Operational Report (Form 541)
- Aircraft
- 9 Marylands
- Duty
- High Level Bombing Ship Bardia Harbour
- Map reference
- Bardia Target B/5
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/5DATE OF OP. 27th. September 1941NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 9 MarylandsDUTY. 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 firstrun at 15, 16, and 16000 ft. and then again from SouthWest. Bombs were distributed mostly North of the Targetwith 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. About10 were seen taking off from Menastir and Solum. Onlythe last Flight, as they turned to attack for thesecond time, saw any E/A at their level, of the 2A/C of this Flight.COMBAT. The first Flight, consisting of 2 Aircraft, on turningtowards Target for a second go, were attacked by 2 E/A,recognised as Me. 109s. These quickly shot down oneMaryland in flames. One of the ME’s. was immediatelyattacked by Maj. Britz, Pilot of the other plane, andwent down in flames. The other came into close range ofboth rear Gunners in turn, and was last seen smokingbadly, spinning down near the sea. At one time all theseburning Aircraft were in view at the same time. Twoparachutes 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 BOMBING12 near misses just West of Ship.24 Warehouse and A/A positions between I.22 and G.2514 Unobserved4 Jettisoned54 Total not dropped. 54 bombs = 13,500 lbs.APPENDIX "B" /2.
Transcriber's Notes
- 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.