MILAZZO HARBOUR — Operations

Operational Record

Target: MILAZZO harbour.
Duty: MILAZZO HARBOUR.
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 1028 hrs LT.
Airborne: 0708 hrs
Returned: 0950 hrs
From: Hal Far
Map: 1. SICILIA 1:500,000. NE 36/12 2. TARGET CHART 2/107/NA
Day / night: Day
Casualties: i) Aircraft AH 108 "O" belly-landed on own LG. Hit by HAA over Target during bombing run. ii) 2/Lt R.N. TOMS WOP/Gunner hit in right leg by AA Splinters. iii) Five other aircraft sustained minor damage from HAA
Bombing: Medium level bombing. 12200 ft Course 120/165° 72 x 250 GP 47 Det 27 Pistol (Nose Fused)
Air defences: i) HAA from FALCONE. Moderate (6/8 guns) inaccurate. ii) HAA from positions EAST of WAREHOUSES on either side of main road (12 guns) intense, too low, some bursts accurate. iii) HAA fairly accurate moderate from HEADLAND. iv) Two HAA positions in mouth of River Mela.
Results: 1. General increase in MT movement on main roads behind bombline. 2. Two trains in station at MILAZZO station. One with engine. Steam up. 3. 2 Sea Planes in bay. 4. 4 Tanks well dispersed NORTH of CATENANUOVA.

Off at 0908 hrs LT, attacked MILAZZO Harbour from 12200 ft at 1028 hrs on Course 120/165°. Landed 1150 hrs. One box started stick from SOUTH of Engine Sheds to Railroad. One stick Main road. One hit on Railroad. No. 2 box overshot Mole into sea. Moderate to intense HAA fairly accurate. Weather good. Visibility 5/10 miles.