Operational Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 8. 11. 41
- Aircraft
- 2 Marylands
- Duty
- Two searches for enemy shipping Bardia area
- Map reference
- Bardia 1:500000
21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NOS. 26 & 27 (BARDIA)(Ref. 261 Wing Operational orders "A" 245 & 253)COPY NO. 6DATE: 8. 11. 41MAP REF: Bardia 1:500000DATE OF OPERATION. 8th. November 1941.NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 2 MarylandsDUTY. Two searches for enemy shipping Bardia area.NARRATIVE. One Maryland set off at 0645 hours to search the Bardia seaward area for shipping. A large ship was seen aground at 31 deg. 58' N 24 deg. 59' E. This subsequently proved to be a ship aground. The same crew carried out a second search at noon, and on both trips, nothing was seen at sea. A good view of Bardia was obtained, and no shipping seen. On both trips low cloud made it necessary to fly at from 2000 to 6000 ft.COURSES. From Sidi Barrani 319 deg. 50 milesThen 270 deg. 50 milesto wreck 180 deg. 20 milesto Bardia across Gulf of Sollum - home.TIMES. 1st. Search 2nd SearchAirborne 0645 hours 1300 hoursLanded 1005 hours 1535 hoursAPPENDIX "A" Crew and machineMachine No. "V" 1612Pilot. Lt. McDonaldObserver. 2/Lt. du PlessisW. Op. Gunner. Sgt. RussellGunner Sgt. du PreDISTRIBUTION.
S. I. O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.
Intelligence A.H.Q.W.D.
Operations do
S.I.O. 261 Wing
*
* War Diary
File[handwritten signature] L Saunders Lt.SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.
Transcriber's Notes
- 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F
- No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. During this period, the unit operated the Martin Maryland, an American-built twin-engine aircraft utilized for medium bombing and reconnaissance by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF).
- BARDIA
- A strategic port in Cyrenaica, Libya, located near the Egyptian border.
S. I. O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.: Squadron Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force Middle East.