| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: DECEMBER 15, 1944 |
|
MISSION NBR. 193 TARGET: Rosenheim, Germany - Marshalling Yard I. CHRONOLOGY Twenty-eight B-24 type aircraft took off from base at 0816-0836 hours to bomb the main marshalling yard at Rosenheim, Germany. One aircraft was an early return due to a damaged stabilizer caused by an accidentally released waist window. All aircraft carried 500 lb RDX bombs. Twenty-seven aircraft dropped 65.5 tons on and in the target area: 33.75 tons in the target area by PFF, and 31.75 tons visually on the target. Target was bombed between 1227-1248 hours from 22,000 - 22,500 feet. The early return aircraft jettisoned 2.5 tons in the Adriatic. One aircraft jettisoned .25 ton hung up bomb one minute after the target. One aircraft released .25 ton bomb before the target by error. Total bomb load carried on take off from base was 68.5 tons. Twenty-seven aircraft returned to base a 1523-1554 hours. None lost. None missing. None at friendly fields. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT After taking off from base, the Group formed into 2 Attack Units of 2 boxes each. The plan of attack was by boxes in trail with a PFF aircraft in each box lead in event of an obscured target. The route was flown as briefed to the I.P. and the target was attacked on an axis of 270 degrees. Near the I.P. the PFF on the Group lead aircraft malfunctioned and due to an 8/10 undercast at 17,000 the leader decided to have A Attack Unit bomb by PFF. The lead box dropped back and flew high right on the second box and the PFF run was made. Y Attack Unit attacked by boxes and bombed visually through cloud breaks. The rally off the target was shrap left and route back to base was flown as briefed. Initial interrogation of navigators made it appear that the route was flown to the north around Salzburg, but additional interrogation of PFF operators and navigators confirms route being flown as briefed. Although the Group was forced a bit wide in forming an attack position during the crossover from left to right of the lead group, there was not an exceptional wide turnout. 30-36 P-51 type escort rendezvoused at 1145 hours at from 22,000 - 25,000 feet at Lake Millsdaten. Departed at 1350 hours at 10,000 feet near Sansego. III. RESULTS X Attack Unit: PFF run and on TC 13-112-NA, bursts can be observed in the building at X-20, and in the area of small industrial building at J-K/19-20. Y Attack Unit: The 1st box dropped its bomb across its aiming point at the north end of the sheds at X-14 (TC 13-112-NA). Hits were scored on the sheds and among rolling stock. Direct hit was made on northwest end of the yard cutting the track leading to Bad Aibling. The 2nd box made 2 runs and bombed through an opening in the clouds and put a good concentration of bursts down on the southeast end of the yard. Wind, 300 degrees at 15 knots. Ten aircraft attempted photographs. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: None B. Flak: No flak encountered or observed until on
course and 25 miles SE of the I.P. At
this point, moderate, heavy flak was observed being fired at a unit ahead.
Bursts were 6 in a group. It is believed that this flak came from
Berchtesgaeden. A 6 gun emplacement was glimpsed in this area through a small
break in the clouds and could not be pinpointed. About 8 miles before the I.P.,
scant to moderate, inaccurate, heavy flak was fired at the formation for 2
minutes. Range was good but was off to the left at 11 o'clock. Flak had been
visually reported as intense in this position as plotted on Sheet 12, Flak
Concentration Map Series 3, December 1. At the target, no flak was encountered
or observed. No aircraft received damage. V. OBSERVATIONS None VI. CONCLUSION A. Losses: None B. Damage: None C. Casualties: None D. Victories: None |