DISPERSED A/C ON PANTELLERIA L.G — Operations

Operational Record

Target: Dispersed A/C on PANTELLERIA L.G.
Duty: Medium level bombing attack on PANTELLERIA L.G. (Dispersed aircraft)
Committed: 18 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 0758 hrs. L.T.
Airborne: 0404 hrs
Returned: 0700 hrs
From: El Djem Main
Map: TUNISIA 1:500,000 Sheet NJ.32.SE TUNIS. Target Maps P/6.
Day / night: Day
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Medium level bombing attack from 8500/9000 ft. 108 x 250 lb. GP 43 Det. (Rods).
Air defences: A box of intense HAA, bursting between 6000 and 12,000 ft. was pp. up over the L.G. The barrage was behind the formation. Some HAA bursts gave off very large black smoke puffs.
Results: Two MTE's on a course of 210 deg. seen at VP 8795 at 0738 hrs. Four small vessels (possibly barges) seen in the harbour. At VP 8060 at 0750 hrs. a large oil patch was seen.

Bombs fell in three sticks as follows: from underground shelters and across NE boundary: from pp. 7 (SOUTH) along EASTERN edge of L.G.; from pp. 13 towards NE. One building at pp. 13 received a direct hit. Heavy explosions accompanied bomb-bursts in squares Q21 & Q23, and one column of smoke rose to 4000 ft. Some near misses as A/C were observed. Not more than 20 small and large A/C were seen.