Bardia

"R" BOMBING REPORT 43 59 [handwritten "60" over 59] REFERENCE Pilot : Lt. van Heerden Observer : 2/Lt. Colenbrander Squadron : 21 BR Details of Target : Sgts. M. E. Jones & Kingwell Ship Bardia Harbour Place : Bardia Date : 28 / 9 / 41 Weather : Time : 1312 hrs. Fine. Vis. good Height : 12000 feet. (1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures : 1 stick 8 X 250 lbs. Nil (3) Observed effects : Own bomb bursts not observed. No. 12 Squadron’s bombs seen bursting on either side of ship, distant approximately 150 yards. (4) Details of photographs taken : 6 Obliques taken by lower Air Gunner M. E. Jones. No 6 damaged through magazine coming loose in cockpit. (5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel : Aircraft 1641. Hydraulic system put out of action by A/A holes through fuselage behind Pilot, large hole port main plane. shrapnel through starboard engine. Personnel unhurt. (6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel : Nil (7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength : (a) Numerous posts south East of Bay " " " near buildings on West side of bay " " " in area round small bay North of harbour (b) Heavy (c) Intense (8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted : Nil (9) Special comments : Approached on a constant course, at constant it [sic] and A/S for 20 miles. Over Target 12000' constant. signed. 2/Lt. Colenbrander 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.

1941-09-28 Bardia

__o_O_o__

Form 541

12,000ft.

MAP

Baltimore

Lt. van Heerden Observer Pilot

2/Lt. Colenbrander Squadron 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 late 1941, the unit operated as a light/medium bomber force within the Western Desert Air Force (WDAF), supporting Allied efforts to isolate Axis frontier garrisons in Libya. * A/A: Anti-Aircraft artillery fire (Flak). Ground defenses during this mission were reported as "Intense" and "Heavy," originating from three primary clusters around Bardia Bay. * A/S: Air Speed. The aircraft maintained a constant course and airspeed for 20 miles to ensure bombing accuracy. * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): The R.A.F./SAAF operational code and designator for the Martin Baltimore medium bomber. While 21 Squadron became the primary operator of the Baltimore (BA-BH) in 1942, during the missions of September 1941, they utilized its direct technical and tactical precursor, the Martin Maryland (e.g., Serial No. 1641 "R"). * MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The standard Allied ordnance designations for demolition bombs. The aircraft carried a full load of 8 x 250 lbs munitions (GP). * MET: Meteorological data. Weather conditions (MET) for this midday strike were recorded as "Fine" with "Vis. [Visibility] good," facilitating high-altitude visual bombing. * PORT MAIN PLANE: The primary left wing of the aircraft. Operational Context Target File 272_60 documents the individual bombing results for Martin Maryland "R" (1641), piloted by Lt. van Heerden, during a coordinated 18-aircraft strike on 28th September 1941 against Axis shipping in Bardia Harbour. The strategic importance of Bardia was centered on its function as a fortified logistical hub for the German-Italian Panzergruppe Afrika. This raid, part of a combined formation with No. 12 Squadron, was intended to neutralize maritime supply vessels and weaken the Axis frontier logistical chain prior to the launch of Operation Crusader. The mission profile involved a high-level horizontal bombing run from 12,000 feet at 13:12 hours. Technical analysis indicates that Maryland "R" successfully released its complement of 8 x 250 lb GP bombs. While the observer, 2/Lt. Colenbrander, could not distinguish the aircraft's own stick, he documented No. 12 Squadron’s ordnance impacting approximately 150 yards on either side of the target vessel. Execution Constraints The operation faced extreme tactical opposition from ground-based batteries. Colenbrander identified numerous "Intense" and "Heavy" A.A. posts situated southeast of the bay, near buildings on the west side, and around the small bay north of the harbor. To maximize bombing precision, the crew accepted the hazard of approaching on a constant course and altitude for 20 miles, making the aircraft a predictable target for height-finding batteries. The technical toll on Maryland 1641 was severe. The aircraft's hydraulic system was completely disabled, and the airframe sustained significant structural damage, including holes in the fuselage behind the pilot, a large hole in the port wing (main plane), and a shrapnel strike through the starboard engine. Furthermore, technical failure hampered intelligence gathering; of the six oblique photographs taken by Sgt. M. E. Jones, the sixth was damaged when the camera magazine loosened in the cockpit. Despite the intensive damage and the lack of hydraulic control, the personnel remained unhurt and successfully returned the aircraft to base. This report serves as a primary record of the high-risk tactical trade-offs and airframe durability characterizing 21 Squadron's operations against the fortified Bardia sector. 61 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 28 / 9 / 41.