Operation

178a "D 2"

List of Aircraft and Aircrews attached to Sortie Report No. 239 - 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. dated 25th March, 1943. ---------------------------------------------------------------

903 O 956 C 919 N

Capt. G. Cormack, Lt. S.J. Guard, Lt. A.B. Murray Lt. R.F. Pawson, Lt. B.L. Forssmanman, Lt. P.S. Ashton F/Sgt. Finberg P, F/Sgt. Steven R.J.H. F/Sgt. Bernitz F/Sgt. McGee D.P. F/Sgt. Forrest J.B. F/Sgt. Clark P.E. 862 D 179 A 151 Y

Lt. B. Blieden, Lt. J.E. A'Bear Lt. A.A. Pocock, Lt. A. Rose, Lt. M. Owen-Hughes Sgt. Edmeades R.H. F/Sgt. Smith L.W. F/Sgt. Harrison J.R. (R.A.F.) F/Sgt. Mendelsohn S.A. F/Sgt. Pickup J.E. F/Sgt. B-Thomas S. F/Sgt. Clark L.G.

1943-03-25

178a "D 2" List of Aircraft and Aircrews attached to Sortie Report No. 239 - 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. dated 25th March, 1943. --------------------------------------------------------------- 903 O 956 C 919 N Capt. G. Cormack, Lt. S.J. Guard, …

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * Sortie Report No. 239: The formal administrative record for an 18-aircraft composite formation strike against Axis tactical targets. * 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force, operating the Martin Baltimore Mark III light bomber during the Tunisia Campaign. * Capt. / Lt. / Sgt.: Captain, Lieutenant, and Sergeant, respectively. * F/Sgt.: Flight Sergeant. * R.A.F.: Royal Air Force, identifying Commonwealth personnel integrated into S.A.A.F. crews, such as Sgt. Edmeades (Crew 151 Y). * 903 O / 956 C / etc.: Individual aircraft serial numbers and code letters assigned to the squadron's Baltimore fleet. Operational Context: This aircrew manifest for Sortie Report No. 239 documents the six-aircraft commitment of No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. to a major composite formation strike on 25 March 1943. Strategically, the mission took place during the preparation phase for Operation Supercharge II—the Allied outflanking "left hook" intended to bypass the stalemate at the Mareth Line. The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) directed this strike against "dispersed aircraft" at the Djebel Tebaga North Landing Ground (L.G.) to neutralize Luftwaffe assets before the Allied ground assault through the Tebaga Gap. Led by Captain G. Cormack (Crew 903 O), the Baltimore component operated alongside 12 Douglas Bostons from Nos. 12 and 24 Squadrons S.A.A.F.. The formation delivered a pattern of 36 General Purpose bombs from 8,000 feet, successfully impacting blast shelters and the main road. During the return leg, the formation was intercepted by Messerschmitt Bf 109 F fighters; the Baltimore gunners successfully destroyed one interceptor, though Baltimore 179 A (Lt. A'Bear) sustained shrapnel damage from anti-aircraft fire. Operating from Landing Ground (L.G.) Zuara, this archival entry, recorded as Folio 178a, provides the definitive personnel record for the squadron's participation in the essential counter-air operations required to clear the path for the Allied breakthrough toward El Hamma. 219 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: NIGHT 25.26 MAR 43.