Operational Report (Form 541)
- Aircraft
- 9 Marylands
- Duty
- High level bombing Ship in Bardia Harbour
- Map reference
- Bardia Target "B"/5
21 SQUADRON S. A. A. F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NO. 5.( O. O. Nos. "A" 43 and Squadron O. O. No. 5.)COPY NO...7....DATE. 28. 9. 41.MAP REF: Bardia Target "B"/5DATE OF OP. 28th. September 1941NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 9 MarylandsDUTY. High level bombing Ship in Bardia Harbour.NARRATIVE. 9 Marylands again attempted to hit the Bardia ship.Led by 9 Marylands of 12 Squadron, they approachedon a bearing of 290 degrees, flying in V formation of3 Vs and dropped their bombs from 12000 ft.Intense and very accurate A/A fire greeted them before,during and after the release.After leaving the Target the formation turned West andthen North, close to Bardia, and came home on the searoute. Bursts were observed mostly at HG. 2728 and onthe promontory close up to the Ship. Photos show 3bursts in the sea one length North East of Ship.No Enemy Aircraft were seen.WEATHER. FinePHOTOGRAPHY. 3 Cameras were used, and the Target was well shownduring the bombing.A/A Very heavy and accurate. Salvoes burst amongst theformation before bomb release, and continued to followthem around the Harbour and out to sea.More than 200 holes have been counted in our Aircraft.Everyone was hit and considerable damage to fourHydraulic systems, and to a tank. Batteries firing werelocated at G 25 and HG 2728.TIMES. Airborne 1134 hoursTarget 1310 "Landed 1420 "Total hours flown 24 hours 10 min.CASUALTIES OWN PERSONNEL AND AIRCRAFT. One Observer wounded.APPENDIX "A" ANALYSIS OF BOMBING.Target 3 near misses North West 750 lbs.40 North East and South of Targetwithin 400 yards. 10000 lbs.29 remainder unobserved 7250 lbs.82 [strike-through] 18000 lbs.APPENDIX "B" /2
Transcriber's Notes
MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The standard Allied ordnance designations for demolition and blast bombs. For this maritime strike, the formation dropped a total of 18,000 lbs of munitions, comprised of 250 lb GP bombs.