M.T. AND TANKS AT PINPOINTS 400414 AND 397415, NORTH WEST OF EL ADEM — Operations

Operational Record

Duty: Bomb M.T. and Tanks at Pinpoints 400414 and 397415, North West of El Adem
Committed: 9 Glenn Martin Maryland
Airborne: 1110 hrs
Returned: 1315 hrs
From: L.G. 76
Map: Salum - Tobruk 1:250,000
Day / night: Day
Casualties: –
Air defences: –

Nine Marylands took off as soon as possible after orders had been received, to rendezvous with their Hurrican escort at L.G. 124, from there they set course. Most of the bombs were dropped on targets consisting of groups of M.T. and Tanks, at the pinpoints indicated others in the vicinity. A big flash followed by a fire with black smoke was seen at 397415, the result of a direct hit on what was probably a fuel truck. Four bombs exploded amongst a group of M.T. at 400414. A large number of M.T. was seen in the wadis between the lake and the escarpment and lesser numbers both North and South of the target area. Everything appeared to be stationary. Five guns were seen to be firing from 412415, direction unobserved. On the return route, as our formation approached the Trig El Ab at approximately 430370, a formation of ten, presumably enemy bombers, seen escorted by at least fifteen fighters, was to attack from 4000 ft. dispersed M.T. on each side of the Trig. Sticks of four were observed to burst within the dispersal area. Our formation turned to port to avoid, as the other bombers turned West after bombing.