Approx 15 Searchlights

BA. TRAPANI MILO A/D. BB. at 0311 LT and 0355 LT. BC. Medium Level 10000/10500 ft. Courses 217°/185° Mag. 6 x 500 GP 49 Det .025. ) all tail 2 x 500 GP 39 Det 37 Pistol 6/12 hrs. ) fused. 30 x 4 lb Incendiaries. BD. Earlier aircraft saw Mt S.GIULIANO and hangars NE corner of LG in light of own 2 flares - estimated bombs hit SE corner of target area. Did NOT see bombs explode. NO results observed. Returned 0415 hrs., coast line NOT visible to obtain target run to drop remaining flares and set course for base. Later aircraft saw 2 flares SE of target - extinguished before ETA. Bombed in long stick on ETA and dropped incendiaries on 4th bomb. Two bombs seen to explode. Incendiaries seen to start small fires. 2 flares seen to drop over burning incendiaries. BE. NO AA from target area. 1 Searchlight from TRAPANI, which aircraft at sea approaching target. Approx 15 Searchlights between TRAPANI and LG. Heavy cloud West of target interfered and searchlights inaccurate. 4/5 Searchlights and 1 green light at CAP S. VITO. Seemed fairly accurate - evasive action taken. BF. Nil. BG. Nil. BI. (i) One large fire seen on coast approx 2 miles North of TRAPANI. (ii) Gun flashes in wide area 3/4 miles NE CAP BON. (iii) 4/5 lights seen at approx 12000 ft in comet form travelling in same direction, in front and above a/c, and curving before fading or exploding. Both aircraft saw these in target area and NORTH of Mountain. (iv) NO beacons seen. (v) Bearings received by one aircraft - 3 poor, 1 good. LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW 8/9 JULY 43. 176 YY Major Jandrell, Lt. Christie, F/Sgts. Pearce & Le Roux. 226 H Capt. Ord, Lt. Hodges, F/Sgts. Walker & Devenish.