Operation

List of Aircrew and Aircraft attached to Sortie Report No. 172 dated the 18th January, 1943 - 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. --------------------------------------------------------------

940 V 1. ~~XXXXX~~ Lt. Col. Coppen, Lt. Farrant, F/Sgt. Herbst, F/Sgt. Bradfield

2. 944 R Lt. Rich, Sgt. Smallman (R.A.F.), F/Sgt. Roberts, F/Sgt. L-Wright.

3. 956 C, Lt. Golding, Lt. Mulholland, F/Sgt. Pearce, F/Sgt. Green.

4. 176 YY Major Jendrell, Capt. Hatswell, F/Sgt. Morley, Lt. te Water Pohl

5. Major Barnby, Lt. Simon, F/S. Lotter, ~~XXXX~~ Lt. Sandilands (A/C No. 108 B)

6. 900 F Capt. Mouton, Lt. Cooper, F/S Goodchild, F/S Champion.

7. 920 O Capt. Cormack, Lt. Moore, F/B Finberg, F/S. McGee

8. 957 W Capt. Bell, Lt. Levi, F/S Kosviner, F/S Myburgh

9. 918 T Lt. Metcalf, Lt. Floor, F/Sgt. Forrest A. F/Sgt. Perkins

10. 904 BB Capt. Cumming, Lt. Evans, F/Sgt. Heyman, F/Sgt. Lyne.

11. 910 H Lt. Hotchkiss, Lt. Morrell, F/Sgt. Mamet, F/Sgt. Mills.

ooooooo "B1" 47

From: Officer Commanding, No. 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. To: (1) D.P.S.O., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E. (4) (2) No. 3 (S.A.) Wing (Admin.) (1) (3) Rear A.H.Q., W.D. (1) (4) A.D.A.I., S.A.A.F., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E. (1) Date: 21st. January, 1943. Ref: 21S. 34/5/ CIRCUMSTANTIAL REPORT:

BALTIMORE III - AC. 900 Port Engine No. A. 212110 Starboard " No. A. 212098.

CREW: Pilot: No. 102848 Capt. J. MOUTON (Uninjured) Observer: 103710 Lieut. A. COOPER (Slightly wounded) W/Op. 206496 A/T/Sgt. Goodchild G.D. (Uninjured) A/Gunner: 102388 A/T/Sgt. Champion D.C. (Uninjured)

This Squadron's signal T. 20 dated 19 Jan. 43, refers.

* The above-mentioned aircraft was one of seven Baltimores

of this Squadron which took part in a raid of enemy M.T. on the road East of Castelverde on the night of 18/19 Jan. 43. The aircraft took off at Chel II at 23.30 hours on 18 Jan. 43 and, after bombing and ground-straffing, turned out to sea and commenced the return trip to base. * There appears to have been some error in navigation as

the aircraft crossed the coast about eight miles East of Homs, be- yond the bomb-line, and was at 1,500 feet when a battery of Bredas opened fire. One direct hit was secured below the Observer's compartment, splinters from which did considerable damage in the compartment, damaged several instruments and slightly wounded the Observer Lieut. A. Cooper, in the left buttock. * The aircraft returned to base where, apart from the

bursting of a tyre, it landed without further damage. It is being flown to 51 R.S.U., Soluch, for repairs. * Lieut. Cooper has been admitted to No. 33 S.A.F.A. where

the shrapnel splinter has been removed and it is anticipated that he will be returning to the Squadron in the course of a day or two. (Handwritten Signature: Lt Col Coppen) LT.-COLONEL, OFFICER COMMANDING NO. 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F. "C1" 48

P O S T A G R A M -----------------

To : H.Q., R.A.F., M.E. From : S.I.O., 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. Serial No. : 21 Squadron/ 173 Date : 20th January, 1943. OPREP No. 173 for period ending 0600 hours on the 20th January, 1943.

