GUNS, TROOPS & M.E.T. – STAZ DI PALENA (H087682) — Operations

Operational Record

Target: GUNS, TROOPS & M.E.T. – STAZ DI PALENA (H087682)
Duty: GUNS, TROOPS & M.E.T. – STAZ DI PALENA (H087682)
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 1308 Hrs.
Airborne: 0902 hrs
Returned: 1058 hrs
From: Tortorella
Map: ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 153.
Day / night: Day
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Medium level bombing. 14300'/300° 28000 Pamphlets 14 x 500 M.C. 43 Dets 27 Pistols 21 x 250 G.P. 43 Dets 27 Pistols (Rods) 10 x 500 M.C. 43 Dets 27 Pistols) 15 x 250 G.P. 43 Dets 27 Pistols (Rods)) Jettisoned in sea from 3000' at 1335 A Hrs.
Air defences: 10 / 15 bursts H/A/A accurate for height only during bombing run. Flashes in H0665 and H0870 and from 100 yards SOUTH and EAST of station. E/A Nil.
Results: Big explosion H055630 – red flashes and black smoke 1303 Hrs. fires in small area H055650.

Target identified by recognition of rivers TRIGNO and SANGRO and coast TERMOLI – VASTO. Amount of cloud over target affected immediate recognition and two wide circuits completed prior to bombing on third circuit. RR. tunnel, station and Rd recognised. Bomb bursts from H090682 - H085689. One burst in station area, a lot of dense brown smoke from target area after bombing. Direct hits on Rd. Bombs dropped in medium stick. Second box did NOT see first box bomb and on making another run lost target in cloud until too late. One A/C saw box leaders doors open and bombed H0666 – Rd bridge. N.R.O. Formation leader ordered jettison in sea.