Operational Report (Form 541)
- Date
- 18.10.41
- Aircraft
- 9 Marylands
- Duty
- High level bombing Derna Landing Ground
- Took off
- 0716 hrs
- Map reference
- Tobruk 1:500000 and Target Map D./8
21 SQUADRON S. A. A. F. OPERATIONAL REPORT NO. 13 COPY NO...8....( O. O. Nos: Bomber Group Op. order No. "A" 129 andSquadron Op. order No. 13.) DATE: 18.10.41.MAP REF: Tobruk 1:500000 and Target Map D./8DATE OF OP. 18th. October 1941.NUMBER AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. 9 Marylands.DUTY. High level bombing Derna Landing Ground.NARRATIVE. The 9 Marylands took off at 0716 hours, and taking thesea route, turned in to fly over Derna at 0910 hours.The target was reached two minutes later, and largegaps in the clouds allowed the leaders to run in, fromthe North West and North. Observation was difficult,due to the fast moving clouds, but the Observers claimthat their sticks fell across the Landing ground fromNorth East to South West, across the Northern cornerof West Satellite, near the hangar, and on the Satellitejust East of the South East corner of the Landing ground.About 25 well dispersed aircraft were seen on the L.G.and the Eastern Satellite, and one burst was reportedbetween three aircraft on the L.G. Photographs showvery little owing to cloud.While over Derna Harbour, what appeared to be threeShips were seen and reported. On examination of photostaken makes it almost certain that these reports are ofwrecks.On the return trip, over the desert, a single engineplane, with no tail, was reported on the ground at393315. Fighters were seen to take off from Gobi434323.WEATHER. Fine. 7/10 to 10/10ths. cloud.A/A. Was moderate and inaccurate, most of the bursts seenbeing well behind. While over the L.G., two Gunnersreported a large number of bursts, almost amounting toa barrage, at 12000 ft., and behind.TIMES. Airborne 0716 Hours.attack 0913 Hours.Landed 1122 Hours.Total hours flown. 37 hours 20 min.DISTRIBUTION. * S. I. O. HQ. R. A. F. M. E. * Intelligence 204 Group. * Operations 204 Group. * Bomber Group. * War Diary. * do
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* File [handwritten signature] L Saunders. Lt. SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE OFFICER.
Transcriber's Notes
- O. O
- Operational Order.
- A/A
- Anti-Aircraft artillery fire. Defensive fire was characterized as moderate and inaccurate, though gunners reported a dense "barrage" at 12,000 feet while over the target area.
21 SQUADRON S. A. A. F.: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. During October 1941, the unit operated the Martin Maryland, a twin-engine medium bomber utilized for high-altitude horizontal bombing.
MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied ordnance types. For this raid, the Marylands were loaded with 8 x 250 lbs GP munitions.