MT ON COASTAL ROAD RAS AGEDIR - ZUARA — Operations

Operational Record

Target: MT on coastal road RAS AGEDIR - ZUARA.
Duty: M.T. on road RAS AGEDIR to ZUARA
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 2125 - 2200 hrs.
Airborne: 1725 hrs
Returned: 2210 hrs
From: Gzina
Map: LIBYA 1:500,000 Sheet 21 PISIDA Sheet 2 TRIPOLI.
Day / night: Night
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Medium level. 2500 - 5500 ft. 72 x 250 lb. G.P. 43 Det. (rods). 180 x 4 lb. Incendiaries.
Air defences: Bofors from AZAZIA. Accurate. L.A.A. from various points along the road. Inaccurate. H.A.A. from ZUARA, and one gun from coast near PISIDA. Inaccurate. Blue searchlight from ZUARA. Inaccurate.
Results: Due to a number of tyres bursting on landing on return from operation, eight A/C of this Squadron were diverted to land at CHEL L.G. Tyre bursts caused by excessive wear and tear due to rocky surface of this L.G. OXYGEN - None available.

Bombs and incendiaries covered the road fairly well from K0000 to ZUARA. One fire was started by an incendiary. Bombs feel on the road and among MT the could be seen from 2500 ft. Reflections of three fires which were started near the bend in the road SOUTH of PISIDA, could be seen again the aircraft at 4000 ft. A fire giving off a brilliant glow was started immediately SOUTH of ZUARA. Two of these fires could be seen 20 and 40 miles away.