DUMPS AT 853310 AND GHAZAL STATION — Operations

Operational Record

Target: Dumps at 853310 and GHAZAL station
Duty: Dumps at 853310 and GHAZAL Station.
Committed: 18 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 0842 hours B.
Airborne: 0441 hrs
Returned: 0626 hrs
From: L.G. 98
Map: 1:250000 El Daba Sheet 14
Day / night: Day
Casualties: A/C 958 W., Lt. Metcalfe force landed on beach at 485925 (Alexandria 1:250,000) Sgt. Kerr (R.A.F.) sustained injuries.
Bombing: Medium level bombing from 9500 ft. 102 x 250 lbs. (Rods) G.P. Det. 43
Air defences: Light inaccurate A/A coming from the area N.W. of station was seen to burst below the formation.
Results: About 500 M.T. dispersed on either side of main road between Grid 85 and Grid 86. Fair concentration above 847314. Dug-in positions in target area. Battle in progress 855295 numerous fires seen in this area. Two unidentified fighter aircraft seen to dive down together and then an explosion on ground area 880285 at 0855 hours.

It was expected that some of the dumps would still be burning after a night attack, but the formation saw no smoke on arrival and the weight of the attack was directed against dumps, M.T. and tents at 853309. Bombs were seen to burst across the station and a building started to burn. Two direct hits were scored on M.T. and one on the railway track. Two columns of white and one column of black smoke was observed after leaving the target. One bomb burst caused an explosion. Observation was difficult due to cloud over target.