Operation

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P O S T A G R A M 16 To : H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. From : S.I.O. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/164. Date : 13 JAN 43. OPREP No. 164 for period ending 1800 hrs. on 13 JAN 43.

BIR DUFAN L.G. No. 2. (MISURATA: 1:500,000: Sheets 3/9.) 18 Baltimores. (1) Medium level bombing. (2) 9,000 ft. (3) 0949 hrs. (1) 107 x 250 G.P. 43 Det. (Rods) (2) 2,000 rounds .303 and .300. (3) Poor visibility combined with heavy dust storms made location of target impossible. Formation attacked camp of 50 tents at (R)S 2050 and bombs burst in good stick across camp. No detailed results observed. A/C 842 : Missing. at TAMET WEST. ) All by A/C 873 : Cat. 2. Force-landed ~~SOUTHWESTXXXXNOFIXXXX~~ ) enemy A/C 933 : Cat. 2. Force-landed SOUTH WEST of NOFILIA. ) action. A. Lt. S. Lindenberg (Pilot), Lt. J.F. van Ryneveld (Observer), F/Sgt. G. Engelbrecht and Sgt. (R.A.F.) R.C. MacIntyre missing. B. F/Sgt. E.L. Kruger (A/C 873) killed. (All by enemy fighter action). One ME 109 F destroyed and one damaged by rear gunners. (1) 0805 hrs. L.T. (2) 43 hrs. 20 mins. Good. Intense barrage of H.A.A. from BIR DUFAN area, Inaccurate.H.A.A. from GHEDDAHIA and Southwards along Wadi.(Accurate)H.A.A. from TAUORGA. Inaccurate. COMM: XIX 1 hr. 45 mins. (One Baltimore). T.O.O. 1800 hrs. 13 JAN 43.

(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) ...Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.

1943-01-13

"O" P O S T A G R A M 16 To : H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. From : S.I.O. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/164. Date : 13 JAN 43. OPREP No. 164 for period ending 1800 hrs. on 13 JAN 43. BIR DUFAN L.G. No. 2. (MISURATA: 1:500,000: Sheets 3/9.) 18 Baltimores. (1) Medium level bombing. (2) 9,000 ft. (3) 094…

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

[AUTO-CLASSIFIED — VERIFY CATEGORY] Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * P O S T A G R A M: A formal military message format used by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) for the rapid transmission of operational data and intelligence summaries. * H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.: Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. * S.I.O.: Senior Intelligence Officer. The officer responsible for recording and reporting all mission data for the squadron. * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * OPREP: Operational Report. This administrative entry, reference 164, documents the unit's combat results for a specific 24-hour cycle. * BIR DUFAN L.G. No. 2: Bir Dufan Landing Ground Number 2. A primary Axis airfield in Tripolitania, North Africa. * Baltimores: The Martin Baltimore light bomber, a twin-engine tactical aircraft utilized for medium-level interdiction. * ft.: Feet, the unit of measurement for the release altitude of 9,000 feet. * G.P. 43 Det. (Rods): 250-pound General Purpose high-explosive bombs fitted with No. 43 tail pistols and nose extension rods. These "daisy cutter" rods triggered detonation above the desert floor to maximize the lateral fragmentation blast against soft targets such as tents and personnel. * .303 and .300: Calibers for the aircraft's defensive machine guns (Vickers K and Browning types). * A/C: Aircraft. * Cat. 2.: Category 2 damage, indicating the aircraft was severely damaged but potentially repairable, often resulting in a forced landing. * ME 109 F: Messerschmitt Bf 109 F "Friedrich," the primary German single-engine fighter encountered by Allied formations. * L.T.: Local Time. * H.A.A.: Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. * COMM: Communication. Refers to non-combat signal liaison or transport flights. * T.O.O.: Time of Origin. Operational Context: OPREP No. 164 documents a costly engagement on 13 January 1943 during the final Allied offensive in Tripolitania. Strategically, the Eighth Army was pushing westward toward Tripoli, and the Desert Air Force (DAF) was tasked with neutralizing Axis forward air capabilities at Bir Dufan and Tauorga. The mission profile called for 18 Martin Baltimores to attack Bir Dufan Landing Ground No. 2 from 9,000 feet. However, tactical execution was severely hindered by "Poor visibility combined with heavy dust storms," a frequent environmental hazard in the Western Desert. Unable to locate the primary target, the formation diverted to attack an opportunistic target—a camp of 50 tents—successfully delivering a "good stick" of 107 x 250lb General Purpose (G.P.) bombs. The attrition rate for this sortie was exceptionally high due to "enemy fighter action." Three Baltimores were lost or forced down: A/C 842 vanished at Tamet West, while A/C 873 and A/C 933 were forced to land near Nofilia. The casualties were significant, with Flight Sergeant E.L. Kruger killed and four other crew members, including the pilot Lieutenant Lindenberg, reported missing. Defensive gunners claimed one Bf 109 F destroyed and another damaged, illustrating the intensity of the air-to-air combat. Despite the "Intense barrage of H.A.A." encountered, the report confirms that the primary threat on this date was the Luftwaffe interceptors. This document, archived as Folio 16, provides a primary record of the high-stakes tactical pressure exerted by the SAAF wings during the definitive breakthrough in Libya. 17 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 13/1/43.