M.T. AND FORTIFICATIONS ON ROAD MARETH-ZARAT (WADI ZIGZAOU) — Operations

Operational Record

Target: M.T. and fortifications on ROAD MARETH-ZARAT (WADI ZIGZAOU)
Duty: Individual medium level bombing attacks on M.T. and fortification on ROAD MARETH-ZARET (WADI ZIGZAOU area)
Committed: 15 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 0234 - 0315 hrs.
Airborne: 2200 hrs
Returned: 0218 hrs
From: Sertan Main
Map: 1 : 500,000 FRENCH NORTH AFRICA. Sheet N.1. 32 S.E. GABES
Day / night: Night
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Individual medium level bombing attack from 4/9800 ft. 90 x 250 lb. G.P. 43 Det. (Rods)
Air defences: L.A.A. Fairly intense light fire from Z. 5301 inaccurate. 6 guns at Z 5505 H.A.A. 3 guns 1 mile NW ZARET 4 guns Z 6310 Approx. 4 guns TZ 5406 Fairly intense but inaccurate. One S/L at TZ 5812. Inaccurate.
Results: Three flares seen over the target area - one yellow, two red. Flashing light at RM 3030 - rapid morse signalling. Two A/C report short burst of tracer fired at own A/C but no enemy aircraft seen. OXYGEN. Used in 3 A/C only. Not available for other A/C.

All bombs were dropped in area bounded by ROAD MARETH - ZARET the main GABES road, the coast and WADI ZIGZAOU. Seven A/C were briefed to bomb in the SOUTH of this area, and eight A/C were briefed to bomb in the NORTH. Long sticks were dropped on courses of 350 deg. to 055 deg. covering the area briefed. One direct hit on an object (believed to be a fortification) at Z 5405. One direct hit on road SOUTH of ZARET. One explosion giving off column of black smoke in area SOUTH of road.