PALENA TOWN - 1276 — Operations

Operational Record

Target: PALENA Town - 1276
Duty: PALENA town - H1276
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: From 1243 Hrs to 1250 Hrs
Airborne: 0852 hrs
Returned: 1027 hrs
From: Tortorella
Map: ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 153 AGNONE
Day / night: Day
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Medium Level Bombing - Courses 230º/270º - Heights 11/12500' 24 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pist) 4 x 500, 6 x 250 dropped in jettison over target. 36 x 250 GP 49 Det 27 Pist)
Air defences: Nil.
Results: Streets of PALENA showed clear of snow. Only movement seen 5 MET just out of village moving N.W. on Rd PALENA – CASOLI

Leading box did dummy run, but on second run bombs and V/L (Vic Leader) did NOT go. Bombed in jettison on third run up. One other a/c dropped in jettison on leader as afraid then of overshooting. Bursts seen from H115755 on course 230º/240º in short stick covering S.W. third of town. Second box turned too late and bombed while still in turn, bursts being seen in short pattern area H108762. N.R.O.