ARMD RECCE ROAD PELLARO POINT (D435270) – GIOIA TAURO

Operational Record

Target

Armd recce road PELLARO POINT (D435270) – GIOIA TAURO

Duty

ARMD RECCE ROAD PELLARO POINT (D435270) - GIOIA TAURO

Committed

4 Glenn Martin Baltimore

Time of attack

From 0207 hrs LT to 0218 hrs LT.

Airborne

2250 hrs

Returned

0155 hrs

From

Luqa

Map

MESSINA NE 38/14 1:500,000. SICILIA NE 36/12 1:500,000.

Day / night

Night

Casualties

Nil.

Bombing

Medium level bombing 6500/8500 ft. 120 x 40 lbs. 1 Container 8 x 40 lb brought to base - incorrect selector used.

Air defences

4 bursts HAA at VILLA S. GIOVANNI inaccurate. LAA D2560 (Latitude :** 38.22873° **Longitude :** 15.42884°**). 10 S/Ls seen VILLA SAN GIOVANNI, fairly accurate - some seen area REGGIO DI CALABRIA NOT directed against own aircraft.

Results

1 flare dropped by another aircraft GIOIA at 4500 ft. 2 flares seen VILLA S GIOVANNI at 0210 hrs, 8 flares around Southern tip and towards EAST. Steady red light D2637 (Latitude :** 38.02124° **Longitude :** 15.43607°**) at 0224 hrs. Series of 8 lights in Red, Green, Yellow order seen SOUTH REGGIO DI CALABRIA at 0214 hrs. Explosions, as of bombs just NORTH of VILLA S GIOVANNI. Gun flashes MESSINA area, 2 steady lights MESSINA harbour. 2 Destroyers NE course 0220 hrs in gulf of MILAZZO. 3 fires along road area D2560 (Latitude :** 38.22873° **Longitude :** 15.42884°**). Fires at UCRIA (C7840) (Latitude :** 38.05387° **Longitude :** 14.88938°**) MT lights NICOSIA area. Beacons MALTA and GELA seen and correct.