Operational Record
- Committed
- 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
- Airborne
- 1135 hrs
- Returned
- 1350 hrs
- From
- Biferno
- Map
- ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 146 SULMONA
- Day / night
- Day
12 Baltimores airborne from BIFERNO at 1335 Hrs to attack POPOLI RR STN. After R/v with 223 Sqdn (leading) formation set course at 1406 Hrs without fighter escort. Formation carried out dummy run on 330º at 1430 Hrs when 2nd box bombed in error and overshot against mountain side beyond town. On second run up at 1435 Hrs leaders bombs hung-up, but 2nd Vic attacked and straddled target with direct hit on Railway and Stn building. Formation carried on to SULMONA where leaders bombs still hung-up but remaining two a/c of 1st Vic scored direct hit on railway. Leader eventually jettisoned 1 x 500 delay in sea at C9090; remaining three brought back to base. All a/c down by 1550 Hrs. Visibility poor in target area, 10/10 cloud above (base 15000'). NO enemy opposition.