Operational Record
- Committed
- 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
- Airborne
- 1143 hrs
- Returned
- 1353 hrs
- From
- Biferno
- Map
- ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 141 CHIETI
- Day / night
- Day
- Casualties
- i) One destroyed ii) 2 Cat. 1. No. 47505V. Capt van der RIET. T.A.B. Pilot, Killed (NO details.)
12 a/c took off in two boxes from BIFERNO L/G from 1443 to 1450 Hrs and bombed the CHIETI Cellulose Factory C115185 at 1539 Hrs from 15000' on course of 010º/025º. A cover of 4 Spitfires was provided over target area. 11 of the a/c returned to base, the last landing at 1653 Hrs. The remaining a/c was seen to bomb and shortly afterwards to fall out of the formation. A message was later received from the army advised that this a/c had crashed at H3595 (later corrected as H357912) and 4 parachutes was seen to open. Three of the crew landed near ATESSA where they were being cared for by the 13th CORPS. A further message advised that the Pilot (CAPT v.d. RIET) had been killed, NO details being given. Visibility over target was good but cloudy en-route. Heavy intense and accurate A/A was encountered soon after crossing the bomb-line, particularly along the GUARDIAGRELE – CHIETI road, from immediately WEST of the target and from the PESCARA valley. Several of the 11 a/c were holed, two being Cat. 1. on return. Bombing results generally were NOT well observed due to evasive action through the A/A, but it appears the entire formation undershot, short sticks commencing with direct hits on station C113171, extending along Western edge of railway, and ending at C115185 just short of factory.