| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: DECEMBER 6, 1944 | |||||||||
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MISSION NBR. 188 TARGET: Sopron, Hungary - East Marshalling Yard I. CHRONOLOGY Forty-two B-24 type aircraft took off at 0715-0744 hours to bomb the East Marshalling Yard at Sopron, Hungary. There was one early return due to the loss on an engine from mechanical reasons. Thirty-nine aircraft dropped 94.5 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs on the target at 1123 hours from 21,000 - 22,500 feet. Two jettisoned their full load of 5 tons; one after they had failed to release at the target because of mechanical failure and the other in the Adriatic because of the loss of an engine over the target from mechanical cause and lack of opportunity to bomb an alternate. In addition, 3 of 39 dropping on the target did not release full loads; one returned .75 tons to the base because of rack malfunction, one jettisoned .25 tons in the Adriatic which had hung up and one jettisoned .5 tons which also had hung up. Forty-one aircraft returned to the base at 1405 hours. None lost. None missing. None at friendly fields. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT Rendezvous and route to the target were as briefed. In the Vis vicinity, there was 4/10 cumulus with tops at 8000 feet and thin cirro-stratus over the Yugoslav mountains. In the Zagreb area, there was 9/10 strato-cumulus with tops at 12,000 feet and thin cirro-stratus at 20,000 feet which continued to obscure the ground substantially until the I.P. of Friedberg was reached. From the I.P. to the target, it was CAVU and made possible a good run. Bombing was visual and was done by boxes on an axis of attack of 54 degrees. One box found it necessary to make a 360 degree turn and bomb on the second run. Rally was right and the route back was flown as briefed. Target cover was provided by 30-35 P-38's which were observed at 1120 hours at 22,000 feet and 16 of them remained within view of the Group and withdrew at 1200 hours. III. RESULTS Visual observation verified by photo-coverage reveals devastating damage with destruction of trackage, transshipment sheds, offices, supply dumps,and rolling stock. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: None B. Flak: None V. OBSERVATIONS (Information Missing) VI. CONCLUSION
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