ARMD RECCE RDS:- I) CASALNUOVA – CASERTA – BENEVENTO – AVELLINO II) AVELLINO – GROTTAMINARDA…

Operational Record

Target

ARMD RECCE RDS:- i) CASALNUOVA – CASERTA – BENEVENTO – AVELLINO ii) AVELLINO – GROTTAMINARDA – VALLATA – O. 1049 iii) EBOLI – O.1049 – POTENZA – BRIENZA iv) EBOLI–SAPRI–AULETTA v) Pamphlets on LAURIA – Bomb roads NORTH of LAURIA

Duty

ARMD. RECCE. RDS.

Committed

8 Glenn Martin Baltimore

Time of attack

From 2040 Hrs LT to 2146 Hrs LT

Airborne

1730 hrs

Returned

2052 hrs

From

Cuticchi

Map

SICILIA 1:500000 NE36/12, MESSINA 1:500000 NE38/14, NAPOLI 1:500000 NE40/14

Day / night

Night

Casualties

1 aircraft holed. Cat: 1

Bombing

Medium level bombing on various courses from 8500/10500 feet pamphlet dropping and ground strafing. 32 x 500 G.P. 47 Dets. 27 Pistols (1 dropped on jettison)

Air defences

T4464 – approximately 20 bursts H.A.A and some L.A.A. T5066 Lauria 15 60 bursts H.A.A. spasmodic EAST of C.SCALEA at aircraft bombing coastal Rd. S/Ls and E/A Nil. All A/A inaccurate.

Results

MET situated 150 plus, 15/30 yds apart on rds LAURIA–SAPRI and LAURIA-ALETTA. Moving fast Northwards with lights. Switched off when bombed. Area POTENZA 14 MET lights seen and other MET unlit. Lights switch on again after bombing and ground strafing. Fires - T1797 at 2038 Hrs. with explosions. T2023 at 2110 Hrs 3 fires. T3090 6 fires on road in L shape. O. 5622 followed by large shooting flame. NORTH portion of POTENZA as of warehouse. Lights: 30 in cluster, area T2884, series 6 pairs and 3 in triangle EBOLI-BATTIPAGLIA area – bright steady red lights at PAOLA and PRAIA-A-MARE.