Operational Record
- Committed
- 9 Glenn Martin Marauder
- Airborne
- 1252 hrs
- Returned
- 1558 hrs
- From
- Jesi
- Map
- ITALY - 1:100,000 Sheet 65B ALBONA
- Day / night
- Day
- Casualties
- (i) Missing: P/O Blackford W.F. R.A.A.F. Pilot W/O Richardson W.H. R.A.A.F. 2nd Pilot. Lt. Smit D. S.A.A.F. Observer Sgt. Arthur E.M. R.A.F. WT/AG Sgt. Smith D.S. R.A.F. A/G WO/II Nel N.H. S.A.A.F. A/G.
9 Aircraft in 3 Vics airborne from JESI L/G between 1452 – 1758 Hours. Crews briefed to attack ZALOG M/Y pp. D460190, but bad weather was encountered East of TRIESTE and formation turned South and bombed the alternative – ARSA COAL JETTY at J040044. Attacking from 12000' on a course of 190 degrees at 1642 hrs. First Box overshot slightly, no hits claimed in T/A; Second Box had slight left error and undershoot – with last few bombs possibly in tip of target; Third Box straddled wharf with end of pattern in sea. No 2 of first Vic hit by moderate fairly accurate H/A/A immediately after releasing bombs; broke away and eventually crashed and exploded at approx. H8605; 4 chutes seen. Another aircraft holed. Formation escorted by 8 Spits. from PORTO CORSINI. Weather 10/10th cloud inland, but target clear and visibility good.