs Nil(3) Observed effects :Exploded 250 yards West from ship on land. Observed also stick onescarpment 400 yards East of Target, 1 stick 10 yards East ofTarget, 1 stick 400 yards South and few sticks 100 - 300 yardsWest of Target.(4) Details of photographs taken :(5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel :Hydraulic System damaged by A/A shrapnel.(6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel :Unknown(7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength :Heavy A/A from escarpment East of Bay(8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted :Nil(9) Special comments :Signed 2/Lt. WolhuterNOTE — (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.

Transcriber's Notes

A/A
Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. Ground defenses for this mission were specifically identified as "Heavy" batteries situated on the escarpment East of Bardia Bay.

MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied ordnance designations for high-explosive demolition bombs. The aircraft (Machine "X") carried a full capacity load of 8 x 250 lbs GP munitions.

Crew

Pilot Maj. Britz Observer
Observer 2/Lt. Wolhuter Squadron