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21 SQUADRON S. A. A. F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NO. 4. ( O. O. Nos. "A" 38 and Squadron O. O. No. 4.) COPY NO...7.... DATE. 27.9.41. MAP REF: Bardia Target B/5 DATE OF OP. 27th. September 1941 NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 9 Marylands DUTY. High Level Bombing Ship Bardia Harbour. NARRATIVE. 9 Marylands, of which one came home with engine trouble, set off to attack a Ship lying in Bardia Harbour at 1504. The Target was attacked from the North East on the first run at 15, 16, and 16000 ft. and then again from South West. Bombs were distributed mostly North of the Target with 12 near misses just West of the Ship. WEATHER. Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY Good, with 4 cameras. A/A. Intense, but rather late. 3 machines hit on 2nd. run. Flashes noted at G. 27. ENEMY AIRCRAFT. One crew saw 13 coming up as they left Target. About 10 were seen taking off from Menastir and Solum. Only the last Flight, as they turned to attack for the second time, saw any E/A at their level, of the 2 A/C of this Flight. COMBAT. The first Flight, consisting of 2 Aircraft, on turning towards Target for a second go, were attacked by 2 E/A, recognised as Me. 109s. These quickly shot down one Maryland in flames. One of the ME’s. was immediately attacked by Maj. Britz, Pilot of the other plane, and went down in flames. The other came into close range of both rear Gunners in turn, and was last seen smoking badly, spinning down near the sea. At one time all these burning Aircraft were in view at the same time. Two parachutes from the Maryland were seen to open. CASUALTIES. One Maryland missing, and the crew of 4 ( 2/Lt. Louw, 2/Lt. Fripp, Sgts. Daniels and Rafadyea). APPENDIX "A" ANALYSIS OF BOMBING 12 near misses just West of Ship. 24 Warehouse and A/A positions between I.22 and G.25 14 Unobserved 4 Jettisoned 54 Total not dropped. 54 bombs = 13,500 lbs. APPENDIX "B" /2.

1941-09-27

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Form 541

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Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms * 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. During the period of September 1941, the unit was a critical medium bomber component of the Western Desert Air Force, operating from Landing Grounds in Egypt against Axis supply lines in Libya. * A/A (ACK-ACK): Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. The report notes intense ground fire emanating from batteries located at coordinate G. 27 on the tactical map. * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): A twin-engine light/medium bomber manufactured by Glenn L. Martin. While the squadron famously converted to the Baltimore in 1942, during the 1941 campaign it was equipped with the Martin Maryland, the Baltimore's direct technical and operational predecessor. * E/A: Enemy Aircraft. * MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The classification for standard Allied high-explosive demolition bombs. The mission utilized 250 lb GP munitions, with a total of 13,500 lbs dropped during the engagement. * ME. 109 (ME 109s): Messerschmitt Bf 109, the primary Luftwaffe interceptor encountered by the squadron during the desert campaign. * MET: Meteorological data. Weather conditions for this operation were recorded as "Fine". * O.O. (O. O. Nos.): Operational Order. This report correlates to Operational Order No. 4. Operational Context Operational Report No. 4 documents a high-priority strike on 27th September 1941 targeting Axis maritime logistics in Bardia Harbour. The strategic importance of this location centered on its role as a fortified port of entry for German and Italian reinforcements and supplies destined for the frontier. Interdicting Axis shipping was essential to Allied efforts to weaken Rommel’s Panzergruppe Afrika prior to the launch of Operation Crusader. The mission was executed as a two-pass horizontal bombing run. The formation first attacked from the North East at altitudes between 15,000 and 16,000 feet, followed by a second pass from the South West. Despite 12 near misses West of the target vessel, the strike successfully impacted warehouse facilities and anti-aircraft positions between map coordinates I.22 and G.25. Execution Constraints The operation faced significant tactical resistance. Intense anti-aircraft fire bracketed the formation on the second run, damaging three aircraft. Simultaneously, the formation was intercepted by a large force of approximately 23 enemy aircraft rising from Menastir and Solum. The resulting combat was severe; two Me 109s engaged the first flight, shooting down one Martin Maryland in flames. The squadron lost a four-man crew consisting of 2/Lt. Louw, 2/Lt. Fripp, Sgt. Daniels, and Sgt. Rafadyea, with only two parachutes observed. The SAAF response was immediate; Maj. Britz destroyed one interceptor in flames, while rear gunners likely downed a second, which was last seen spinning toward the sea smoking heavily. This engagement underscores the high-risk nature of unescorted medium bomber operations against primary Axis logistical hubs despite the technological reliability of the Martin airframes. 38 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: No specific date is listed in a 'Date' column on this document. The file serves as Appendix "B" to Operational Report No. 4, which is dated 27. 9. 41..