INTERRUPT ROAD COMMUNICATIONS BY BOMBING IN AREA B8228-C3305 CALTANISETTA - ALONG BOMBLINE… — Operations

Operational Record

Target: Interrupt road communications by bombing in area B8228-C3305 CALTANISETTA - along bombline to AGRICENTO, keeping 6 miles from this town – B8228. If no movement seen or target discovered bomb TERMINI HARBOUR.
Duty: Offensive Recce against road targets area B8228 - C3305 - CALTANISETTA - Bombline to AGRIGENTO - B8228. Alternate target Termini Harbour.
Committed: 7 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: From 2149 to 2342 hrs LT.
Airborne: 1900 hrs
Returned: 2320 hrs
From: Soliman Ben Hagen
Map: SICILIA 1:500,000. Sheet No. NE 36/12
Day / night: Night
Casualties: Nil
Bombing: Medium level bombing 8000' 42 x 250 GP Rods 43 Det. 190 x 4 lb incendiaries. 21 Flares Recce 4.5 No. 4.
Air defences: 4 bursts HAA inaccurate H0195. 1 S/L CAMMARATA inaccurate. Slight HAA inaccurate CASTELVETRANO. LAA fairly accurate C.S. MARCO. 1 S/L CASTELVETRANO inaccurate.
Results: Pamphlets distributed along roads. Large fires seen PALERMO. Long fire on Eastern slope MT. MADONIE, many small fires in target area. Large fire CASTELVETRANO-MARSALA area. Ships seen heading SE between PANTELLERIA and SICILY. Steady strong white light pointing to sea SOUTH MONASTIR area.

7 Baltimores took off at 10 minute intervals from 2100 hrs to interrupt road communications as long as possible in area B8228-C3305-CALTANISETTA-along bombline to AGRIGENTO-B8228. If no likely target seen alternate target TERMINI HARBOUR. Aircraft were over target area 2149/2342 and 15/17 MT seen at G8997 where earlier aircraft had dropped 6 bombs and at various points and NO hits established, but near misses claimed on cross-roads, bridges, and ship and mole identified in TERMINI HARBOUR. Incendiaries dropped when 250 GP bombs dropped and pamphlets widely dispersed in area. 4 bursts HAA inaccurate at H0195, slight inaccurate HAA CASTLEVETRANO. LAA fairly accurate C.S. MARCO. One S/L CAMMARATA area and one S/L CASTERLVETRANO, both inaccurate. Weather very good with scattered cloud 2/10 - 4/10 Fracto Cu and St Cu. base 7000/11000' and top 3000'. Visibility good developing to hazy.