Operational Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 27. 9. 41
- Aircraft
- 9 Marylands
- Duty
- High level bombing of Dumps "A" & "B" Bardia area and Photography
- Took off
- 0620 hrs
- Map reference
- Tobruk 1:500000
21 SQUADRON S. A. A. F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NO. 3.8( O. O. Nos.......A37 ) COPY NO........DATE: 27. 9. 41.MAP REF: Tobruk 1:500000DATE OF OP. 27th. September 1941NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT: 9 Marylands.DUTY. High level bombing of Dumps "A" & "B" Bardia area andPhotography.NARRATIVE. 9 Marylands took off at 0620 hours, flying in 6 box,3 Vie formation, they crossed the Coast North of Bardiaat 22000 ft., some 20 hits on Dump "A" were claimed,and bright flashes and flame suggested ammunition beinghit. The majority of bombs appeared to have been releasedtoo soon, or too late. Some of the latter fell amongsttents on the roadside. Some 20 M. T. were reportedheading East on the Bardia road, near Target. On thereturn Flight one Observer reported 150 dispersed M. T.at 523363, South of Hell Fire Pass.SHIPPING. On the outward run, a small ship was seen offFuka, 4 Warships off Ras El Milha, and 3 smaller shipsNorth West of Bardia ( approximately ) 550420.All these ships were heading East. The last mentioned 3were taking violent evasive action against bombing whenseen at 0717 hours. Later a medium sized ship was seenin a bay just North of Bardia.AIRCRAFT. 5 small machines seen over the 4 Warships.One twin engine Aircraft low down near the 3 ships.WEATHER. Fine very cold.A/A Several rear Gunners reported fairly accurate bursts,but the Crews generally did not seem to be worried much.A Battery firing was located at G 12 on Bardia TargetMap "B"/5.TIMES. Airborne 0620 hoursAttack 0745 "Landed 0850 "Total hours flown 22 hours 30 min.CASUALTIES. "NIL"APPENDIX "A" ANALYSIS OF BOMBINGOn Target "A" 20On Roadside 16North of Target 20Unobserved 1268 17000 lbs.== =========4 Bombs hung up.Appendix "B" / 2
Transcriber's Notes
- A/A
- Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. A battery was specifically located at G 12 on the Bardia Target Map "B"/5.
MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied high-explosive demolition bombs. The 17,000 lbs of ordnance dropped (68 bombs) consisted of 250 lb G.P. munitions.