A. M.T. on coastal road between CASTEL VERDE - TRIPOLI (Map reference TRIPOLI 1:500,000 Sheet 2) B. 7 Baltimores C. (i) Medium Level Bombing. (ii) 2/5000 ft. (iii) 0000/0026 hours. D. (i) 42 x 250 lbs G.P. 43 det (Rods) (ii) 2500 rounds .300 (iii) The road was attacked at various points, all bombs hitting the target area and ten fires were started. One aircraft groundstraffed M.T. on the road from 300ft. No results observed. E. One Aircraft Cat. 2. F. One Observer, Lt. A. Cooper, Slight wound. G. Nil H. (i) 2230 hours (ii) 22 hours. J. Poor. K. Spasmodic Light Ack/Ack from GASR GARABULLI Intense light from CARRADINI: Accurate. COMM. (1) ~~EXHXXXX~~ 1 Hour 40 mins

(Handwritten Signature: [Illegible]) Capt. Senior Intelligence Officer, 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.

1943-01-18

List of Aircrew and Aircraft attached to Sortie Report No. 172 dated the 18th January, 1943 - 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F. -------------------------------------------------------------- 940 V 1. ~~XXXXX~~ Lt. Col. Coppen, Lt. Farrant, F/Sgt. Herbst, F/Sgt. Bradfield 2. 944 R Lt. Rich, Sgt. Smallman (R.A.F.), F/Sgt. Roberts, F/Sgt. …

