Twelve Marauders briefed to attack the Marshalling Yards at FORLI. First box straddled Eastern portion of target, although only two aircraft of this box bombed. One aircraft’s bombs hung-up and were brought back and the other released late bombs falling at M.410178, 2 miles West of the target. Second box had a lateral right error, pattern running parallel with Marshalling Yards. Third box bombed CESENA Marshalling Yards by mistake, the result being a left lateral error. Direct hits were scored on buildings at M.603803. Intense, accurate heavy A.A. from CESENATICO to target and back to the coast, ten aircraft being holed.
Sortie Report No. 839.
Twelve Marauders in three boxes of four aircraft each airborne from PESCARA at 13.40 hours to attack a Stores Dump on the outskirts of CESENA. On arrival in target area CESENA was found obscured by 10/10 cloud and formation carried on to FORLI to attack a target described as a Motor Transport Workshops. Formation found the target partially covered by cloud, but objective was identified. First box very slight left error with a few direct hits in N.E. corner of target. Second box overshot and left error or about 400 yards, with direct hits on buildings. Third box which had become separated bombed FAENZA Marshalling Yards through a gap in clouds, commencing with a slight undershoot finishing in the centre of Yards. Slight, heavy A.A. (accurate) through cloud from CESENA area; three aircraft from third box holed. Nosewheel of one aircraft collapsed due to a hit by flak, no personnel casualties. Two aircraft cat.11. Last aircraft down by 16.45 hours. Sortie Report No. 840.