Bardia

SECRET BOMBING REPORT 29 40 REFERENCE Pilot : Lt. Mathias Observer : 2/Lt. G. B. Smith Squadron : 21 BR Details of Target : Sgts. Wright and Oswald Ship in Bardia harbour Place : Bardia Date : 27 / 9 / 41 Weather : Time : 1620 hrs. Fine. 2/10ths cloud 17000 1st run Height : 14000 feet. 2nd run (1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures : 4 X 250 GP Stick NIL 4 X 250 GP Stick (3) Observed effects : Did not observe effects of first stick but saw stick falling across shore approximately 5.6.7. Air Gunner stated these to be our stick. Second stick fell in same position and in coming up on second run 060 degrees saw this area enveloped in dust. (4) Details of photographs taken : See Air Gunners photographic report (5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel : One Shrapnel hole through Starboard tail plane. (6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel : NIL (7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength : No A/A encountered on first run up but heavy A/A opened up after bombs had been dropped and were very accurate. All aircraft in formation were hit. (8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted : NIL (9) Special comments : NIL Signed G. B. Smith 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

14,000ft.

MAP

Baltimore

Lt. Mathias Observer Pilot

2/Lt. G. B. Smith Squadro 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 was based at Landing Ground 021 in Egypt, operating Martin Maryland medium bombers within the Western Desert Air Force (WDAF). * A/A: Anti-Aircraft artillery fire (Flak). Ground defenses during this sortie were characterized by "heavy" and "very accurate" fire that impacted every aircraft in the formation. * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): The telegraphic designator and operational code for the Martin Baltimore medium bomber. While 21 Squadron became famously associated with the Baltimore (BA-BH) in 1942, during the mission dated 27 September 1941, they were utilizing the Martin Maryland (e.g., Serial No. 1625 "H"), the direct technical and tactical precursor to the Baltimore in SAAF service. * GP (GENERAL PURPOSE): A classification for high-explosive demolition bombs designed for blast and fragmentation effects against unarmored targets and shore installations. * MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The standard Allied ordnance designations for demolition and blast bombs. The aircraft carried a full load of 8 x 250 lbs GP munitions. * MET: Meteorological data or section. Weather (MET) conditions for this afternoon strike were recorded as "Fine" with 2/10ths cloud, facilitating visual aiming from altitude. Operational Context Target File 272_40 documents the individual bombing results for Martin Maryland "H" (1625), piloted by Lt. Mathias, during the afternoon strike against shipping in Bardia Harbour on 27th September 1941. The strategic importance of Bardia Harbour was paramount as the primary Axis logistical port for the frontier region, serving as a vital conduit for fuel, munitions, and reinforcements for Rommel’s Panzergruppe Afrika. This raid was part of a broader Allied interdiction campaign intended to degrade Axis maritime supply lines ahead of Operation Crusader. The mission profile utilized a two-pass horizontal bombing run. Maryland "H" executed its first stick release at 17,000 feet, followed by a second pass at 14,000 feet. Technical analysis of the strike by observer 2/Lt. G. B. Smith indicates that both sticks impacted the shore installations rather than the vessel, with the area "enveloped in dust" by the conclusion of the second run. Execution Constraints The operation faced escalating tactical opposition. While the first run was unopposed, "heavy A/A" opened up with extreme accuracy after the initial bomb release. The effectiveness of the Axis ground defenses is evidenced by the report that all aircraft in the formation were hit, with Maryland "H" specifically sustaining a shrapnel hole through its starboard tail plane. Furthermore, while this specific crew reported no hostile patrols, the wider formation was intercepted by approximately 23 enemy aircraft (Me 109s), resulting in the loss of Maryland 1660 and its four-man crew earlier in the mission engagement. Despite the combat damage and intense fire, the crew successfully returned to base, with air gunners providing photographic data for post-strike intelligence assessment. 41 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 27 / 9 / 41.