At 08.20 hours twelve aircraft took off to bomb an assembly and gun area in woods at F872375. After rendezvous with 12 escort fighters at LARINO, the formation set course for the VOLTURNO RIVER mouth thence along the coast to the target. One aircraft turned back near GAETA due to engine trouble and landed safely at base.
The formation attacked in two boxes almost in line astern at about 15,500 feet. One aircraft failed to bomb and returned to base with a complete load. Opening up to 40 yards, the target was straddled with short sticks in a long pattern. A large explosion with black smoke seen and two large fires (Brown smoke) observed ¾ mile S.E. of CAMPOLEONE station; about 20 open loaded railway trucks on the main line immediately EAST of station.
Two aircraft failed to return. No. 1 of the second Vic (Lt. Richards, pilot, Lt. Cockburn, observer, F/Sgt Robbertse , WT/AG & A/Sgt McCrindle, A.G.) collided with No. 3 of 1st Vic (Lt. Longmore, pilot, Lt Kendal, observer, F/Sgt Theunissen WT/AG, A/Sgt Mackay A.G.) No. 1 was seen to spin down without a tail, and one parachute was seen to open. This was F/Sgt Robbertse who later returned to the Squadron.
No. 3 was later observed along the coast losing height and heading for NAPLES. Later a signal was received that this aircraft had landed safely near NAPLES. Lt. Kendal baled out from this aircraft and made a safe landing, returning to the Unit the following day.
Sortie Report No. 571.
A second raid was carried out in the afternoon and twelve Baltimores took off to bomb a gun assembly position at F878451. The set course with an escort of 6 Spitfires and flew to the mouth of the VOLTURNO RIVER, along the coast past ANZIO and turned on towards target. They bombed in two boxes of six line astern from 14,000 feet. 8/10 cloud over target made observations difficult. The leading observer identified target area through a gap in the clouds and bombed through cloud, the formation bombing on him. Gaps in cloud immediately after bombing enabled observers to report sticks of bombs carrying across the railway line. One red flash with black smoke observed. Heavy Ack Ack, slight and inaccurate from target and CISTERNA area. The formation flew back along the coast to VOLTURNO and direct home. All aircraft landed by 15.37 hours.
Sortie Report No. 572.
Lieut. Lecocq, a Belgian pilot, reported for duty.