123456789101112

SHIP IN BARDIA HARBOUR

Sunday, 28 September 1941

Over target: 1310 hrs Pilot: Lt. Gillies Altitude: 12,000 ft Time: 13:10 hrs

Bombing Report (Form 541)

Place
Bardia
Date
28 / 9 / 41
Time over target
1310 hrs
Height
12000 ft
Bombs dropped : (2) Failures
8 X 250 in stick of 5 ( 80 ft space) delay of approximately 2 seconds Nil and stick of 3 ( 80 ft apace)
Observed effects
5 short North East of ship refer map B/5 27-H 3 to North of ship 150 yards " " 25-G
Details of photographs taken
Nil
Casualties to own aircraft and personnel
Nil
Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel
Nil
Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength
Heavy A/A refer map B/5 27 G & H and on Western side of Bay.
Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted
Nil
Special comments
Nil Signed M. A. Benzie 2/Lt.
[handwritten] 60 44SECRET BOMBING REPORTREFERENCE Pilot : Lt. Gillies Observer : 2/Lt. M. A. Benzie Squadron : 21BR Details of Target : Sgts. Boonzuaier & LowShip in Bardia Harbour Place : BardiaDate : 28 / 9 / 41Weather : Time : 1310 hrs.Fair Height : 12000 feet.(1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures :8 X 250 in stick of 5 ( 80 ft space)delay of approximately 2 seconds Niland stick of 3 ( 80 ft apace)(3) Observed effects :5 short North East of ship refer map B/5 27-H3 to North of ship 150 yards " " 25-G(4) Details of photographs taken :Nil(5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel :Nil(6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel :Nil(7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength :Heavy A/A refer map B/5 27 G & H and on Western sideof Bay.(8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted :Nil(9) Special comments :Nil Signed M. A. Benzie 2/Lt.NOTE :— (1) For intelligence purposes RECONNAISSANCE REPORT (A. M. FORM 401) must always accompany a BOMBING REPORT.(2) COMBAT (BOMBER) REPORT also to be completed if engagement with enemy aircraft occurred during flight.

Transcriber's Notes

A/A
Anti-Aircraft artillery fire (Flak). Batteries were specifically identified at grid coordinates 27 G & H and the western side of the bay on Target Map B/5.

MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): Standard Allied ordnance designations for demolition bombs. The aircraft (Machine "D") carried 8 x 250 lbs munitions.

Crew

Pilot Lt. Gillies Observer
Observer 2/Lt. M. A. Benzie Squadron