Trapani docks

6 May 1943

From 150 Squadron ORB's

Mission summary:

"The Squadron has been detailed to carry out an attack on the docks at Trapani and eleven aircraft and crews have been selected to carry out the operation. The eleven crews detailed:

• F/Lt Vincent
• F/O Hanlon
• F/O Langlois
• Sgt Mortimer
• Sgt Seville
• Sgt Rimmer
• Sgt Smith
• Sgt Rutherford
• Sgt Lee
• Sgt Tinsley
• Sgt Rayment

Five aircraft were withdrawn:

• JN-X, F/Lt Vincent - Heating in rear turret U/S
• JN-V, F/O Hanlon - Voltage control overcharging
• JN-O, Sgt Mortimer - Starter motor jammed
• JN-C, Sgt Rimmer - Damaged bomb bay
• JN-J, Sgt Seville - Not bombed up in time

The remaining six aircraft were airborne between 2300 and 2356 hours. There was much cloud, haze and an electrical storm on the way and over the target area visibility was particularly bad. Intense darkness added to the difficulties of pin-pointing and none of the crews could say definitely exactly where they bombed. The attack was carried out between 0150 and 0230 hours. The antiaircraft guns were very active, both heavy and light flak being encountered. There was also some searchlight activity. 'JN-M', Sgt Lee, landed at Biskia and 'JN-S', Sgt Rayment, landed at Guelma on a grassy plain outside the town. The remaining four aircraft landed safely at Base between 0455 and 0556 hours."