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Operation No. 652

FACTORY

12 aircraft

Operational Record

Committed
12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Airborne
0820 hrs
Returned
0955 hrs
From
Biferno
Map
ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 146 SULMONA
Day / night
Day
12 Baltimores of 21 Sqdn (leading) accompanied by 12 a/c of 223 Sqdn took off from BIFERNO at 1020 Hrs to bomb an EXPLOSIVE FACTORY at G902847 (N.W. of SULMONA) consisting of two groups of buildings. 21 Sqdn briefed to attack Northern portion. Formation set course at 1100 Hrs and attacked in two boxes line astern from 9800' at 1120 Hrs on a course of 270º. Both boxes straddled installations described as "finished explosives stores", "powder mixing sheds" and "coal stores." Big explosion in Powder mixing sheds followed by fire and dense black smoke. Several minor fires started. NO escort. Slight L/A/A accurate from mountains at H0775. All a/c landed by 1155 Hrs. Target clear and visibility good.