Bombing Report (Form 541)
- Place
- Bardia
- Date
- 28 / 9 / 41
- Time over target
- 1312 hrs
- Height
- 12000 ft
- Bombs dropped : (2) Failures
- 8 X 250 lbs GP Nil
- Observed effects
- Struck cliffs to left of ship Map ref. I 23 - 24
- Details of photographs taken
- Nil
- Casualties to own aircraft and personnel
- 5 small holes in Aircraft
- Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel
- Nil
- Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength
- Heavy A/A 2 guns Bow of ship medium or light 1 gun
- Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted
- Nil
- Special comments
- Target was to right of sights
1612 "Y" BOMBING REPORT 41 57 [handwritten "58" over 57]REFERENCE Pilot : 2/Lt. Blake Observer : 2/Lt. Meintjies Squadron : 21 S. A. A. F.BR Details of Target : Sgts. Clarence and BrandShip in Bardia harbour Place : BardiaDate : 28 / 9 / 41Weather : Time : 1312 hrs.Fine. Visibility 15 miles Height : 12000 feet.(1) Bombs dropped : (2) Failures :8 X 250 lbs GP Nil(3) Observed effects :Struck cliffs to left of shipMap ref. I 23 - 24(4) Details of photographs taken :Nil(5) Casualties to own aircraft and personnel :5 small holes in Aircraft(6) Casualties to enemy aircraft and personnel :Nil(7) Enemy A.A. ground defences encountered (a) location of defences (b) type (c) strength :Heavy A/A 2 gunsBow of ship medium or light 1 gun(8) Hostile patrols encountered (a) position (b) type and number of aircraft (c) if engagement resulted :Nil(9) Special comments :Target was to right of sightsSigned 2/Lt. MeintjiesNOTE — (1) For intelligence purposes RECONNAISSANCE REPORT (A. M. FORM 401) must always accompany a BOMBING REPORT.(2) COMBAT (BOMBER) REPORT also to be completed if engagement with enemy aircraft occurred during flight.
Transcriber's Notes
- GP
- General Purpose; a classification for high-explosive demolition bombs designed for blast and fragmentation effects against infrastructure and maritime targets.
- A/A
- Anti-Aircraft artillery fire (Flak). Ground defenses during this mission were reported as "Heavy" from fixed shore batteries and "medium or light" from a gun positioned on the bow of the target vessel.
21 S. A. A. F.: No. 21 Squadron, South African Air Force. During September 1941, the unit was based at Landing Ground 021 in Egypt and functioned as a light/medium bomber force within the Western Desert Air Force (WDAF).
MC/GP (MEDIUM CAPACITY / GENERAL PURPOSE): The standard Allied ordnance designations for demolition and blast bombs. The aircraft (Machine "Y") carried a full load of 8 x 250 lbs GP munitions.
Crew
Pilot 2/Lt. Blake Observer
Observer 2/Lt. Meintjies Squadron