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Operation No. 126

ENEMY M.T. AND TANKS IN AREA PP. 860303, 865304, 855298, 863298

Saturday, 31 October 1942

Over target: 1241 hrs 18 aircraft 73 aircrew

Operational Record

Target
Enemy M.T. and tanks in area pp. 860303, 865304, 855298, 863298.
Duty
Dispersed M.T. and tanks in area pps. 860303, 865304, 855298, 863298
Committed
18 Glenn Martin Baltimore
Time of attack
1241 hours O.
Airborne
0842 hrs
Returned
1006 hrs
From
L.G. 98
Map
1:250000 Egypt and Cyrenaica. Sheet 14. El Daba.
Day / night
Day
Casualties
Nil.
Bombing
Medium level bombing from 10500 ft. 108 x 250 lbs. (Rods) G.P. det. 43.
Air defences
No enemy fighters seen. Approximately twelve heavy guns firing from positions along the S.E. area of the target engaged Number 3 box and only the aircraft in this box were holed; two fairly extensively. One A/C had a wheel punctured, but the pilot, Lt. Mouton, made a good landing.
Results
Five to seven large twin-engined aircraft reported dispersed at 859297. No landing ground apparent. Track leading through dispersal area.
Observers were instructed to bomb after leader had opened his bomb-doors and select their own targets. The M.T. were well dispersed but bombs were fairly well distributed. Two fires were started, one giving off a large column of smoke. An explosion giving off red and blue flashes took place near a bomb burst. The run-up to the target is reported to have been excellent.

10,500ft.

Aircraft and crews