Operational Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 5.10.41
- Aircraft
- 9 Marylands
- Duty
- High level bombing dump 494407
- Took off
- 0940 hrs
- Map reference
- Tobruk 1 : 500000
21 SQUADRON S. A. A. F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NO 9. COPY NO...7....( O. O. Nos. "A" 65 and Squadron O. O. Order No. 9 attached).DATE: 5.10.41.MAP REF: Tobruk 1 : 500000DATE OF OP: 5th. October 1941NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 9 MarylandsDUTY. High level bombing dump 494407NARRATIVE. 9 Marylands took off at 0940 hours, and for the third timeset out for the dump at 494407, just North of the Tobruk -Bardia road. Last minute instructions indicated that theSouth West corner was the important part of the dump, andthe Target was approached from West to East, the threeFlights attacking at heights of 12000 ft., 12500 ft. and13000 ft. respectively. The first Flight released a littleSouth of the corner and their sticks fell mainly on, andjust South of the road. The other two Flights got about70% of their bombs in the main dump, with one and possiblytwo in the Wadi on the Western extremity. Four cameraswere used, and the analysis of the bombing is based onphotos taken. Two Gunners reported seeing white smoke onTarget from 30 miles. M. T. was reported on the Bardia -Tobruk road, a little West of Target by one Observer, andanother Observer reported 30 dispersed M. T. at 496384.The Landing Grounds at Capuzzo North and Sattelite, andSidi Aziz, were reported to have no Aircraft on them,but 9 Fighters were seen to take off from Bir - El - Baheira.WEATHER. FineA/A NILTIMES. Airborne 0940 hours.Attack 1103 doLanded 1230 doTotal hours flown. 23 Hours.APPENDIX "A" ANALYSIS OF BOMBINGOn Target 35Near misses 24On and near road 1372 = 18000 lbs.APPENDIX "B" /2
Transcriber's Notes
- O. O
- Operational Order.
- M. T
- Motor Transport. Observers reported dispersed concentrations of 30 vehicles at grid 496384 and active transport on the Bardia-Tobruk road.
- A/A
- Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. No ground fire was encountered during this sortie.
BIR - EL - BAHEIRA: An Axis landing ground located in the frontier sector; observed as the point of origin for hostile fighter activity during this mission.
MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied munitions designations for high-explosive demolition bombs. The formation dropped 72 x 250 lb bombs, totaling 18,000 lbs of ordnance.