Operational Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 10.11.41
- Aircraft
- One Maryland on each Recce
- Duty
- Search for enemy shipping Bardia area
- Map reference
- Bardia 1:500000
21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NOS. 30 & 31 (BARDIA) 132 [handwritten]( Ref. 261 Wing Operational orders Nos. "A" 248 & 255) 6 [handwritten]COPY NO.........DATE: 10.11.41MAP REF: Bardia 1:500000DATE OF OPERATION. 10th. November 1941NUMBER and Type of Aircraft. One Maryland on each Recce.DUTY. Search for enemy shipping Bardia areaNARRATIVE. Again no results. The 1st. Recce encountered alittle A/A at Bardia, and was later approached By aC.R. 42. No action resulted.TIMES. 1st. Search 2nd. Search.Airborne 0635 hours 1300 hoursLanded 0915 hours 1550 hoursHours flown 2 hours 40 min. 2 hours 50 min.APPENDIX "A" CREWS AND MACHINES. 1st. Recce 2nd. Recce.
Machine No. "Q" 1649 "R" 1641Pilot. Lt. McDonald Lt. CormackObserver. Lt. du Plessis 2/Lt. HatswellW. Op. Gunner Sgt. Russell Sgt. DwyerGunner. Sgt. du Pre Sgt. CohenDISTRIBUTION. * S. I. O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. * Intelligence A.H.Q.W.D. * Operations do * S. I. O. 261 Wing 5.6.7.8. War Diary * File [handwritten signature] L Saunders Lt. SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.
Transcriber's Notes
- 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F
- No. 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force. In November 1941, the unit operated the Martin Maryland (Model 167) as a specialized long-range reconnaissance and medium bomber asset within the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF).
- BARDIA
- A strategic coastal fortress and logistical harbor in Cyrenaica, Libya, near the Egyptian border.
- A/A
- Anti-Aircraft fire.
- C.R. 42
- Fiat CR.42 Falco. An Italian biplane fighter utilized by the Regia Aeronautica for coastal defense and interception.
S. I. O. H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.: Squadron Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force Middle East.