Sortie Report (Form 541)
List of Aircrew and Aircraft attached to Sortie Report No. 166 dated the 14th day of January, 1943. ----------------------------------------------
940 V 877 J
Pilot: Lt.Col. ~~Irwins~~, Coppen Lt. Gardener, ) returned beforeObserver: Lt. Farrant Lt. Kerr ( reaching fighterGunners: F/Sgt. Herbst F/Sgt. Brown, ) drome. Port engineF/Sgt. Bradfield F/Sgt. Lane ( U/S - 1.15 hours 910 H
Lt. Hotchkiss Lt. Norrell F/Sgt. Mills F/Sgt. Mamet
- - -
904 BB 955 A
Capt. Cumming, Lt. Oakes, Lt. Evans, Lt. Sachs, F/Sgt. Heyman, F/Sgt. Morrison, F/Sgt. Lyne F/Sgt. Morris
o o o o o
920 O 957 W
Capt. Cormack, Lt. Wood, Lt. Moore, Lt. Gould, F/Sgt. Finberg, F/Sgt. Purdon, F/Sgt. McGee F/Sgt. Groenewald
176 XX 915 T 942 G ~~Lt. Carlisle~~ Lt. Heslop, Lt. Carr Lt. Carlisle Lt. Webber, Lt. Lombaard Lt. Simon F/Sgt. Forrest J. F/Sgt. Toms, ~~F/Sgt. Schumann~~ F/Sgt. Bernitz. F/Sgt. Wright M. Schumann F/Sgt. Waldek "U" P O S T A G R A M 30 -----------------
To : H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.From : S.I.O. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/167-8-9.Date : 16 JAN 43. OPREP No!s 167-8-9 for period ending 0600 hrs. on 16 JAN 43.
A. MT on main road from MISURATA to TAUORGA (Ref. Map : LIBYA 1:500000Sheets 3/9 MISURATA)B. 3 Baltimores (Lt/Col.Coppen, Maj. Barnby D.F.C., Maj. Jendrell andcrews.C. (1) Medium level bombing attack.(2) 3-6000 ft.(3) 2314 hrs. to 2333 hrs.D. (1) 18 x 250 lb. G.P. 43 Det. (Rods)(2) 600 rounds .30050 rounds .303(3) All A/C bombed along the road where black objects were seen, andthe first A/C groundstraffed, but no results were observed.E. NIL.F. NIL.G. NIL.H. (1) 2210 hrs.(2) 5 hrs. 50 mins.J. Slight haze.K. H.A.A. from TAUORGA. Spasmodic light ack/ack from MISURATA. Inaccurate.COMM. Operational Comm. NIL.Other Comm. NIL. T.O.O. 0600 hrs. on 16 JAN 43.
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) Capt. S.I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
Transcriber's Notes
- U/S
- Unserviceable. This technical notation indicates the mechanical failure of the port engine on aircraft 877 J, preventing its participation in the raid. Operational Context: This manifest details the aircrews and Martin Baltimore aircraft assigned to OPREP No. 166. Strategically, this mission was part of a maximum-effort air campaign designed to disrupt Axis Mechanical Transport (MT) concentrations at grid W 9090 during the Eighth Army's advance toward Tripoli. By mid-January 1943, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were focused on tactical interdiction to prevent German and Italian forces from consolidating defensive positions west of Wadi Zem Zem. The document records the operational friction common during rapid desert advances. Aircraft 877 J (Lt. Gardener) suffered a port engine failure and was forced to return to the landing ground at Gzina just 1.15 hours into the flight, failing to reach the fighter rendezvous. The remaining formation, led by Lt.Col. Coppen in aircraft 940 V, eventually aborted the entire raid after a breakdown in visual signaling and radio coordination with the USAAF 57th Group fighter escort. The involvement of the Squadron Commander, Lt.Col. Coppen, underscores the importance of the target concentration. However, as established by the marginal notes on 877 J and the associated narrative in Folio 28, the mission ultimately failed due to technical attrition and the breakdown of joint-force communication. This document, archived as Folio 29, provides high-fidelity data on unit readiness and personnel status during the final, high-tempo phase of the Libyan campaign. 33
- H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
- S.I.O
- Senior Intelligence Officer. The staff officer responsible for the synthesis of tactical data and filing official reports for the unit.
- S.A.A.F
- South African Air Force.
- OPREP
- Operational Report. This administrative entry combines three sequential mission serials (167, 168, and 169) for the reporting cycle concluding at 0600 hours on 16 January 1943.
- MT
- Mechanical Transport. Refers to German and Italian ground vehicles moving along the Misurata-Tauorga axis.
- Baltimores
- The Martin Baltimore twin-engine light bomber, utilized for tactical interdiction during nighttime and daytime operations.
- D.F.C
- Distinguished Flying Cross.
- A/C
- Aircraft.
- H.A.A
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery fire.
Sortie Report No. 166: The specific operational record documenting the third mission sequence for 14 January 1943.
P O S T A G R A M: A formal military communication method used by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) to transmit operational data and intelligence summaries via signal or courier services.
ft.: Feet, the unit of measurement for the release altitude of 3,000 to 6,000 feet.
250 lb. G.P. 43 Det. (Rods): 250-pound General Purpose high-explosive bombs utilizing No. 43 tail pistols and nose extension rods (known as "daisy cutters") to trigger detonation above the ground, maximizing the lateral fragmentation blast against soft targets such as trucks.
ack/ack: Anti-aircraft artillery fire.
Crew
Pilot Lt.Col.
Observer Lt. Farrant Lt. Kerr