Operation

BA. Interrupt road communications by bombing in area B8228- S STEFANO- NICOSIA- ENNA- CALTANISSETTA- bombline to South coast- B8228 BB. From 2208 hrs LT to 2340 hrs LT. BC. Medium Level bombing 5/7000' 18 x 250 GP Rods 43 Det 90 x 4lb Incendiaries 9 Flares Recce 4.5 No 4 120 x .30 mm. BD. Road recced from ALIA- ENNA- NICOSIA- B8228, several portions being covered more than once. Road VALLELUNGA- ALIMERIA- GANGI- ALIMERIA- VILLAROSA also covered. Suspected movement at various points - Incendiaries carried dropped at same time as 250 GP bombs and at various points on road. Pamphlets distributed along route. Certain points MT identified and bombed. Details as follows: 1. H2587 – 6/8 MT stationary and dispersed – 1 flare, 2 bombs and incendiary – fell either side of cross-roads. 2. H3492 – number of houses - bend of road - stick 6 bombs – NO results observed. 3. C3103- C3204 – considerable MT moving NW and dispersed – causeway or bridge – 5 bombs, 2 flares and incendiaries - 1 bomb seen to fall among MT SOUTH of bridge and road hit NORTH of bridge. 4 C3506 – cross-roads NORTH of NICOSIA – 1 flare, 3 bombs and incendiaries – road hit. 5 G1812 – 12/15 MT moving NW and into dispersal – 2 bombs and incendiaries – hit on road among MT and edge of GANGI town – NO results observed. BE Slight LAA inaccurate NORTH of NICOSIA BF NIL BG NIL BH Bush fire SW AGRIGENTO - large fire PORTO EMPEDOCLE greenish-blue flame, white smoke. Large ship seen P2335 at 2130 hrs LT with 2 bright lights and deck lit. Course 080°M. Ship seen with flashes as bomb bursts on it and later observed burning 20 miles SE LICATA. AA seen SCIACCA area LIST OF AIRCRAFT AND CREW 108 O Capt Stuart, Lt Pawson, F/Sgt Morley, 2/Lt Schumann 221 Y Lts Eaton & McDermot, F/Sgts Freestone (NZ) & Van Rooyen 173 P Capt Saunders, Lt Booyse, F/Sgt Moore & Sgt Earp-Jones