Operation

BA: GUNS, TROOPS & M.E.T. — STAZ DI PALENA (H087682) BB: 1308 Hrs. BC: Medium level bombing, 14300'/330º 28000 Pamphlets 14 x 500 M.C. 43 Dets 27 Pistols 21 x 250 G.P. 43 Dets 27 Pistols (Rods) 10 x 500 M.C. 43 Dets 27 Pistols ) Jettisoned in sea 15 x 250 G.P. 43 Dets 27 Pistols (Rods) ) 3000' at 1335 A Hrs. BD: Target identified by recognition of rivers TRIGNO and SANGRO and coast TERMOLI — VASTO. Amount of cloud over target affected immediate recognition and two wide circuits completed prior to bombing on third circuit. RR. tunnel, station and Rd recognised. Bomb bursts from H090682 — H085689. One burst in station area. Jet of dense brown smoke from target area after bombing. Direct hit on Rd. Bombs dropped in medium stick. Second box did NOT see first box bomb and on making another run lost target in cloud until too late. One A/C saw box leaders doors open and bombed H0666 — Rd bridge. N.R.O. Formation leader ordered Jettison in sea. BE: 10/15 bursts H/A/A accurate for height only during bombing run. Flashes in H0665 and H0870 and from 100 yards SOUTH and EAST of station. E/A NIL. BF: NIL BG: Obliques and verticals of bomb bursts BH: Big explosion H055630 — red flashes and black smoke 1303 Hrs. Fires in small area H055650 AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST. 437H11 MAJOR ORD, LT HODGES 2/LTs WALKER & DEVENISH 426J LT MURMAN LT WALTERS F/SGT ODENDAAL A/SGT STEWART 586B LT LONGMORE LT KENDAL F/SGT THEUNISSEN A/SGT MACKAY 441P LT FROST LT NEL F/SGT CARTER A/SGT ALLAN 916K LT HEWITT LT HORWITZ F/SGT KIDNEY A/SGT BOWEN 545A CAPT JOB LT OWEN-HUGHES F/SGT JARVIS LT SHAW 181Y MAJOR COULL LT MCARAVEY 2/LTs PERKINS & VAN ROOYEN 383W LT GREDER LT ROSE F. F/SGT GREYLING A/SGT AIREY 387R LT RICHARDS LT ROSE A. F/SGT ROBBERTSE A/SGT MCCRINDLE 240O CAPT DUGMORE LT MASTERS 2/LT MAASDORP F/SGT ROGERS 445U LT ROBERTSON LT HANNING F/SGT DU PIESANIE F/SGT LEISCHING 181T CAPT V. BREDA LT NAUDE F/SGT GRATTON A/SGT ROBERTSON