| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: DECEMBER 21, 1944 | |||||||||
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MISSION NBR. 199 TARGET: Rosenheim, Germany - West Marshalling Yard I. CHRONOLOGY Twenty-eight B-24 type aircraft took off at 0800-0818 hours to bomb the rolling stock in the West Marshalling Yard at Rosenheim, Germany. One aircraft returned early due to leak in gas tank. Twenty-seven aircraft dropped 63.5 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs on the target by synchronous PFF method at 1237 hours from 20,500 - 22,000 feet. One-half tons were jettisoned in order to stay with the formation. The early return brought 2.5 tons back to base. Twenty-five aircraft returned to base at 1547 hours. Two at friendly fields. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT The 450th Bomb Group rendezvoused with the 449th Bomb Group over Manduria on course to San Vito at 6000 feet at 0858 hours. Rendezvous was effected with the 98th and 376th groups at San Vito and the course flown as briefed except for numerous short dog-legs to avoid bad cloud conditions enroute. Due to 10/10 undercast the lead box turned short of briefed I.P. and approached the target on a 58 degree heading. Correction was made on the last 10 miles of the run and the final axis approximated 70 degrees T.C. The "Mickey" of the lead ship of the second attack unit went out shortly after take-off and #2 box of the first attack unit took over the lead of the second attack unit, the lead box of second attack moving into #2 position to drop on the lead box of first attack. The second attack unit hit the I.P. squarely and attacked on a 92 degree axis as briefed. The rally was right to turn point to base. Fifteen P-51's contacted the formation at Schmaz at 1155 hours and provided escort and target cover until 1240 hours when they were left in the target area. III. RESULTS Complete could coverage prevented any damage assessment. X-1 box made a good run and is believed to have dropped on the target. X-s box was forced out of position when X-1 made a course correction late on the bomb run and is believed to have dropped short and to the left. The two boxes of the second attack unit report an excellent run. The target was picked up clearly early on the run and Bombardier - Mickey coordination was perfect. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: None B. Flak: None V. OBSERVATIONS At 1318 hours the airdrome at Aviano was reported to contain several single engine fighters. Three were observed to be taking off. This observation was made from 16,000 feet. VI. CONCLUSION
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