M.T. MOVEMENT RDS. EBOLI – O1050 – POTENZA – AULETTA – EBOLI — Operations

Operational Record

Target: M.T. movement RDS. EBOLI – O1050 – POTENZA – AULETTA – EBOLI.
Duty: ARMD RECCE RDS – EBOLI – O1050 – POTENZA – AULETTA – EBOLI
Committed: 8 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 0156 Hrs LT to 0340 Hrs LT.
Airborne: 2246 hrs
Returned: 0312 hrs
From: Cuticchi
Map: SICILIA 1:500000 NE36/12, MESSINA 1:500000 NE38/14, NAPOLI 1:500000 NE40/14
Day / night: Night
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Medium level. Height 6500 / 11000 feet. 8 x 500 G.P. 52 Det. 42 Pistols (Rods) 8 x 500 M.C. 52 Det. 42 Pistols (Rods) 9 x 250 G.P. 43 Det. 27 Pistols (Rods) 52 x 40 G.P. 43 Det. 27 Pistols (Rods) 2 x 500 G.P. ) Jettisoned at sea. IFF became U/s. 2 x 500 M.C. )
Air defences: Slight inaccurate H/A/A, SERRE - EBOLI area.
Results: 30 M.T. on Rd area O0620 10 M.T. scattered O1050 to BISACCIA 50 M.T. moving S.E. O0053 to O3034 Flashing beacon BOVINO area.

Eight Baltimores took off, but one returned early with IFF trouble. The rest searched for movements and attacked the roads. 4 x 500, 2 x 250 and 2 x 40 were dropped at O1050 on 10 M.T. and bright light. At O0447, 8 x 40 and 1 x 250 were dropped on fire at 5 M.T. At N9728 explosions and small fire were seen and bombed 3 x 50 Further points of attack on suspected M.T. were spread over entire target area, and direct hits and Rds claimed.