ENEMY ARMOURED CONCENTRATION AT PP. 860296

Transcriber's Notes

Baltimores

Refers to the Martin Baltimore light bombers of No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F..

Maj. Barnby

Major Milton Barnby, the designated formation leader for this sortie.

LG. 98

Landing Ground 98, the operational base for the squadron during the El Alamein campaign.

H.Q. R.A.F. M.E

Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East. Operational Context: This Sortie Report (Part A) documents a major tactical effort launched on 24 October 1942, the morning following the commencement of the Eighth Army's ground offensive in the Second Battle of El Alamein. Strategically, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were tasked with intense interdiction of Axis reserve concentrations to prevent reinforcement of the front lines. The mission, led by Major Barnby, involved a combined force of twelve Martin Baltimores of No. 21 Squadron SAAF following six Douglas Bostons of No. 12 Squadron SAAF. This joint formation aimed to maximize the concentration of ordnance on enemy troop and vehicle clusters at grid coordinates 860296. Tactical execution was severely limited by environmental conditions; despite reaching the target at 9,900 feet, the formation encountered "10/10" cloud cover and "Bad" visibility. These conditions were consistent with Oprep 100, which noted that while all seventy-two 250lb G.P. bombs were delivered into the target area, the heavy cloud bank west of the bomb line precluded any visual assessment of the tactical results. This document, archived as Folio 60, illustrates the relentless operational tempo maintained by the SAAF light bomber wings to support the ground breakthrough, even under adverse meteorological constraints. 78

250 G.P

250-pound General Purpose high-explosive bombs.

Ack/Ack

Anti-Aircraft artillery fire.

E/A

Enemy Aircraft.

MT

Mechanical Transport, referring to Axis ground vehicles. Operational Context: This Sortie Report (Part B) details the tactical outcomes of a high-priority strike on 24 October 1942, the morning following the launch of the Eighth Army's ground offensive in the Second Battle of El Alamein. Strategically, the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) shifted focus from airfield suppression to direct interdiction of Axis reserve concentrations to support the ground breakthrough. The target, an "Enemy armoured concentration" at grid coordinates 860296, was part of the vital Axis defensive and reserve network in the El Daba sector. The employment of seventy-two 250lb G.P. bombs with "rods" (extension rods) underscores the tactical intent to maximize lethality against unarmored vehicles and exposed personnel through air-burst fragmentation. Execution was severely hampered by environmental constraints, as the formation was forced to release its payload through "10/10 cloud," which precluded any visual assessment of the tactical results. This heavy cloud cover also accounts for the lack of aerial reconnaissance photography. However, the intelligence observation in section BH—noting "About 30 scattered MT seen burning and burnt out"—provides a direct indication of the cumulative pressure the Desert Air Force (DAF) was exerting on Axis logistics just behind the main combat zone. The absence of enemy aircraft or anti-aircraft fire on this specific run suggests that the earlier "shuttle bombing" campaign against Axis airfields (such as L.G. 17 and L.G. 104) had successfully achieved a degree of local air superiority, allowing these light bomber formations to operate with reduced attrition. 79

L.-Wright

Shorthand for Flight Sergeant Lovell-Wright. Operational Context: This aircrew manifest, archived as folio 61, identifies the twelve crews of No. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. tasked with the "First Show" on 24 October 1942. This date is of paramount strategic significance, as it marks the morning following the initial night barrage that commenced the Second Battle of El Alamein. The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were fully committed to "Operation Lightfoot," the Allied plan to breach the Axis minefields and defensive lines. The mission for this formation, led by Major Milton Barnby in Baltimore 108 B, was a medium-level strike against an "Enemy armoured concentration" at point position 860296 in the El Daba sector. The tactical landscape had shifted from the airfield neutralization campaign of previous days to direct interdiction of Axis mobile reserves (Mechanical Transport and Armor) to facilitate the Eighth Army's ground breakthrough. The manifest includes several veteran crews who had sustained damage or casualties in the preceding forty-eight hours, such as Lt. Golding (A/C 956 C) and the crew of Lt. Weir and Lt. Magid (A/C 853 P), the latter of whom had been wounded by flak just three days prior. The execution of this specific "show" was severely impacted by meteorological conditions, as the crews were forced to release their ordnance through a 10/10 cloud base at 9,900 feet, which ultimately prevented visual damage assessment and aerial photography. This document stands as a primary personnel record for the squadron's maximum-effort contribution during the opening daylight phase of the definitive breakthrough in North Africa. 80 Phase 1: Verification & Extraction Identity Check: 24 Oct. 42.