Two raids to-day. First raid twelve Baltimores airborne at 09.10 hours to attack gun positions three miles S. of ANCONA Both boxes bombing line astern straddled area as briefed with a long pattern thro' centre. Several explosions and fires with white smoke visible 40 miles away. One aircraft developed engine trouble approaching target, broke formation and brought back bomb load. Moderate, heavy ack-ack from target area, two aircraft holed. Fighter cover provided. Sortie Report No. 764
Second raid twelve Baltis airborne at 13.15 hours to bomb Gun Area S623407 - S630397 - S622394 - S616405 and to drop pamphlets. course of 360 degrees overshot and lateral error to the left in area S599415. Second box owing to confusion in the identification of CAMERANO and OSIMO towns made a left hand weave after crossing the coast and released bombs from 12,300 feet on a course of 310 degrees on what was believed at the time to be the briefed target. Stick fell in area S563333 as confirmed by photographic evidence about 1000 yards inside bomb line. Results not observed in both cases. Heavy ack-ack, slight, inaccurate after turn off target. Visibility hazy. Sortie Report No.765.