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Operation No. 171

DISPERSED A/C ON CASTEL BENITO AERODROME

Sunday, 17 January 1943

Over target: 2210 hrs Time: 06:00 hrs

Sortie Report (Form 541)

List of Aircraft and Aircrew attached to Sortie ReportNo. 170 dated night 16/17 January, 1943. * 176 YY Major Jendrell, Capt. Hatswell, F/Sgt. Morley, Lt. te Water Pohl. * 920 O Capt. Cormack, Lt. Moore, F/Sgt. Finberg, F/Sgt. McGee * 957 W Capt. Bell, Lt. Levi, F/Sgt. Kosviner, F/Sgt. Myburgh. * 108 B Major Barnby, Lt. Blackman, Lt. Sandilands, F/Sgt. Lotter. * 900 F Capt. Mouton, Lt. Cooper, F/Sgt. Goodchild, F/Sgt. Champion. * 940 V Lt.-Col. Coppen, Lt. Farrant, F/Sgt. Herbst, F/Sgt. Bradfield. "W" 37
From: Officer Commanding No. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.To: (1) D.P.S.O., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E. (4)(2) A.D.A.I., S.A.A.F., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E. (1)(3) A.O.C., Rear A.H.Q., W.D. (1)(4) O.C. No. 3 (S.A.) Wing. (1)Date: 18th. January, 1943.Ref: 21S. 34/4/ CIRCUMSTANTIAL REPORT:
BALTIMORE III - AC. 879 - Category Two.
Crew: Pilot - No. 102811 Capt. A.G.M. Budd (Uninjured) Observer - 102395 Lieut. J. Sadler (Wounded) W/Op-Gunner - 206326 F/Sgt. Gibbons J.R. (Killed) A/Gunner - 207190 F/Sgt. Hodgkinson C. (Uninjured).
This Squadron's signals T. 25 - 14 Jan., P. 21 - 16 Jan
and P. 22 - 18 Jan. 1943, refer. * It is reported that the above-mentioned aircraft took off
from Chel II at 10.05 hours on 14 Jan. 43, with eight others ofthis Squadron - later joined by 9 B. 25's - to raid enemy MT.and positions at Gheddahia (M.R. Libya 1:500,000 Sheets 3/9 Misurata (R) X 4096). * The pilot reports that he had the utmost difficulty in
keeping up with the formation. He was on the outside of the formation the turn off the target when speed was increased and he then lagged and was unable to catch up with the formation. About two to three minutes after bombing, the crew heard explosions in the aircraft and were aware that they were being attacked by a Me. 109 F. The hydraulic and electrical systems were shot away and the starboard petrol tank, engine and mainplane caught fire. The pilot used the fire extinguisher, cut the engine and flew on the port engine for about a minute when that cut out. He steered for the coast and put down a crash-landing on the edge of a lake at M.R. (R) X 9138 on the sheets referred to in para. 2 hereof. * The aircraft was burning badly and the port fire extinguisher was used. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the bottom gunner F/Sgt. Gibbons out of the aircraft as the hatch was below mud-level. He was in extremis with numerous bullet wounds in his right arm, shoulder, chest and stomach and was unconscious. No sooner had the remainder of the crew got him out when the ammunition commenced exploding. They dragged him clear and, as soon as they were able to do so, examined him again and found that he was dead. Lieut. J. Sadler who had assisted throughout had a bullet wound just above the right hip.
* Apart from the port engine and wing-tips, there is very
little of the aircraft which is salvageable. * The remainder of the crew took cover until 19.00 hours
and then started walking Eastwards. After about four miles theystruck the main road and turned towards Buerat which they reachedjust after 01.00 hours on 15 Jan. 43. They were pleased to find ourland forces in occupation and an advanced party of the R.A.F. hadthen conveyed to Tamet Landing Ground where the M.O. of 73Squadron examined Lieut Sadler and sent him to No. 663 C.C.S. forX-ray and treatment. The pilot and A/Gunner returned to theSquadron (both uninjured) on 17 Jan. 43. (Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) LT.-COLONEL, OFF. COMMANDING 21 SQDN. S.A.A.F. * The Pilot has placed on record his appreciation
of the courage and devotion to duty of Lieut. J. Sadlerand F/Sgt. Hodgkinson in assisting in making possiblethe removal of A/T/Sgt. Gibbons from the burning aircraftand of their co-operation during the period that theremainder of the crew was absent from the Squadron. (Handwritten Signature: Lt-Col Coppen) LT.-COLONEL, OFFICER COMMANDING NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F. "X" 38
