Dispersed aircraft Gazala No. 2.

21 SQUADRON OPERATIONAL REPORT No. 36 COPY NO. 6 (Ref. Nos. 3 Wing (S.A.) Operation order No. "A" 297 and Squadron Operation order No. 36.) Sortie No. 2 DATE: 15.11.41 MAP REF: Target map 1/H15 (Gazala Box) Tobruk 1:100000. DATE OF OPERATION. 15th. November 1941 NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 6 Marylands OBJECTIVE. (Second Sortie) High level bombing attack. Long and widely spaced sticks across Dumps "L" and "M" Alternative target: Dispersed aircraft Gazala No. 2. NARRATIVE. Six aircraft took off at 1250 hours on the second sortie, and S/C for 20 miles South of Fort Maddalena and then to inlet at Ain - el - Gazala. The run was made from West to East. Of the first Flight's bombs about seven hit their target "L", the rest being too near the road. No. 2 Flight hit the Northern area of target "M" with about fifteen bombs, and after an explosion was seen, one fire was started. Ten minutes after leaving the target, two M.E. 109F's were seen approaching the formation from the starboard side out of the sun. The one enemy Fighter opened fire with cannon at about 1000 yards at No. 3 in last formation. Doing an evasive turn, the whole formation swung to starboard and the Fighter then closed on No. 3 in the last vic, who immediately lost height and dived towards the Coast line near Tobruk, smoke coming from his starboard engine. Two or three cannon shells were seen to hit the Maryland. The M.E. stayed on his tail. At this stage the formation was about 30 miles from Tobruk. During this time the 2nd. Enemy Fighter attacked the Leader from the rear. The Leader fired his scatter guns and his top gunner fired about two pans at the enemy aircraft. A rear Gunner in another aircraft then saw black smoke coming from the engine of the Fighter aircraft, which went into a spiral dive, hitting the sea. He saw the splash and white vapour. Both enemy Fighters had the following camouflage: Desert colour on top. Bottom dark blue, yellow noses, and yellowish sides with the cross on the fuselage and rudder. The cannon fire was accurate at a great distance. No A/A. About 100 M.T. was seen dispersed at a point 35 miles South West of Fort Maddalena. Airdrome on fire at Gad - el - Ahmar. There appears to be a refuelling depot about 15 - 20 miles East of the target on the Tobruk road. Missing Aircraft No. 403, Lt. Foulston and crew. WEATHER. Fair. Patchy cloud TIMES. Airborne 1250 hours Time over target 1500 hours Base 1625 hours Total hours flown 15 hours 30 minutes. PHOTOGRAPHY. Photographs show bomb bursts as reported for "M" DISTRIBUTION. * S.I.O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. * Intelligence A.H.Q.W.D. * Operations do * 3 Wing (S.A.) * * * War Diary * File (Signed: JS Be...) 2/Lt. For Squadron Intelligence Officer

1941-11-15

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion Glossary of Terms: * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * 3 Wing (S.A.): 3 Wing (South African) of the South African Air Force, which functioned as the administrative and tactical superior unit for 21 Squadron. * Marylands: The Martin Maryland (Model 167), an American-built twin-engine light bomber used by 21 Squadron SAAF for high-level bombing and reconnaissance. * S/C: Set Course (specifically for 20 miles South of Fort Maddalena). * M.E. 109F's: Messerschmitt Bf 109F "Friedrich" variants of the German Luftwaffe, which operated in the North African theater. * Vic: A tactical flight formation consisting of three aircraft flying in a "V" shape. * Scatter guns: Front-firing fixed machine guns controlled by the pilot. * Pans: Drum-shaped ammunition magazines for the aircraft's defensive machine guns (likely Vickers K or Browning .303). * A/A: Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak). * M.T.: Mechanical Transport, referring to Axis vehicle columns or concentrations. * S.I.O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.: Senior Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. * A.H.Q.W.D.: Air Headquarters Western Desert. Operational Context: The engagement on 15 November 1941 took place exactly three days prior to the commencement of Operation Crusader, the major Allied offensive to relieve the Siege of Tobruk. The target area, Ain-el-Gazala, was a critical Axis logistical and aviation hub located west of Tobruk. The destruction of supply dumps "L" and "M" was a tactical priority intended to paralyze the Panzer Group Africa's sustainment capabilities before the Eighth Army's advance. The narrative details the high-altitude intercept of the SAAF formation by Luftwaffe fighters (Bf 109Fs). The description of the German camouflage—desert tan tops, light blue undersides, and yellow identification noses—is consistent with the markings of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27) during this period. The loss of Maryland No. 403 (Lt. Foulston and crew) underscores the vulnerability of unescorted light bombers to the superior speed and cannon-armament of the Friedrich variant when caught "out of the sun". Despite this loss, the squadron claimed one Bf 109F destroyed, seen to hit the sea in a spiral dive. The reporting of 100 M.T. vehicles and fires at Gad-el-Ahmar provided essential pre-offensive intelligence for the Air Headquarters Western Desert. 159 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: The exact date found in the 'DATE' column of the image is 15.11.41.