DUMPS IN AREA SOUTH OF BRONTE — Operations

Operational Record

Target: Dumps in area SOUTH of BRONTE.
Duty: Medium level bombing attack Dumps area SOUTH of BRONTE.
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 0811 hrs LT.
Airborne: 0450 hrs
Returned: 0716 hrs
From: Hal Far
Map: 1:500,000 SICILIA NE 36/12. 1:100,000 PATERNO Sheet 269.
Day / night: Day
Casualties: Two aircraft sustained minor damage from HAA.
Bombing: Medium level. Height 12000 ft 340° Course. 2 Mk 3: 8 x 250 Incendiary L/C 36 Pistol Nose fused. 9 Mk 3A: 54 x 250 Incendiary L/C 36 Pistol Nose fused. 1 Mk 4: 6 x 250 Incendiary L/C 36 Pistol Nose fused.
Air defences: Moderate and accurate HAA before and during bombing run. Approximately 40 bursts, guns firing from C732096 (Latitude :** 37.78023° **Longitude :** 14.83145°**), C725099 (Latitude :** 37.78299° **Longitude :** 14.82353°**), C726094 (Latitude :** 37.77848° **Longitude :** 14.82462°**), C728091(Latitude :** 37.77576° **Longitude :** 14.82686°**).
Results: 30 MT (large and square) on road SOUTH of BRONTE facing SOUTH.

The target was obscured by the shadow of Mount ETNA. The incendiaries were dropped from C731097 (Latitude :** 37.78114 ° **Longitude :** 14.83033 °**) to C728104 (Latitude :** 37.78748 ° **Longitude :** 14.82699 °**) between the Railway track on and across the main road into some trees and lands. NOT many bursts were seen but 6 small fires started, smoke rising about 100 ft. One vivid explosion seen. No fire developed.