Bombing Report (Form 541)
- Target
- Merchant Vessel in Bardia Harbour
- Place
- Bardia
- Date
- 27 / 9 / 41
- Time over target
- 1620 hrs
- Height
- 16000 ft
- Bombs dropped
- 8 X 250 Lbs.
- Observed effects
- I saw leading machines bombs ( our formation ) drop in a line 220 degrees approximately across gun posts. Position F 27 to H26. No. 3 Aircrafts bombs fell about 50 yards to left of leading
- Details of photographs taken
- No camera
- Casualties to own aircraft and personnel
- Nil
- Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel
- Nil
- Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength
- (a) 3 A/A posts G28 - G29 ( Target map ) (b) --------- (c) Medium
- Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted
- 3 ME 109's about 2000' - 1 mile East of Target. No action between our formation and enemy.
- Special comments
- I dropped two sticks of 4 bombs — approximately 2 seconds delay between each stick
SECRET BOMBING REPORT 31 42REFERENCE Pilot : Lt. A. B. Murray Observer : 2/Lt. B. A. Garden Squadron : 21BR Details of Target : Sgts. Noakes & GriffinMerchant Vessel in Bardia Harbour Place : BardiaDate : 27 / 9 / 41Weather : Time : 1620 hrs.Height : 16000 feet.(1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures :8 X 250 Lbs. Nil(3) Observed effects :I saw leading machines bombs ( our formation ) drop in a line220 degrees approximately across gun posts. Position F 27 to H26.No. 3 Aircrafts bombs fell about 50 yards to left of leadingAircrafts bombs. My own bombs fell approximately 50 yardsto right of ship ( 4 bombs ) Second 4 bombs fell on justahead of ship.(4) Details of photographs taken :No camera(5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel :Nil(6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel :Nil(7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength :(a) 3 A/A posts G28 - G29 ( Target map )(b) ---------(c) Medium(8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted :3 ME 109's about 2000' - 1 mile East of Target. No action betweenour formation and enemy.(9) Special comments :I dropped two sticks of 4 bombs — approximately 2 secondsdelay between each stickSigned. B. A. Garden 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.
Transcriber's Notes
- A/A
- Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. The report identifies three specific medium-strength posts at coordinates G28 - G29 on the Bardia Target Map.
- ME 109
- Messerschmitt Bf 109, the primary Luftwaffe interceptor encountered by the squadron.
MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The classification for standard Allied high-explosive demolition bombs. The 8 x 250 Lbs munitions utilized in this strike were intended for maritime targets and harbor infrastructure.
Crew
Pilot Lt. A. B. Murray Observer
Observer 2/Lt. B. A. Garden Squadron