Bombing Report (Form 541)
- Place
- Bardia
- Date
- 27 / 9 / 41
- Time over target
- 1620 hrs
- Height
- 16000 ft
- Bombs dropped : (2) Failures
- 6 X 250 GPs NIL
- Observed effects
- Bombs fell in line P. P. G - 30 to G - 26
- Details of photographs taken
- See Photographic Report
- Casualties to own aircraft and personnel
- NIL
- Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel
- NIL
- Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength
- (a) 3 A/A Posts G 28 - G 29 ( Target map ) Heavy
- Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted
- 4 Me 109's about 3-4 thousand ft. below us South of Target No resulting action.
- Special comments
- NIL Signed D. Beddy 2/Lt.
SECRET BOMBING REPORT 32 43REFERENCE Pilot : Lt. Reid Observer : 2/Lt. D. Beddy Squadron : 21BR Details of Target : Sgts. Papenfus & ConnMerchant Vessel in Bardia Harbour Place : BardiaDate : 27 / 9 / 41Weather : Time : 1620 hrs.Good Height : 16000 feet.(1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures :6 X 250 GPs NIL(3) Observed effects :Bombs fell in line P. P. G - 30 to G - 26(4) Details of photographs taken :See Photographic Report(5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel :NIL(6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel :NIL(7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength :(a) 3 A/A Posts G 28 - G 29 ( Target map )Heavy(8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted :4 Me 109's about 3-4 thousand ft. below us South of TargetNo resulting action.(9) Special comments :NIL Signed D. Beddy 2/Lt.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.
Transcriber's Notes
- P. P
- Pin Point; a specific, designated geographic coordinate or target aiming mark used by the observer for precision bombing. Operational Context Target File 272_43 documents the individual bombing results for Martin Maryland "C" (1652), piloted by Lt. Reid, during the afternoon strike against a merchant vessel in Bardia Harbour on 27th September 1941. The strategic importance of Bardia Harbour was paramount as the primary Axis logistical port for the frontier region, serving as a vital conduit for fuel, munitions, and reinforcements for Rommel’s Panzergruppe Afrika. This raid was part of a broader Allied interdiction campaign intended to degrade Axis maritime supply lines ahead of Operation Crusader. The mission was executed as a high-level horizontal bombing run, with this specific aircraft releasing its ordnance at 16,000 feet at 16:20 hours. Technical analysis of the strike by observer 2/Lt. D. Beddy indicates that the stick of six 250 lb GP bombs impacted in a line between Pin Points G - 30 and G - 26. Execution Constraints The operation faced substantial tactical opposition and environmental threats. Ground defenses were noted as "Heavy," bracketing the formation as it approached the harbor. Defensive constraints were further impacted by the presence of four Me 109s patrolling south of the target, approximately 3,000 to 4,000 feet below the squadron's flight level. While Maryland "C" reported "No resulting action" from these specific interceptors, the formation as a whole was heavily engaged by a larger force of approximately 23 enemy aircraft rising from Menastir and Solum. This combat resulted in the loss of Maryland 1660 and its four-man crew earlier in the mission engagement. Despite the mechanical stress and the surrounding combat, the crew successfully returned to base, with photographic results captured for post-strike intelligence assessment. 44 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 27 9 41.
- A/A
- Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. Ground defenses during this sortie were characterized as "Heavy," specifically originating from three identified posts at coordinates G 28 - G 29 on the tactical Target Map.
MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The standard Allied ordnance designations for demolition and blast bombs. The aircraft carried a partial load of 6 x 250 GPs for this specific run.
Crew
Pilot Lt. Reid Observer
Observer 2/Lt. D. Beddy Squadron