LORETA FACTORY AREA – B B985256 — Operations

Operational Record

Target: LORETA FACTORY AREA – B B985256
Duty: FACTORY AREA – LORETA - B985256
Committed: 12 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack: 1240 A Hrs
Airborne: 0830 hrs
Returned: 1107 hrs
From: Tortorella
Map: ITALY 1:100,000 Sheet 141 CHIETI
Day / night: Day
Casualties: Nil.
Bombing: Medium level bombing – 350º/020º 13300' 24 x 500 MC 49 Det 27 Pistol 36 x 250 GP 49 Det 27 Pistol
Air defences: Slight moderate H/A/A, fairly accurate. Gun flashes seen C165300 – C123343 along Rd S.W. from PESCARA, C055448, C0840, C0835. 223 Sqdn seemed to get considerable A/A.
Results: One small ship NOT identified as to type and size seen PESCARA from six miles away. Considerable smoke from chimneys CHIETI N.M.S. Most Rds N.W. of PESCARA and target area been used since snowfall. Single a/c seen 1226 Hrs 4 miles NORTH of PESCARA 9000' being fired at by A/A

Target identified and well hit. Majority of bombs fell across factory area. A few bombs in N.W. portion of town. Limits of pattern B985253 – B984258. 2 fires seen in town, one fire (small) near Tank repair workshops. Smoke seen after formation crossed coast on return. Direct hits on Rds S.W. of town. Black smoke over whole factory area. Explosion caused in N.W. edge of town.