RAILWAY JUNCTION AT Z9538 — Operations

Operational Record

Target: Railway Junction at Z9538
Duty: Medium level bombing attack - Rail Junction at Y9538 (Latitude : 38° 55' 08'' N Longitude : 16° 15' 04'' E)
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 1146 Hrs LT.
Airborne: 0810 hrs
Returned: 1052 hrs
From: Cuticchi
Map: MESSINA NE 38/14 1:500,000.
Day / night: Day
Casualties: 2 Aircraft minor damage H.A.A. A/Sgt. Buchler, top gunner aircraft No. 206J seriously wounded H.A.A.
Bombing: Medium level bombing attack 11/11500 ft. Course approximately 150° 4 x 500 G.P. 47 Dets. 28 Pistol. 20 x 500 M.C. 47 Dets. 28 Pistol. (4 x 500 hung up and brought back to base).
Air defences: Fairly intense and accurate H.A.A. 1 position at point 1 mile N.W. of LAMEZIA STATION.
Results: Single engine fighter (ME 109)? shot down by escort, crashed at Y9034 in flames. Pilot baled and landed in sea.

Target visible for good distance. Both boxes of 6, bombing on box leaders straddled the tracks in tight sticks and obtained three direct hits. One or two bombs fell in the marshalling area beyond the target.