Sortie Report (Form 541)
P O S T A G R A M . "U"To : H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.,From : Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.,Serial No: : 21 Sqdn/105 dated 24 Oct 42. OPREP No.105 for period ending 17;00 hrs. on 24 Oct 42.
A. M.T. in rectangle 855300,855280,863280,863300
B. 12 Baltimores and 6 Bostons of 12 Squadron.
C. (1) Medium level bombing. (ii) 9,200 ft. (iii) 14.46 hrs.
D. (1) 72 x 250lb. G.P.43 detonator with extension rods. (ii) Nil. (iii) Some bombs among well dispersed M.T.
E. 11 aircraft holed.
F. Nil.
G. Nil observed.
H. (i) 13.54 hrs. (ii) 15 hrs.
J. Good.
K. Moderate over whole of target area.H.A.A. at Abyad, Wyreir and Rahman.
COMM. Nil.
[Note: The following section appears to be a separate, partially obscured crew manifest attached to the same folio] AIR CREWS. 24/10/42. 4th SHOW.
910 H 956 C 933 L
Pilot: Lt. Hotchkiss Lt. Golding Lt. MeredithObserver: Lt. Morrell Lt. Mulholland Lt. BaillieGunners: A/Sgt. Mamot A/Sgt. Dyson A/Sgt. SmithA/Sgt. Mendelsohn A/Sgt. Green A/Sgt. O’Regan 853 P 121 R 840 T
Lt. Weir Lt. Rich Lt. CarrLt. Magid Lt. Moore Lt. LombardA/Sgt. Stopforth A/Sgt. Roberts A/Sgt. TomsA/Sgt. Carbarns F/Sgt. L.-Wright A/Sgt. Wright T.O.O. 17.00 hrs. C. (Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- H.Q., R.A.F., M.E
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
- S.A.A.F
- South African Air Force.
- OPREP No.105
- Operational Report number 105, recording the squadron's sequential mission results.
- M.T
- Mechanical Transport. Specifically refers to German and Italian ground vehicles within the designated map rectangle.
- T.O.O
- Time of Origin. Operational Context: OPREP No. 105 documents the "4th Show" of 24 October 1942, reflecting the intense operational tempo maintained by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) on the first full daylight day of the Second Battle of El Alamein. Following the breakthrough attempts by the Eighth Army the previous night, the Desert Air Force (DAF) was fully committed to tactical interdiction. The target was a dense concentration of Axis Mechanical Transport (M.T.) situated in a rectangle near the El Daba sector. The mission utilized twelve Martin Baltimores of No. 21 Squadron and six Douglas Bostons of No. 12 Squadron to deliver seventy-two 250lb G.P. bombs. The employment of extension rods confirms the tactical objective of neutralizing soft targets and unarmored vehicles through air-burst fragmentation rather than terrain cratering. Resistance from the ground was substantial. The formation encountered "Moderate" Heavy Anti-Aircraft (H.A.A.) fire throughout the target area, emanating from established Axis batteries at Abyad, Wyreir, and Rahman. The impact of this resistance is evidenced by the report that eleven aircraft returned "holed," emphasizing the high attrition risk even when no enemy aircraft (E/A) were present. Despite the dispersal of the target vehicles, the Intelligence Officer confirmed that bombs successfully impacted among the Axis transport concentrations. This document, archived as Folio 70, provides a primary record of the SAAF's contribution to the sustained air pressure that eventually shattered Axis logistical capabilities in North Africa. 92 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 24 Oct 42.
P O S T A G R A M: A formal military communication method for transmitting operational data via signal or courier.
250lb. G.P.43 detonator with extension rods: 250-pound General Purpose high-explosive bombs utilizing No. 43 tail pistols and nose extension rods (known as "daisy cutters") to trigger detonation above the ground, maximizing the lateral fragmentation blast.
Abyad, Wyreir and Rahman: Specific locations in the El Daba sector (Sidi Abd El Rahman, Wyreir, and Abyad) hosting Axis flak batteries.
Crew
Pilot Lt. Hotchkiss Lt. Golding
Observer Lt. Morrell Lt. Mulhollan