RAIL-ROAD JUNCTION AT LAMEZIA — Operations

Operational Record

Target: Rail-road junction at LAMEZIA.
Duty: RAIL-ROAD JUNCTION AT LAMEZIA.
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 1110 Hrs. LT.
Airborne: 0745 hrs
Returned: 1035 hrs
From: Cuticchi
Map: MESSINA NE 38/14 1:500,000. SICILIA NE 36/12 1:500,000.
Day / night: Day
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Medium level bombing. Course 030°. Height 11,000 ft. 24 x 500 G.P. 47 Det. 28 Pistol. 24 x 500 M.C. 47 Det. 28 Pistol.
Air defences: Slight H.A.A. against own formation on leaving target, inaccurate. Fairly intense inaccurate against leading formations. Origin NOT known except from NORTH of target. 1 FW 190 seen - attacked by covering Spitfire – dived into clouds.
Results: Many Rail-road trucks at LAMEZIA STN. 40/60 trucks S. FALERNO siding. 3 small ships in bay WEST of RICADI, SOUTH of C. VATICA... One seaplane on beach 5 miles S.W. of LAMEZIA. Grey smoke seen over LAMEZIA STN, and later when at sea, explosion flash seen from same area.

Most bombs dropped when bomb fell on leader opening bomb doors - one to 2 miles S.W. of target. 8 bombs dropped on target – one direct hit on western side of Junction triangle. 8 bombs may have hit target area as dropped late. Rest too early. Target seen covered by dust and smoke, from bombs of leading formation when over target.