ROAD AND RR DEFILE N.E. OF POPOLI – GRID G88 TO G89 E. NORTH OF GRID 99N — Operations

Operational Record

Target: Road and RR Defile N.E. of POPOLI – Grid G88 to G89 E. NORTH of Grid 99N.
Duty: Road and RR Defile N.E. of POPOLI
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 1602 to 1607 Hrs (two runs)
Airborne: 1200 hrs
Returned: 1356 hrs
From: Tortorella
Map: ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 146 SULMONA
Day / night: Day
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Medium level bombing 080º/085º 12000/12300' 24 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol 36 x 250 GP 49 Det 27 Pistol
Air defences: Nil.
Results: i) 2 M/T travelling fast in opposite directions B8101. 6 Light trucks moving towards POPOLI B915007. 4 Heavy trucks entering POPOLI on BARISCIANO Rd. ii) Rds CASOLI – Westwards cleared of snow. NO movement seen.

Leader opened bomb doors on approaching target but owing to a patch of cloud impairing visibility over target closed bomb doors and made a second run. All a/c in the leading box and the leader of the second box held their bombs. The remaining five a/c in the second box bombed on the first run, bombs falling on the top of the slope SOUTH of target area., from G885969 to G887989. First box and second box leader bombs were observed bursting in clumps over Rd and Railway short of tunnel. Some bombs fell on the slope SOUTH of Target. 3 direct hits on Rd G880991 and a cluster of bombs on Railway line. Direct hit on building G870990. Box Leader and Vic leader dropped a quick stick No 2 and No 3 jettisoned on their leaders second bomb.