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Operation No. 208

M.T. AND FORTIFICATIONS IN MARETH-ZARET-WADI ZIGZAOU AREA

Thursday, 25 February 1943

Over target: 0510 hrs Landed: 0716 hrs Time: 03:35 hrs

Sortie Report (Form 541)

Duty
Individual medium level bombing attack on M.T. and fortifications in MARETH-ZARET-WADI ZIGZAOU area Time Height Place
"O1" SORTIE REPORT 111 ( Part A. ) R.A.F. Form 441 A. NIGHT OPERATION.
Sheet No. 1 Oprep. Ref. No. 208 Date 24/25.2.43. Squadron 21 SAAFType of Aircraft 10 Baltimores MK. III- LEADERAircraft No. See attache list Captain - LT.COL. C.S. CoppenAircraft Letter " Crew. - Lt. Farrant (Observer)- (See attached list)Time Up 0335 hrs. (1st. A/C) A/C took off at 3-minute Time Down 0716 hrs. (Last A/C) intervals Total Time 31 hrs. 53 mins. --------------------- Aerodrome of L.G. SERTANType of Cloud Strato Cumulus Map or Chart Amount of Cloud 8/10 Reference Base of Cloud 9/10,000 ft. 1:500,000 Visibility 2 to 3 miles French North Africa General Weather Fair Ground haze Sheet N. 1. 32 S.E. GABESTask of Duty. Individual medium level bombing attack on M.T. and fortifications in MARETH-ZARET-WADI ZIGZAOU areaTime Height Place. Narrative.0335 SERTAN First A/C airborne and S/C 280 M. Climbing to3000 ft.0425 3500 20 mls. A/C 306 M. ClimbingS.ZUARA0505 8000 E 6387 A/C 330 M. for target losing height.0510 6300 TARGET Bombed on course of 320 M. Six bombs straddledroad.0615 4000 RAS EL DJERF S/C for Point "A" en route for babase.0610 2000 CASTEL BENITO to port0716 SERTAN Last A/C landed.PART B ( on reverse) to be completed according to relevant pro-forma inH.Q. R.A.F. M.E. Instruction 34.P.T.O. PART "B"
BA MT and fortification in MARETH-ZARET-WADI ZIGZAOU AREA.BB From 0510 to 0530 hrs. (L.T.)BC Individual medium level bombing attack.60 x 250 lb. G.P. 43 Det. (Rods)BD 5 A/C briefed to bomb area SOUTH of MARETH-ZARET road and 5A/C briefed to bomb the area NORTH of WADI ZIGZAOU to ZARET.Bombing runs were made on courses from 320 deg. to 058 deg.over this area. All the bombs were seen to fall in the targetarea but observation of results was obscured by ground haze.BE 5 A/C report slight inaccurate H.A.A. mostly to starboard andbehind A/C.3. single flashes seen from TZ 58106 flashes seen EAST of ROAD MARETH - ZARET TZ 56082 flashes seen from YE 5598BF NILBG NILBH One white light seen WEST of main GABES road and WEST of MARETHwhen first A/C entered target area, but this was later extinguishwhen first A/C entered target area, but this was later extinguish (sic).OXYGEN Oxygen was carried in 3 A/C only. None available for balance.

Transcriber's Notes

21 SAAF
No. 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force.
Baltimores MK. III
The Martin Baltimore, an American-built twin-engine light attack bomber optimized for medium-altitude tactical bombing.
LT.COL. C.S. Coppen
Lieutenant Colonel C.S. Coppen, the Officer Commanding (O.C.) of No. 21 Squadron, leading the mission personally.
A/C
Aircraft.
A/C
Aircraft. Specifically referring to the 10 Martin Baltimore Mark III light bombers utilized for this mission.
L.G. SERTAN
Landing Ground Sertan, a forward operational airfield in Tripolitania used by the Desert Air Force (D.A.F.).
M.T
Mechanical Transport, referring to Axis supply and troop vehicles.
WADI ZIGZAOU
A steep-sided dry riverbed forming a natural anti-tank obstacle and the primary defensive barrier of the Axis Mareth system in southern Tunisia.
S/C
Set Course.
H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. Operational Context: Sortie Report No. 208 documents a high-intensity nocturnal interdiction raid conducted by No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. on the night of 24/25 February 1943. This mission, led by the unit’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Coppen, followed an identical 15-aircraft strike on the same area twenty-four hours prior. Strategically, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were exerting continuous nocturnal pressure on the Afrika Korps as it withdrew into the Mareth Line, a formidable defensive system anchored by the natural obstacle of the Wadi Zigzaou. The "Task of Duty" was the attrition of enemy Mechanical Transport (M.T.) and fortifications in the sector between Mareth and Zaret. This "road purification" strategy was vital for isolating Axis frontline units from their supply bases at Gabes. Despite significant "Ground haze" and 8/10 cloud cover, the squadron utilized the specialized nocturnal doctrine formalized during the February training phase to achieve accurate results, with the narrative recording that six bombs "straddled road". The use of 10 Martin Baltimore Mk. III aircraft for over 31 operational hours underscores the technical effort required to maintain airworthiness during the Tunisian transition. This mission reflects the squadron's role as a primary tactical asset of the Desert Air Force (D.A.F.) in the attrition of Axis defensive strength immediately prior to the general Allied offensive. 135

R.A.F. Form 441 A: Standardized Royal Air Force form for recording individual aircraft sorties and mission narratives.

MARETH-ZARET-WADI ZIGZAOU area: The critical defensive sector of the Mareth Line in southern Tunisia.

G.P. 43 Det. (Rods): General Purpose bombs fitted with No. 43 Detonators and extended nose fuzes (Rods). These "daisy cutters" triggered the explosion just above ground level to maximize lateral fragmentation against unarmored targets like MT and personnel.