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Operation No. 129

PANZER CONCENTRATION AT PP. 865303

Monday, 2 November 1942

Over target: 1410 hrs 18 aircraft 72 aircrew

Operational Record

Target
Panzer concentration at pp. 865303
Duty
Panzer concentration at 865303
Committed
18 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack
1410 hours B.
Airborne
1011 hrs
Returned
1141 hrs
From
L.G. 98
Map
1:250000 Egypt and Cyrenaica. Sheet 14. El Daba.
Day / night
Day
Casualties
Nil.
Bombing
Medium level bombing attack from 9,500 ft. 108 x 250 lbs. (Rods) G.P. 43 Det.
Air defences
Spasmodic heavy A.A. good for height.
Results
100 Vehicles (Tanks?) were seen at 865310 well dispersed, large building (?) at 863311 with a number of M.T. At 866308 trucks (No engines seen) on rail track. General eastward movement by enemy M.T. along main road and grid 30. Submerged object seen at 448910 lying NW to the coast. ARMY HEADQUARTERS ADVISED THAT 6 MINUTES AFTER BOMBING ATTACK 200 enemy SURRENDERED.
The enemy appeared to have grouped his M.T. etc. into groups which were well dispersed. Each group contained about 75 vehicles. The formation spread out and attacked a concentration and dug-in positions at pp. 863303. Two direct hits were scored on an M.T. and the other on a dump which exploded after the bomb burst. Cloud hampered observation.

9,500ft.

Aircraft and crews