Bombing Report (Form 541)
- Target
- Ship in Bardia harbour
- Place
- Bardia
- Date
- 27 / 9 / 41
- Time over target
- 1620 hrs
- Height
- 14000 ft
- Bombs dropped
- 4 X 250 GP Stick 4 X 250 GP Stick
- 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
- Details of photographs taken
- See Air Gunners photographic report
- Casualties to own aircraft and personnel
- One Shrapnel hole through Starboard tail plane.
- Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel
- NIL
- 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.
- Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted
- NIL
- Special comments
- NIL
SECRET BOMBING REPORT 29 40REFERENCE Pilot : Lt. Mathias Observer : 2/Lt. G. B. Smith Squadron : 21BR Details of Target : Sgts. Wright and OswaldShip in Bardia harbour Place : BardiaDate : 27 / 9 / 41Weather : Time : 1620 hrs.Fine. 2/10ths cloud 17000 1st runHeight : 14000 feet. 2nd run(1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures :4 X 250 GP Stick NIL4 X 250 GP Stick(3) Observed effects :Did not observe effects of first stick but saw stick fallingacross shore approximately 5.6.7. Air Gunner stated these to beour stick. Second stick fell in same position and in coming upon 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 afterbombs had been dropped and were very accurate. All aircraft information 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.
Transcriber's Notes
- 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.
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.
Crew
Pilot Lt. Mathias Observer
Observer 2/Lt. G. B. Smith Squadron