The commandos, aboard a C-47 of the USAAF, made their parachute jump on the slopes of Monte Tezio to the east of Lake Trasimeno, after which the plane on which they had been travelling crashed into the mountainside killing the entire crew.
[a] Although all six paratroopers landed safely, the group split up after being challenged by a German sentry as they crossed the Tiber.
Lance Corporal J. Malloy and Privates T. Cox, A. Todd, and S. McCormick did not take part in the attack on the airfield but rejoined their units down in Apulia, leaving Major Tony Widdrington and Lieutenant Jimmy Quentin Hughes to go ahead and reach the target, planting bombs on seven airplanes and destroying three.
One of the remaining bombs exploded while being made safe, killing Widdrington and temporarily blinding Hughes in one eye.
After escaping with two others from a POW transport train bound for Germany, he made his way south and rejoined the allied lines.