STAZ DI PALENA - H087682 — Operations

Operational Record

Target: STAZ DI PALENA - H087682
Duty: STAZ DI PALENA (H087682)
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: From 1545 A Hrs to 1550 A Hrs
Airborne: 1143 hrs
Returned: 1340 hrs
From: Tortorella
Map: ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 153.
Day / night: Day
Casualties: 1 A/C sustained small hole in Observers perspex at J0068 at 1604 A Hrs. Cause unknown. NO E/A visible. Spitfire cover still with formation.
Bombing: Medium level bombing, 13200/15000' Co. 040°/030° 23 x 500 MC 43 Det 27 Pistol 31 x 250 GP 43 Det 27 Pistol (Rods) 3 x 250 GP 52 Det 37 Pistol (6 Hour Delay) 2 x 250 GP 52 Det 37 Pistol (12 Hour Delay)
Air defences: Nil.
Results: 6 MET moving XXXEM NORTH on Rd. N.W. PESCOCOSTANZO, 10 MET area H0969 close together facing NORTH – later moving. 6/10 MET moving SOUTH towards VILLA SAN MARIA. Fires seen in villages ATILETA, QUADRI, ALFOENA?, ROCOARASO, CAPROCOTTA and 12 among hills WEST of QUADRI.

Weather clear with haze over target and 1/10 cloud over mountain tops. Target identified and leader did dummy run owing to sun striking parapex on run up. Second box carried on and bombed. First box bombed later. Bombs fell in short sticks, H088675 - 05X877 majority fell just SOUTH of station with slight overshoot. Direct hits on RR. near Rd. and RR junction. Bursts also seen EAST of the Rd N.E. of station.