BARDIA

SECRET "G" BOMBING REPORT 9 11 REFERENCE Pilot : LT. MATHIAS Observer : 2/LT. G. B. SMITH 21 SQUADRON BR Details of Target : A/SGTS. WRIGHT AND OSWALD. Squadron : S. A. A. F. 1185 BARDIA DUMPS OR TOWN Place : BARDIA 1410 Date : 24 / 9 / 41 Weather : 5/10 CLOUD Time : 1300 hrs. Height : 17500 feet. (1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures : 8 X 250 G.P. INSTANTANEOUS NIL (3) Observed effects : AIR GUNNER OBSERVED TWO NEAR MISSES ON BUILDING BELOW P.P. 6 EFFECTS OF REMAINDER NOT OBSERVED (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 CALIBRE A/A SEEN BY REMAINDER OF CREW. HEIGHT FAIRLY ACCURATE COLOUR BLACK. (8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted : 2 E/A SIGHTED ON STARBOARD QUARTER DISTANCE 1000 YARDS CLOSED INTO 700 YARDS A/C FIRED ONE BURST E/A BROKE OFF (9) Special comments : NOT POSSIBLE TO LINE UP ON SMALL DUMP TURNED OVER TOWN AND RELEASED BOMBS SIGNED G. B. SMITH 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.

1941-09-24 BARDIA

__o_O_o__

Form 541

17,500ft.

MAP

Baltimore

LT. MATHIAS Observer Pilot

2/LT. G. B. SMITH Observer

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms * 21 SQUADRON S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. In September 1941, the unit operated Martin Maryland aircraft as a light/medium bomber force within the Western Desert Air Force. * A/A: Anti-Aircraft fire. * BA-BH (MARTIN BALTIMORE): A twin-engine medium bomber utilized by the squadron beginning in 1942. During this 1941 raid, the unit flew the Martin Maryland, the Baltimore's predecessor. * E/A: Enemy Aircraft. * G.P. (GENERAL PURPOSE): A classification for standard high-explosive demolition bombs. * MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The broader designation for Allied munitions, including the 8 x 250 G.P. load with instantaneous fuzing carried by this aircraft. * MET: Meteorological data. The report cites 5/10 cloud cover, which significant affected the bombing run. * P.P. 6: Likely an intelligence-designated Pinpoint or aiming mark used for tactical targeting. * STARBOARD QUARTER: The direction approximately 45 degrees to the right of the aircraft's tail. Operational Context Target File 272_11 is the technical Bombing Report for Martin Maryland aircraft "G," piloted by Lt. Mathias, during the high-level strike on 24th September 1941. The strategic importance of Bardia during this period was as a heavily fortified Axis port and supply center in Libya, situated near the Egyptian frontier. Degrading the logistical dumps and infrastructure in this sector was critical for Allied interdiction efforts prior to the winter offensive, Operation Crusader. The mission was executed from an altitude of 17,500 feet at 13:00 hours. Execution was severely constrained by environmental factors; 5/10 cloud cover made it impossible for the pilot to line up the sights on the intended small supply dump. Adhering to tactical contingency, the crew turned over the town itself and released their 8 x 250 G.P. bombs. The air gunner reported two near misses on a building identified as Pinpoint 6, though the effects of the remaining ordnance remained unobserved due to the cloud interference. Defensively, the crew encountered heavy calibre anti-aircraft fire of fairly accurate height, identified by its black smoke bursts. Furthermore, they successfully fended off an aerial interception by two enemy aircraft (likely ME 109s). The interceptors approached from the starboard quarter and closed from 1,000 to 700 yards before a defensive burst from the Maryland's gunners forced them to break off the engagement. This report, signed by Observer 2/Lt. G. B. Smith, highlights the tactical flexibility required of SAAF medium bomber crews when weather conditions precluded the successful attack of primary small-scale targets. 12 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 24/9/41.