Operational Record
- Committed
- 11 Glenn Martin Baltimore
- Airborne
- 1218 hrs
- Returned
- 1400 hrs
- From
- Biferno
- Map
- ITALY - 1:100,000 CHIETI Sheet 141
- Day / night
- Day
11 Baltimores airborne by 1428 Hrs to attack a STORES DUMP on either side of a road from B990247 to C001252 near LORETO. After R/v with 223 Sqdn (Leading) formation set course at 1445 Hrs and bombed in boxes line astern from 11000' at 1509 Hrs. The main concentration of 223 Sqdn's bombs appeared to fall in the Western portion of the target which was covered in smoke. 21 Sqdn's pattern commenced in this smoke and ran through the target to just short of the pin point given as ending the target area. At least 4 major and numerous minor explosions and fires occured (causing distinct bumps to the a/c) and on turning away the area was enveloped in white, black and brown smoke rising to about 2000'. Further explosions followed and were still taking place when the formation passed over POPOLI on the return trip. All a/c down by 1600 Hrs. NO fighter escort. Target area clear and visibility good. Slight inaccurate H/A/A from coastal area after turn-off.