Operational Record
- Target
- RANDAZZO Village.
- Duty
- RANDAZZO Village.
- Committed
- 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
- Time of attack
- 1028 hrs LT.
- Airborne
- 0645 hrs
- Returned
- 0934 hrs
- From
- Hal Far
- Map
- 1:500,000 SICILIA NE 36/12. TARGET CHART 2/209/NA
- Day / night
- Day
- Casualties
- One aircraft minor damage by HAA.
- Bombing
- Medium level bombing. Height 12000' Course 300° 72 x 250 GP 47 Dets 27 Pistol.
- Air defences
- HAA fairly intense but inaccurate followed formation. 2 guns seen firing from EAST of village. Some LAA seen. Inaccurate.
- Results
- i) Aircraft 167S landed at PACHINO SOUTH SICILY, due to starboard engine failure. ii) MT movement OKSANIA-RANDAZZO Rd. iii) 20 MT moving into RANDAZZO from WEST. iv) Evasive action against AA:- Turn and dive before bombing run. After bombing run:- Reverse turn and dive, using excess speed to climb and steep reverse diving turn.
Formation started pattern at cross-roads NW of Railway Station and at the rail bridge across the cemetery road into the village. Buildings were demolished and hits seen on rail track running SE of town.
Aircraft and crews
FA 271
F – Fox
- Murman, H. C. Pilot
- Walters, W. S. Observer
- Odendaal W/Op AG
- Stewart, L. P. Airgunner
195
G – George
- A'Bear, J. E. Pilot
- Owen-Hughes, M. E. J. Observer
- Harrison, J. R. W/Op AG
- Pickup, J. B. Airgunner
226
H – How
- Ord, D. Officer Commanding
- Hodges, S. R. Observer
- Walker, A. W/Op AG
- Devenish, F. M. Airgunner
206
J – Jug
- Wood, B. O. Pilot
- Nel, C. G. B. Observer
- James, T. L. W/Op AG
- Buchler, F. R. Airgunner
341
L – Love
- Askew, G. H. Pilot
- Lambert, P. H. Observer
- Geldenhuys, J. W. W/Op AG
- Crawhall, J. A. Airgunner
280
P – Peter
- Simpson, R. A. E. W. Pilot
- Handley, S. J. Observer
- Roberts, V. P. W/Op AG
- Shepperson, K. O. Airgunner
387
R – Roger
- Richards, V. C. Pilot
- de Connick Observer
- Robbertse W/Op AG
- McCrindle, D. R. Airgunner
167
S – Sugar
- Smit, A. C. Pilot
- Kay, G. S. Observer
- Purdon, A. M. W/Op AG
- Wright, D. C. Airgunner
FA 181
T – Tare
- Bennett, C. Pilot
- Harle, J. O. Observer
- Strydom W/Op AG
- Oswald, V. Airgunner
291
U – Uncle
- Hargrave, R. A. Pilot
- Rees, F. G. Observer
- Jensen, R. W/Op AG
- Bedford, J. G. E. Airgunner
AG 951
V – Vic
- Greder, O. Pilot
- Gould, D. W. Observer
- Greyling, B. M. W/Op AG
- Groenewald, G. W. Airgunner
FA 344
X – X-ray
- Saunders Pilot
- Booyse, F. A. Observer
- Moore W/Op AG
- Earp-Jones, A. C. Airgunner