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Operation No. 79

BARGES AND SUPPLIES. BEURAT-EL-HSUN

Tuesday, 6 January 1942

Aircraft: G Time: 18:00 hrs

Sortie Report (Form 541)

"G" 8 [Handwritten]
To : H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.From : I.O. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/157Date : 6 JAN 42. OPREP No. 157 for period ending 1800 hrs. 6 JAN 42.
A to K NIL.COMM. : NIL. T.O.O. 1800 hrs.
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) ...for Capt. I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F. "H" 9 [Handwritten]
To : H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.From : I.O. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Serial No. : 21 Sqdn/158.Date : 7 JAN 42. OPREP No. 158 for period ending 1800 hrs. 7 JAN 42.
A to K NIL.COMM. : NIL. T.O.O. 1800 hrs.
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) ...for Capt. I.O. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F. "I"
P O S T A G R A M 10To : H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.From : S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Date : 11th January, 1943.Ref. : 21 Sqn/I/ 159 OPREP for the period ending 1800 hours on the 8th January, 1943.
A - K Nil Comm (24) 30.00 hours.
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) ...Capt. Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. "J"
P O S T A G R A M 11To : H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.From : S.I.O. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Date : 11th January, 1943.Ref. : 21 Sqn/I/160 OPREP for the period ending 1800 hours on the 9th January, 1943.
A - K Nil Comm. Nil
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) ...Capt. Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. "K"
P O S T A G R A M 12To : H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.From : S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Date : 12th January, 1943.Ref. : 21 Sqn/I/161 OPREP for the period ending 1800 hours on the 10th ~~Dec~~ January, 1943. [Note: 'Dec' is struck through]
A - K Nil Comm. Nil
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) Capt. Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. "L" 13 [Handwritten]
COPY.TO: 211 GROUP, 3 SAAF Wing, 12 Bombardment Group.FROM: A/AHQ., W.D. A. 51 11 Jan 43.Most secret. Operation instruction for 12 Jan.Commencing 12 Jan air operations are to be fully offensive involvinginvolving bomber attack on enemy landing grounds. The offensive is tobe intensified in succeeding days. The aim is to drive the enemy clearof present landing grounds.DETAILS OF OPERATIONS:PART I: Fighters:One sweep 1000 hours area GHEDDAHIA - CHURGIA - BIR EL GHEBIRA -SEDPADA - WADI ZEM ZEM. Escort in adequate strength for two light bomberattacks on BIR DUFAN landing grounds. Suggest CHURGIA be used as ren-dezvous for delousing and that timing be arranged to catch enemy at dis-advantage. Rendezvous time for bombers 1100 and 1130 hrs over HAMRATlanding grounds. Low straffing attack on Italian landing ground TAUORGAusing sea approach at nought feet. Repeat of morning sweep at 1500 and1600 hrs but Kittyhawks should sweep as far as West as Bir Dufan ifenemy air allows. Delousing to be on CHURGIA - SEDDADA line. Tac/Rshould take advantage of fighter action and should not need escort.From first light 12 Jan concentrations of our troops will be crossingWadi Chebir at X 97 and X 75. Enemy reconnaissance and air attacks mustbe denied. Adequate forces to be at readiness throughout day to keepenemy west of Wadi Zem Zem. Full defensive action to be taken againstenemy reconnaissance aircraft.PART II - Bombers:Two attacks by 18 aircraft each on Bir Dufan North, first by 3 SAAFWing and second by 12th. Bombardment Group. Rendezvous times to be asin Part I, first rendezvous, Hamrat East L.G. with 239 Wing, 2nd. overHamrat North with 57 Group. Outward routing to be Hamrat - Churgia L.G.,thence to target returning via Churgia thence to Tamet L.G. where escortwill leave bombers. Cross the coast on return East of Beurat El Husn toavoid flak. Bombing to be between 7000 to 8500 feet. All times exceptrendezvous to be times over enemy area. IMMEDIATE T.O.O. 1530. "M"
P O S T A G R A M 14To : H.Q. R.A.F., M.E.From : S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.Date : 12th January, 1943Ref. : 21 Sqn/I/162 OPREP for the period ending 1800 hours on the 11th ~~Dec~~ January, 1943. [Note: 'Dec' is struck through]
A - K Nil Comm (19) 31 hours 40 mins.
(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) Capt. Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
I.O
Intelligence Officer. The Intelligence Officer was responsible for the administrative recording of all tactical intelligence and mission results for the unit.
I.O
Intelligence Officer. The I.O. was responsible for the collation and transmission of tactical intelligence and operational results for the squadron.
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force.
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force.
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force.
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force.
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force.
S.A.A.F
South African Air Force.

[AUTO-CLASSIFIED — VERIFY CATEGORY]

A to K: Standardized operational reporting categories used within the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF). These categories typically define Target (A), Unit Strength (B), Bombing details (C), Ordnance expended (D), Aircraft Damage (E), Casualties (F), Enemy Aircraft (G), Flight Times (H), Weather (J), and Anti-Aircraft fire (K).

A to K: Standardized operational reporting categories used by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF). These categories typically define Target (A), Unit Strength (B), Bombing parameters (C), Ordnance expended (D), Aircraft Damage (E), Casualties (F), Enemy Aircraft (G), Flight Times (H), Weather (J), and Anti-Aircraft fire (K).

P O S T A G R A M: A formal military communication method utilized by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) to transmit non-urgent but essential operational data via courier or signal service.

A - K: The standardized operational reporting categories used in R.A.F. Form 441 and associated postagrams. These define Target (A), Unit Strength (B), Bombing parameters (C), Ordnance expended (D), Aircraft Damage (E), Personnel Casualties (F), Enemy Aircraft encountered (G), Flight Times (H), Weather conditions (J), and Anti-Aircraft fire (K).

P O S T A G R A M: A formal military communication method utilized by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) to transmit operational data and intelligence summaries via signal or courier services.

A - K: The standardized operational reporting categories used in R.A.F. Form 441 and associated postagrams. These define Target (A), Unit Strength (B), Bombing parameters (C), Ordnance expended (D), Aircraft Damage (E), Personnel Casualties (F), Enemy Aircraft encountered (G), Flight Times (H), Weather conditions (J), and Anti-Aircraft fire (K).

P O S T A G R A M: A formal military communication method utilized by the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) to transmit operational data and intelligence summaries via signal or courier services.

A - K: The standardized operational reporting categories used in R.A.F. Form 441 and associated postagrams. These define Target (A), Unit Strength (B), Bombing parameters (C), Ordnance expended (D), Aircraft Damage (E), Personnel Casualties (F), Enemy Aircraft encountered (G), Flight Times (H), Weather conditions (J), and Anti-Aircraft fire (K).

delousing: Tactical term for fighter sweeps intended to clear the airspace of enemy interceptors (specifically Bf 109s or Macchi C.202s) before or after a bomber strike.

straffing: Low-altitude machine-gun and cannon attacks on ground targets (archaic spelling of 'strafing').

nought feet: Extreme low-altitude flight, effectively at ground or sea level.

flak: Anti-aircraft artillery fire.

P O S T A G R A M: A formal military communication method used for transmitting non-urgent but essential operational data, typically via courier or signal service.

A - K: The standardized operational reporting categories used in R.A.F. Form 441 and associated postagrams. These define Target (A), Unit Strength (B), Bombing parameters (C), Ordnance expended (D), Aircraft Damage (E), Personnel Casualties (F), Enemy Aircraft encountered (G), Flight Times (H), Weather conditions (J), and Anti-Aircraft fire (K).