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Operation No. 342

INTERRUPT ROAD COMMUNICATIONS BY BOMBING IN AREA B8228 – S. STEFANO – NICOSIA – ENNA –…

Friday, 16 July 1943

Over target: 2208 hrs 3 aircraft 12 aircrew

Operational Record

Target
Interrupt road communications by bombing in area B8228 – S. STEFANO – NICOSIA – ENNA – CALTANISETTA – bombline to South coast – B8228
Duty
Offensive Recce roads area B8228 - S.STEFANO - NICOSIA - ENNA - CALTANISETTA - along bombline to South Coast - B8228.
Committed
3 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack
From 2208 hrs LT to 2340 hrs LT
Airborne
1900 hrs
Returned
2245 hrs
From
Soliman Ben Hagen
Map
SICILIA 1:500,000. Sheet No. NE 36/12
Day / night
Night
Casualties
Nil
Bombing
Medium level bombing 5/7000' 18 x 250 GP Rods 43 Det 90 x 4 lb Incendiaries 9 Flares Recce 4.5 No. 4 120 x .30mm
Air defences
Slight LAA inaccurate NORTH of NICOSIA
Results
Bush fire SW AGRIGENTO – large fire PORTO EMPEDOCLE greenish-blue flame, white smoke. Large ship seen F2335 at 2130 hrs LT with 2 bright lights and deck lit. Course 080°M. Ship seen with flashes as bomb bursts on it and later observed burning 20 miles SE LICATA. AA seen SCIACCA area.
3 Baltimores took off at 15 minute intervals from 2100 hrs to interrupt road communications by bombing in area B8228 – S. STEFANO – NICOSIA – ENNA – CALTANISETTA – BOMBLINE TO SOUTH COAST – B8228. Offensive recces lasted from 2208 to 2340 hrs and last aircraft landed at 0045 hrs. Bombs dropped on MT and roads from 5/7000'. Pamphlets and incendiaries distributed along route. Roads ALIA – ENNA – NICOSIA – B8228 and VALLELUNGA – ALIMERIA – GANGA – ALIMERIA – VILLAROSA covered, various portions several times. MT seen as follows : – 1. H2587 – 6/8 MT stationary and dispersed – 1 flare, 2 bombs and incendiaries, fell either side of cross - roads. 2. C3103 – C3204 – considerable MT moving NW and dispersed – bridge or causeway seen – 5 bombs, 2 flares and incendiaries. 1 bomb amongst MT SOUTH of bridge and road hit NORTH of bridge. 3. C1812 – 12/15 MT moving NW and into dispersal – 2 bombs and incendiaries – hit on road among MT and edge GANGA town. Further bombs dropped on bend in road among buildings H3942 and on cross-roads C2506. Slight LAA inaccurate from NORTH of NICOSIA. AA seen SCIACCA area. Bushfire SW AGRICENTO, large fire PORTO EMPEDOCLE with greenish-blue flame and white smoke. Large ship with bright lights F2335 at 2130 hrs. Course 080°M. Flashes on ship later observed burning 20 miles SE LICATA.

Aircraft and crews