Operation

* 940 V Lt.Col. C.S. Coppen, D.F.C., Capt. R.R. Farrant, F/Sgt. Bradfield A. and F/Sgt. Lyne J.L. * 930 K Maj. M. Barnby, D.F.C., Lt. G.A. Evans, Lt. R.S. Sandilands, F/Sgt. Lotter W.G. * 900 F Capt. J.A. Mouton, Lt. H. Simon, F/Sgt. Carr G.W. and F/Sgt. Wisenberg N. * 904 BB Capt. A.G.M. Budd, Sgt. Smallman S.O. (R.A.F.), F/O Cornelius W.G. and F/Sgt. Woods C.R. * 877 J Lt. E.P. Gardener, Lt. A. Kerr, F/Sgt. Pearce J. and F/Sgt. Green C.E.G. * 956 C Lt. Meredith, Lt. W.H. Sass, F/Sgt. Smith S.C. and F/Sgt. O'Regan B.S. * 942 G Lt. J.F. Carlisle, Lt. S. Webber, F/Sgt. Schumann and F/Sgt. Waldek V. * 862 D Lt. E.P. Hamilton, Lt. S.B. Whittle, F/Sgt. Rogers F.D. and F/Sgt. Phelan D. ~~9. [Strike-through of entire typed line: 924 L Lt. J.G. Meredith, Lt. W.H. Sass, F/Sgt. Smith S.C. and F/Sgt. O'Regan B.S.]~~ * 176 YY Major A.C. Jandrell, Lt. Christie, F/Sgt. Morley D.E. and F/Sgt. Abraham W. * 850 X Capt. A.C. Smit, Lt. G.S. Kay, F/Sgt. Perkins G. and F/Sgt. van Rooyen I.J. * 126 U Capt. G.L. McBride, Lt. H.A. Gibson, F/Sgt. Daniels W.C. and F/Sgt. White A.M. * 916 SS Lt. Smith J.H., Lt. A. Arnold, Sgt. Freestone R.K. (R.N.A.F.), F/Sgt. Viljoen W.L. * 142 P Lt. G.A. Liddiard, Lt. J. Pickerill, F/Sgt. Zaaiman M. and F/Sgt. Carbarne * 151 Y Lt. J.D. Carr, Lt. R.P.T. Lombard, F/Sgt. Toms R.S. and F/Sgt. Wright G.D. * 957 W Lt. B.G. Wood, Lt. B.L. Gould, F/Sgt. Groenewald and F/Sgt. Purdon A.R.

1943-03-25

List of Aircraft and Aircrews attached to Sortie Reports Nos. 238 and 238 A dated Night 24/25 March 1943 - 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 940 V Lt.Col. C.S. Coppen, D.F.C., Capt. R.R. Farrant, F/Sgt. Bradfield A. and F/Sgt. Lyne J.L. * 930 K Maj. M. Barnby, D.F.C., Lt. G.A. Evans, Lt. R.S. San…

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * Sortie Reports Nos. 238 and 238 A: The official administrative records documenting two distinct waves of night-bombing operations conducted by the unit during the 24-hour reporting period. * 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force, an operational light bomber unit then utilizing the Martin Baltimore Mark III. * Lt.Col. / Maj. / Capt. / Lt. / F/O: Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, and Flying Officer, respectively. * D.F.C.: Distinguished Flying Cross, a high-level decoration for valor in air operations, held by mission leaders Lt.Col. Coppen and Maj. Barnby. * F/Sgt. / Sgt.: Flight Sergeant and Sergeant. * R.A.F. / R.N.A.F.: Royal Air Force and Royal Norwegian Air Force, identifying Commonwealth and Allied personnel integrated into S.A.A.F. crews, such as Sgt. Freestone (Crew No. 13). * 940 V / 930 K / etc.: Individual aircraft serial numbers and identifying code letters assigned to the squadron's Baltimore fleet. Operational Context: This aircrew manifest for Sortie Reports 238 and 238 A documents the 15-aircraft commitment of No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. to 24-hour operations during the night of 24–25 March 1943. Strategically, these night missions were vital components of Operation Supercharge II—the Allied outflanking "left hook" intended to bypass the stalemate at the Mareth Line. The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) directed these strikes to provide continuous tactical support to the 2nd New Zealand Division as it advanced through the Tebaga Gap toward El Hamma. The manifest reveals a high-level command commitment, with the first wave led by the Officer Commanding (O.C.), Lieutenant Colonel C.D. Coppen (Crew No. 1), and the second wave led by Major M. Barnby (Crew No. 2). Operating from Landing Ground (L.G.) Zuara, the formation delivered a combined 84 General Purpose bombs into the Zarat and El Hamma sectors, targeting Axis strongpoints, artillery batteries, and road networks. The intelligence recorded during these sorties confirmed the destruction of several Axis positions and provided critical visual reconnaissance of enemy signaling beacons and searchlights. The strike-through of Crew No. 9 indicates a late administrative correction to the flight roster. This archival entry, recorded as Folio 174, provides the definitive human record for the squadron's transition to intensive night operations required to facilitate the final Allied breakthrough into central Tunisia. 213 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 25 MAR 43.