Operational Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 21.10.41
- Aircraft
- 9 Marylands
- Duty
- High level bombing Benghazi Docks
- Map reference
- Tobruk 1 : 500000 and Target map B./2
21 SQUADRON S. A. A. F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NO. 14. COPY NO...5....( O. O. Nos: 261 Wing Operation order No. "A" 141and Squadron Operation order No. 14) DATE: 21.10.41.MAP REF: Tobruk 1 : 500000 and Target map B./2DATE OF OPERATION. 21st. October 1941NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 9 MarylandsDUTY. High level bombing Benghazi Docks.NARRATIVE. The 9 Marylands, accompanied by a spare machine, set offat 0635 hours, and landed at L. G. 075 an hour later.After refuelling, 9 aircraft went on Westwards, over thedesert. Visibility, with 7/10ths. to 10/10ths. cloud,was very poor, and some difficulty was experienced infinding the target. However the clouds thinned out atthe coast, and a clear patch showed up the harbour.The run in to Giuliana point was made by the three subflights from the South and South East. Heavy A/A wasencountered, but evasive action saved the aircraft frombeing caught by a close barrage, which was particularlyaccurate as regards height. Although one stick near theRailway was claimed, photos do not bear this out, and thegreat majority of the bombs obviously overshot into thesea, with one hit on the Mole. Two near misses [strike-through] XXX [/strike-through] on afloating fuel container are reported by the PhotoInterpretation Centre. The return trip was uneventful.The leader decided to refuel at Matruh, and all theaircraft were at their base by 1720 hours.Several ships were observed in the harbour, and one largeship, of a light colour, was seen to leave the harbourfrom the end of Mole Giuliana. This ship took evasiveaction and steamed rapidly Westwards. Photographs of theharbour show many ships.Aircraft on the ground were reported as follows:25 in vicinity Y5, 10 vicinity E6 and 10 around the SouthWest corner of Berca drome.Screamers were fitted to bombs.WEATHER. 7/10ths to 10/10ths. cloud over desert, and East of target.A clear patch at Benghazi, with 3/10ths. cloud westwards.Wind estimated 10 m.p.h. 010 deg. at 20000 ft.TIMES. Airborne 0635 hours.Landed 075 L. G. 0750 "Airborne 1030 "Attack 1238 "Landed Matruh 1507 "Airborne 1550 "Landed L. G. 021 1630 "Last machine down 1720 "Total hours flown 57 hours.DISTRIBUTION.
S. I. O. HQ. RAF. ME.
Intelligence, A. H. Q. Western Desert.
Operations do do do
261 Wing
*
* War Diary
File [handwritten signature] L Saunders. Lt. SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.
Transcriber's Notes
- A/A
- Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. Defensive fire at Benghazi was characterized as "Heavy" and "particularly accurate as regards height".
S. I. O. HQ. RAF. ME.: Squadron Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force Middle East.