DISPERSED A/C ON SFAX EL MAOU L.G — Operations

Operational Record

Target: Dispersed A/C on SFAX EL MAOU L.G.
Duty: Medium level bombing attack on dispersed aircraft on SFAX EL MAOU Landing ground.
Committed: 18 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: From 0902 to 0903 hrs.
Airborne: 0538 hrs
Returned: 0820 hrs
From: Zuara
Map: TUNISIA 1:500,000 SFAX.
Day / night: Day
Casualties: 4 A/C holed by AA. F/Sgt. J.B. Forrest (top gunner in A/C 977 L) wounded in left arm by A/A splinter. A/C 982 N was hit by AA over the target and the port engine was damaged. The pilot flew on one engine escorted by USAAF fighters to BEN GARDANE L.G.
Bombing: Medium level bombing attack from 8800 ft. 102 x 250 lb. GP 43 Det. (Rods)
Air defences: A barrage of HAA approx. 2000 ft. in depth, very intense, was put up over the L.G. Four HAA guns seen firing from NW of L.G.
Results: (i) Approx. 100 MT seen on Main Road SFAX – GABES. Approx. 30 MT (in convoy) seen dispersed at side of road NORTH of NAKTA. (ii) Small ships seen in entrance to SFAX harbour. A/C salvage dump seen at TU 7630 (Ref. Map: TUNISIA 1:500,000) One large T/E A/C dispersed at NW corner of L.G. Five A/C in SE corner of L.G. Three A/C in Southern corner of L.G.

The formation bombed on the leader on a course of 290 deg. The bombs were dropped in a fairly quick stick along the NORTH of the L.G., ending well in the NW dispersal area among very well dispersed A/C in and out of the blast shelters in the Olive plantation. Two fires seen on leaving the target.