__o_O_o__

Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * Sortie Report No. 172: The specific operational record documenting the squadron's maximum-effort nocturnal interdiction mission conducted on 18–19 January 1943. * 21 Squadron, S.A.A.F.: No. 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force, a light bomber unit operating under the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF). * Lt. Col. Coppen: Lieutenant Colonel Coppen, the Officer Commanding 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. and formation leader for this operation. * R.A.F.: Royal Air Force. Sergeant Smallman is identified as an R.A.F. member integrated into the S.A.A.F. crew of aircraft 944 R. * A/C No.: Aircraft Number. Specifically used to clarify the airframe for Major Barnby's crew after a strike-through in the original typewritten list. * F/S / F/Sgt. / F/B: Flight Sergeant and Flight Bombardier (a variant of the observer/bomb-aimer role). Operational Context: The date of this manifest, 18 January 1943, corresponds to the final five days of the Western Desert Campaign before the fall of Tripoli. Strategically, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were engaged in a "fully offensive" air campaign to shatter Axis logistics and aviation infrastructure. The tactical objective for Sortie No. 172 was a dual-threat nocturnal strike: neutralizing Axis air power at Castel Benito aerodrome and interdicting Mechanical Transport (MT) on the Tarhuna-Tripoli road. The manifest documents a high-density effort involving 11 Martin Baltimore light bombers. The involvement of the entire senior leadership tier—including the Squadron Commander (Lt. Col. Coppen) and two Majors (Jendrell and Barnby)—underscores the strategic priority of these early nocturnal Baltimore operations. By maintaining 24-hour pressure, the Desert Air Force (DAF) prevented the Afrika Korps from utilizing the cover of darkness to reorganize defensive lines. Operating from the forward landing ground at Gzina, these crews utilized 250lb General Purpose bombs with nose rods ("daisy cutters") and incendiaries to maximize damage against soft targets. The mission was highly successful, initiating seven fires at Castel Benito and a fire among parked vehicle concentrations near Tarhuna. This document, archived as Folio 46, provides the high-fidelity personnel data necessary to account for the unit's veteran aircrews during the definitive Axis collapse in Libya. 58 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 21st. January, 1943. Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * D.P.S.O., H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.: Deputy Principal Staff Officer, Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. * No. 3 (S.A.) Wing: No. 3 (South African) Wing, the administrative and tactical formation to which 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. was assigned. * Rear A.H.Q., W.D.: Rear Advanced Air Headquarters, Western Desert. * A.D.A.I., S.A.A.F.: Assistant Director of Air Intelligence, South African Air Force. * BALTIMORE III - AC. 900: The Martin Baltimore Mark III light bomber, serial number AC. 900, tactical letter 'F'. * W/Op.: Wireless Operator. * A/T/Sgt.: Acting Temporary Sergeant. * A/Gunner: Air Gunner. * M.T.: Mechanical Transport, referring to Axis supply and troop vehicle concentrations. * Castelverde: Also known as Gasr Garabulli, a town on the Tripolitanian coast road east of Tripoli. * Chel II: A forward Landing Ground in Libya used during the Allied advance toward Tripoli. * ground-straffing: Low-altitude machine-gun attacks on ground targets (archaic spelling of 'strafing'). * bomb-line: A tactical line established to indicate the forward limit for Allied air attacks to prevent friendly fire on advancing ground forces. * Bredas: Italian-made Breda 20mm or 37mm anti-aircraft cannons. * 51 R.S.U., Soluch: No. 51 Repair and Salvage Unit located at Soluch, Cyrenaica. * No. 33 S.A.F.A.: No. 33 South African Field Ambulance. Operational Context: This Circumstantial Report documents a combat incident involving Baltimore AC. 900 (F) during a nocturnal interdiction mission on 18–19 January 1943. Strategically, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were executing a maximum-effort campaign to shatter the logistical tail of the Afrika Korps as it retreated toward Tripoli. The raid on Castelverde targeted vital Mechanical Transport (M.T.) columns attempting to move under the cover of darkness. Tactically, the report highlights the significant risks associated with nocturnal navigation and the fluid nature of the "bomb-line" during the definitive breakthrough in Tripolitania. A navigational error caused Capt. Mouton's aircraft to cross the coast eight miles east of Homs, inadvertently entering a high-threat sector defended by Axis anti-aircraft batteries. The Baltimore's low altitude of 1,500 feet made it highly vulnerable to Italian Breda cannons, which secured a direct hit that damaged critical instruments and wounded the Observer. Despite the damage and a burst tyre upon landing, the aircraft’s return to base and subsequent ferry to a Repair and Salvage Unit (R.S.U.) underscores the resilience of the Martin Baltimore airframe. This document, archived as Folio 47 of the AIR 27/274 series, provides primary evidence of the technical and navigational challenges faced by 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. as they pioneered nocturnal tactical operations during the final collapse of Axis resistance in Libya. 59 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 20th January, 1943. Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes") Glossary of Terms: * H.Q., R.A.F., M.E.: Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. * S.I.O.: Senior Intelligence Officer, the primary staff officer responsible for synthesizing mission results and reconnaissance for the squadron. * S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force. * OPREP: Operational Report, a standardized summary of tactical activity within a specific 24-hour reporting cycle. * M.T.: Mechanical Transport, referring specifically to German and Italian supply and troop vehicle concentrations retreating toward the Tunisian border. * Castel Verde: Also known as Gasr Garabulli, a town of tactical significance on the coastal road approximately 50 kilometers east of Tripoli. * ft.: Feet, the unit of measurement used for altitude, such as the 300-foot low-level strafing run. * 250 lbs G.P. 43 det (Rods): 250-pound General Purpose high-explosive bombs utilizing No. 43 tail pistols and nose extension rods. These rods, colloquially termed "daisy cutters," triggered detonation just above the desert floor to maximize the lateral fragmentation blast against soft-skinned vehicles. * Cat. 2.: Category Two damage, indicating an aircraft that is seriously damaged but repairable at a Repair and Salvage Unit (R.S.U.). * Ack/Ack: Anti-aircraft artillery fire. * COMM.: Communication flight, referring to non-combat transport or liaison flights conducted for unit logistics. Operational Context: OPREP No. 173 documents a high-tempo nocturnal interdiction mission conducted on 19–20 January 1943, targeting the final Axis evacuation routes east of Tripoli. Strategically, the British Eighth Army was in the definitive stage of its advance, with the fall of Tripoli occurring only three days after this report was filed. The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) focused on "road purification"—the systematic destruction of Mechanical Transport (M.T.) columns to prevent the Afrika Korps from establishing a stable defensive line at the Tunisian border. The tactical results indicate that the seven Martin Baltimores effectively exploited the nocturnal environment despite "Poor" visibility. Utilizing 250lb bombs equipped with "daisy cutter" rods, the squadron initiated ten fires along the Castel Verde-Tripoli road. The mission also underscores the extreme risks of low-level night operations; one aircraft descended to 300 feet for a ground-strafing run, expending 2,500 rounds of .300 ammunition. The report highlights a combat incident where "intense" and "accurate" light anti-aircraft fire from Carradini resulted in the wounding of the observer, Lieutenant A. Cooper, and Category 2 damage to the airframe (AC. 900). This damage, sustained beyond the "bomb-line" east of Homs, exemplifies the lethal coordination of Axis rear-guard defenses during the definitive breakthrough in Libya. This document, archived as Folio 48, serves as primary evidence of the S.A.A.F.'s relentless persistence in maintaining 24-hour tactical pressure during the final collapse of Axis resistance in Tripolitania. 60 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 19.1.43.