Sortie Report (Form 541)
- Duty
- Medium level bombing attack on L.G. 17. Time. Height. Place
Transcriber's Notes
- DABA
- El Daba, the regional map reference for the coastal sector of Egypt.
- L.G. 17
- Landing Ground 17, a critical Axis forward airfield.
- L.G. 17
- Landing Ground 17. A vital Axis forward airfield located in the El Daba sector of Egypt.
- A/C
- Aircraft. In this context, the Martin Baltimore light bombers operated by No. 21 Squadron SAAF.
- A.A
- Anti-Aircraft fire.
- A.A
- Anti-Aircraft fire.
- A/Sgt
- Acting Sergeant.
- H.Q. R.A.F. M.E
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East.
- E/A
- Enemy Aircraft.
- A/Gunners
- Air Gunners.
R A.F. Form 441 A.: Royal Air Force Sortie Report form, the standard administrative document for recording mission parameters and initial narratives.
Oprep. Ref. No. 97: Operational Report reference number 97.
Lt. Col. A.D. Irvine: Alistair Irvine, the Officer Commanding (O.C.) of No. 21 Squadron.
Aerodrome or L.G. 98: Landing Ground 98, the operational base for the squadron during the El Alamein campaign.
ft.: Feet, the unit of measurement for the release altitude of 9,000 feet.
m.p.h.: Miles per hour, the airspeed maintained during the photo-reconnaissance run. Operational Context: This Sortie Report (Part B) documents the tactical results of a high-stakes mission launched on 23 October 1942, the opening day of the Second Battle of El Alamein. Strategically, the attack on L.G. 17 was a critical component of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) effort to achieve air supremacy by neutralizing Axis aircraft on the ground as the 8th Army initiated its massive ground offensive. The employment of "extension rods" confirms the intent to maximize the lethality of the 250lb G.P. bombs against unarmored airframes and personnel. Despite the lack of opposition over the target itself, the formation encountered "Intense, heavy and accurate" anti-aircraft fire at specific map coordinates (855250, 865250) during the ingress. This fire resulted in the catastrophic loss of Baltimore serial number 912, which was "shot down in flames". The mission further underscores the high attrition rate of the "shuttle bombing" campaign. Upon egress, the formation was intercepted by superior Axis fighters, including Me 109s and Macchi 202s. The resulting engagement, combined with the earlier anti-aircraft fire, left 11 out of the 14 remaining aircraft "holed" and two air gunners wounded. Despite these losses, the formation delivered 84 bombs on the target area, starting a large fire and obtaining 38 intelligence photographs to facilitate further suppression of the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica. This document, archived as Folio 49, stands as a primary record of the severe costs and tactical necessity of light bomber operations during the definitive breakthrough in North Africa. 62
Lt. Col. / Maj. / Capt. / Lt. / F/Sgt. / A/Sgt.: Rank designations for Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Flight Sergeant, and Acting Sergeant respectively.