Bardia

SECRET BOMBING REPORT 31 42 REFERENCE Pilot : Lt. A. B. Murray Observer : 2/Lt. B. A. Garden Squadron : 21 BR Details of Target : Sgts. Noakes & Griffin Merchant Vessel in Bardia Harbour Place : Bardia Date : 27 / 9 / 41 Weather : 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 line 220 degrees approximately across gun posts. Position F 27 to H26. No. 3 Aircrafts bombs fell about 50 yards to left of leading Aircrafts bombs. My own bombs fell approximately 50 yards to right of ship ( 4 bombs ) Second 4 bombs fell on just ahead 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 between our formation and enemy. (9) Special comments : I dropped two sticks of 4 bombs — approximately 2 seconds delay between each stick Signed. 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.

1941-09-27 Bardia

__o_O_o__

Form 541

16,000ft.

MAP

Baltimore

Lt. A. B. Murray Observer Pilot

2/Lt. B. A. Garden Squadr 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. During September 1941, the unit operated within the Desert Air Force (DAF) as a light/medium bomber squadron, frequently striking Axis logistical hubs along the Libyan-Egyptian frontier. * A/A: Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. The report identifies three specific medium-strength posts at coordinates G28 - G29 on the Bardia Target Map. * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): A twin-engine medium bomber utilized by 21 Squadron from mid-1942. During this 1941 operation, the unit was equipped with the Martin Maryland (e.g., Serial No. 1672 "P"), the direct technical and operational precursor to the Baltimore in SAAF service. * 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. * ME 109: Messerschmitt Bf 109, the primary Luftwaffe interceptor encountered by the squadron. * MET: Meteorological data or section. Weather conditions for this afternoon strike were recorded as favorable for high-altitude visual bombing at 16,000 feet. Operational Context Target File 272_42 is the individual Bombing Report for Martin Maryland "P" (1672), piloted by Lt. A. B. Murray, during the afternoon strike on 27th September 1941 against Axis maritime assets in Bardia Harbour. The strategic importance of Bardia was its role as a fortified logistical bottleneck for the Axis; destroying shipping within the harbour was a priority for the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) precursor units to prevent the reinforcement of the Libyan frontier before the launch of Operation Crusader. The mission was executed as a high-level horizontal bombing run at 16,000 feet at 16:20 hours. Technical data from this specific aircraft indicates a deliberate release of two sticks of 4 bombs with a two-second delay. The observer, 2/Lt. B. A. Garden, noted that the formation's lead aircraft dropped across gun posts at coordinates F 27 to H 26, while his own bombs bracketed the target vessel: the first stick fell 50 yards to the right of the ship, and the second stick impacted just ahead of the bow. Execution Constraints The operation faced significant tactical resistance and environmental observation hurdles. While Maryland "P" did not carry a camera, preventing photographic damage assessment, the crew identified medium-strength anti-aircraft batteries at G28 - G29. Defensive constraints were further impacted by the presence of three Me 109s patrolling at 2,000 feet just one mile east of the target. Although this specific crew reported no direct engagement with these fighters, other squadron aircraft during this engagement were involved in severe combat with a larger force of approximately 23 interceptors, leading to the loss of Maryland 1660. The successful return of this aircraft and the precise reporting of bomb fall relative to the formation leader provides essential archival data for assessing the tactical accuracy of unescorted SAAF horizontal bombing in the Western Desert. 43 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 27 / 9 / 41.