Operation

'N V' 196 List of A/C and aircrews attached to Sortie Report No. 246 dated 30 MAR 43. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. F/L 176 YY Maj. Jandrell, Lt. Christie, F/Sgt. Morley, F/Sgt. Abraham. 850 X Lt. Peacock, Sgt. Edmeades(RAF), F/Sgts. Beaumont-Thomas & Clark. 142 P Lt. Liddiard, Lt. Pickerill, F/Sgts. Zaaiman & Oliff. V/L 916SS Lt. Smith, Lt. Arnold, Sgt. Freestone(RAF), F/Sgt. Viljoen. 110 Z Lt. Hargrave, Lt. Rees, Sgt. McQueen(RCAF), F/Sgt. Bedford. 957 W Maj. Schravensande, Lt. Herring, F/Sgts. Meyer & Rogers C.F. V/L 900 F Capt. Mouton, Lt. Simon, F/Sgts. Carr & Wisenberg. B/L 862 D Lt. Blieden, Lt. Rose, F/Sgt. Jarvis & Smith L.W. 179 A Lt. Oakes, Lt. Sachs, Sgts. Morrison(RCAF) & Cleland(RCAF) V/L 942 G Lt. Carlisle, Lt. Webber, F/Sgts. Schumann & Waldek. 977 L Capt. Ord, Lt. Hodges, F/Sgt. Walker & Sgt. Devenish. 126 U Lt. Simpson, Lt. Hocknell, F/Sgts. Roberts V.P. & Shepperson. F/L Formation Leader. B/L Box Leader. V/L Vic Leader.

1943-03-30

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Form 541

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Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion Glossary of Terms * A/C: Aircraft. Specifically refers to the individual Martin Baltimore light bombers assigned to the mission. * Sortie Report No. 246: The primary operational document summarizing the mission's tactical outcomes, to which this nominal roll is annexed. * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * RAF / RCAF: Royal Air Force / Royal Canadian Air Force. Indicates Commonwealth personnel attached to 21 Squadron SAAF. * F/L / B/L / V/L: Tactical roles within the bomber formation: Formation Leader, Box Leader, and Vic Leader (a "Vic" being the standard three-aircraft "V" tactical element). * F/Sgt. / Sgt.: Flight Sergeant / Sergeant. Operational Context The personnel listed in this document were tasked with a medium-level bombing strike on the afternoon of 30 March 1943. This operation targeted the Sfax El Maou Landing Ground, a vital aviation hub for Axis forces—comprised of the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica—retreating northward through Tunisia. Following the Allied breakthrough at the Tebaga Gap and the fall of the Mareth Line, the British Eighth Army was in pursuit of the 1st Italian Army toward the Wadi Akarit defensive line. The strategic importance of Sfax El Maou lay in its role as a staging ground for Axis air-to-ground attacks against these pursuing Allied columns. By dispatching a twelve-aircraft formation of Martin Baltimores (organized into boxes led by Major Jandrell, Major Schravensande, and others), the Desert Air Force (DAF) sought to neutralize Axis aircraft on the ground using 250 lb GP bombs with extension rods. Despite heavy cumulonimbus cloud cover that forced a reliance on pattern-bombing techniques, the presence of experienced leaders like Maj. Jandrell and Capt. Mouton underscores the priority placed on maintaining continuous pressure on Axis logistics and air power during this fluid stage of the North African campaign. 243 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 31 MAR 43