Operational Report (Form 541)
- 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
- Took off
- 1250 hrs
- Map reference
- Target map 1/H15 (Gazala Box) Tobruk 1:100000
21 SQUADRON OPERATIONAL REPORT No. 36 COPY NO. 6(Ref. Nos. 3 Wing (S.A.) Operation order No. "A" 297 and SquadronOperation order No. 36.)Sortie No. 2 DATE: 15.11.41MAP REF: Target map 1/H15 (Gazala Box) Tobruk 1:100000.DATE OF OPERATION. 15th. November 1941NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 6 MarylandsOBJECTIVE. (Second Sortie) High level bombing attack. Long andwidely 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 toinlet at Ain - el - Gazala. The run was made from West toEast. Of the first Flight's bombs about seven hit theirtarget "L", the rest being too near the road.No. 2 Flight hit the Northern area of target "M" withabout fifteen bombs, and after an explosion was seen,one fire was started. Ten minutes after leaving thetarget, two M.E. 109F's were seen approaching theformation from the starboard side out of the sun.The one enemy Fighter opened fire with cannon at about1000 yards at No. 3 in last formation. Doing an evasiveturn, the whole formation swung to starboard and theFighter then closed on No. 3 in the last vic, whoimmediately lost height and dived towards the Coast linenear 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 formationwas about 30 miles from Tobruk. During this time the2nd. Enemy Fighter attacked the Leader from the rear.The Leader fired his scatter guns and his top gunner firedabout two pans at the enemy aircraft. A rear Gunner inanother aircraft then saw black smoke coming from theengine of the Fighter aircraft, which went into a spiraldive, 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 andrudder. The cannon fire was accurate at a great distance.No A/A. About 100 M.T. was seen dispersed at a point35 miles South West of Fort Maddalena. Airdrome on fireat Gad - el - Ahmar. There appears to be a refuellingdepot about 15 - 20 miles East of the target on theTobruk road.Missing Aircraft No. 403, Lt. Foulston and crew.WEATHER. Fair. Patchy cloudTIMES. Airborne 1250 hoursTime over target 1500 hoursBase 1625 hoursTotal 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
Transcriber's Notes
- 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.
- A/A
- Anti-Aircraft fire (Flak).
- M.T
- Mechanical Transport, referring to Axis vehicle columns or concentrations.
- 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.
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.
Scatter guns: Front-firing fixed machine guns controlled by the pilot.
S.I.O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.: Senior Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.