ARMD RECCE RDS:- 1) CASERTA – BENEVENTO – AVELLINO – NAPLES 2) AVELLINO – O.1049 – VALLATA –… — Operations

Operational Record

Target: ARMD RECCE RDS:- 1) CASERTA – BENEVENTO – AVELLINO – NAPLES 2) AVELLINO – O.1049 – VALLATA – N. 8073 3) AULETTA – EBOLI – O.1049 – AVIGLIANO 4) SAPRI – ANIENZA and SAPRI N.W to Bomb line.
Duty: ARMD RECCE RDS; CENTRAL ITALY.
Committed: 8 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: From 2107 Hrs LT to 2247 Hrs LT.
Airborne: 1725 hrs
Returned: 2145 hrs
From: Cuticchi
Map: SICILIA 1:500000 NE36/12, MESSINA 1:500000 NE38/14, NAPOLI 1:500000 NE40/14
Day / night: Night
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Medium level bombing on various courses from 8000/12000 feet. 48 x 250 G.P. 43 Det. 27 Pistol with rods - 6 jettisoned off coast – considered near SAPRI but unable to pin-point coast.
Air defences: 3/4 H/A/A bursts inaccurate and 25 S/Ls SOUTH of NOLA area. Some caught a/c but evaded by diving.
Results: Heavy base over coastal area. C. SCALEA to C. PALLINUNA – one a/c unable to pin-point coast. Jettisoned bombs in sea considered off SAPRI and returned to Base.

Rds and isolated MET movement, some with headlights, were attacked from N. 5574 along road to 8474 causing an explosion. Bombs aimed at 4 MET at 0. 4532 – near misses but green explosion seen. SAPRI town received one stick along WEST. One stick hit road WEST of AVELLINO, near likely MET at 0.3106, 0.3987 bomb hit road near 2 lights. Small bridge received hit at O.2739, 5 MET near bridge at T. 5468. 4/5 MET moving NORTH – long stick MET moved off after bursts.