P O S T A G R A M -----------------
To : H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.From : S.I.O. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Squadron/171Date : 18th January, 1943. OPREP No. 171 for Period ending 0600 hours on the 18th January, 1943.
A. Dispersed Aircraft on CASTEL BENITO aerodromeB. 1 BaltimoreC. (i) Medium level attack(ii) 8000 ft(iii) 2210 hours L.T.D. (i) 6 x 250 Lbs (G.P.) 43 Det (Rods)(ii) Nil(iii) Long stick dropped from N.E. corner; one large andtwo small fires started, which could be seen forsome time after leaving target.E. NilF. NilG. NilH. (i) 2035 hours (ii) 3 hoursJ. Visibility excellent.K. 7 S/Ls. Fairly accurate.Fairly intense Heavy Ack Ack, but inaccurateSlight Light Ack Ack inaccurate. Comm. (1) 1 hour 40 mins.
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) Capt. Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Lt.-Col. Coppen
Lieutenant Colonel Coppen, the Officer Commanding 21 Squadron S.A.A.F., who participated in this nocturnal operation as a pilot in aircraft 940 V.
No. 21 Squadron
A light bomber unit of the S.A.A.F. operating within the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) framework during the North African campaign. Operational Context: This concluding folio of the Circumstantial Report for Baltimore AC. 879 provides an official commendation for the actions of the surviving crew following their combat interception on 14 January 1943. Strategically, the mission was part of the Desert Air Force (DAF) "fully offensive" campaign to interdict Axis logistics at Gheddahia, clearing the path for the Eighth Army's definitive advance on Tripoli. Tactically, the report highlights the high human cost of the technical friction encountered during joint-force operations with faster aircraft types. After falling behind the formation of B-25 Mitchells and being struck by a Bf 109 F, AC. 879 suffered a catastrophic fuel fire. The "courage and devotion to duty" noted by Lt-Col. Coppen refers to the efforts of Lieutenant J. Sadler and Flight Sergeant Hodgkinson, who extracted the mortally wounded Sergeant Gibbons from the burning airframe despite the risk of exploding ammunition. Their subsequent survival and rendezvous with forward Allied land forces near Buerat underscores the rapid collapse of Axis territorial control in Tripolitania during the time period indicated. This document, archived as page 38 of the AIR 27/274 series, serves as a primary record of the personal resilience and professional discipline maintained by S.A.A.F. aircrews during the definitive breakthrough in Libya. 46
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force.
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force.
H.Q., R.A.F., M.E
Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
A.D.A.I., S.A.A.F
Assistant Director of Air Intelligence, South African Air Force.
BALTIMORE III
The Martin Baltimore Mark III, a twin-engine light bomber.
Category Two
Damage classification indicating serious damage where the aircraft is potentially repairable, though this document notes the airframe was largely consumed by fire.
W/Op-Gunner
Wireless Operator and Air Gunner, typically occupying the lower/ventral position.
A/Gunner
Air Gunner, typically occupying the dorsal turret.

Sortie Report No. 170: The specific operational record documenting the squadron's nocturnal interdiction mission conducted during the night cycle of 16–17 January 1943.

D.P.S.O., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.: Deputy Principal Staff Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.

A.O.C., Rear A.H.Q., W.D.: Air Officer Commanding, Rear Advanced Air Headquarters, Western Desert.

ft: feet.

Lbs (G.P.) 43 Det (Rods): 250-pound General Purpose bombs utilizing No. 43 tail pistols and nose extension rods. These rods triggered detonation approximately 18 to 36 inches above the surface, expanding the lateral fragmentation blast for greater effectiveness against soft targets like dispersed aircraft.