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ARMD RECCE RDS:- I) CASALNUOVA – CASERTA – BENEVENTO – AVELLINO II) AVELLINO – GROTTAMINARDA…

Time: 21:08 hrs

Sortie Report (Form 541)

BA: RR. and M/YARDS BENEVENTO N6362.BB: From 2108 Hrs LT to 2123 Hrs LT.BC: Medium Level Bombing. Courses 040º/170º Height 8200/10500 ft.24 x 500 G.P. 47 Dets. 27 PistolsBD: Target well identified — fire started at 2102 Hrs and 6 flaresdropped, by other aircraft. 11 bombs dropped directly on M/Y,4 in town SOUTH of EAST end of M/Y, others either side of RR.One explosion SOUTH of centre on side of M/Y and one buildinghit just off M/Y SOUTH of EAST end.BE: NIL over target, 20 plus bursts H.A.A. 10 against one a/cfairly accurate, from CASTELLAMARE, approximately 20 SALERNO,slight from VICO EQUENSE, SARNO, AVELLINA, BAIANA, and MTVESUVIUS area all considered inaccurate. 2 S/Ls NAPLES area.BF: NIL.BG: NIL.BH: Large fire 10 miles EAST of LICOSA PT. Steady light at sea 14miles WEST of NAPLES. 1 blue light SALINA Is. 2 Yellow LIPARI1 large vessel 15 miles N.W. LICOSA PT.AIRCRAFT AND CREW LIST.290C LT/COL. BRITZ. D.F.C. P/O SMALLMAN 2/LTs HARRISON & PICKUP586B CAPT. SAUNDERS. LT. BOOYSE. F/S. MOORE. SGT EARP-JONES341L LT. WILLMOTT. LT. BORCHARDS. F/S LOOTS. F/S. WALBRIDGE256S CAPT. SMIT. LT. KAY. 2/LTs PURDON & WRIGHT291U LT. HARGRAVE LT. REES. SGT. JANSEN. F/S. BEDFORD181T LT. DUGMORE LT. MASTERS 2/LT. MAASDORP. F/S. ROGERS

Transcriber's Notes

Hrs LT
Hours Local Time.
G.P
General Purpose (explosive bombs).
Dets
Detonators.
H.A.A
Heavy Anti-Aircraft fire.
S/Ls
Searchlights.
PT
Point.
Is
Island.
N.W
North-West.
LT/COL
Lieutenant Colonel.
D.F.C
Distinguished Flying Cross. Personnel and Command Observations

Abbreviations and Technical Terms Expanded

RR. and M/YARDS: Railroad and Marshalling Yards.

ft.: feet.

a/c: aircraft.