| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: DECEMBER 7, 1944 | |||||||||
|
MISSION NBR. 189 TARGET: Innsbruck, Austria - Main Marshalling Yard I. CHRONOLOGY Three B-24 type aircraft took off at 0146-0148 hours to bomb individually by PFF methods. One aircraft returned early due to engine trouble and jettisoned 2 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs at 42.09N - 16.14E at 0320 hours from 17,000 feet. One aircraft penetrated to the Initial Point, but due to insufficient cloud cover at Innsbruck, dropped 2 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs on Lienz (46.50N- 12.45E) at 0517 hours from 25,000 feet. One other aircraft dropped 2 tons to 500 lb RDX bombs on Mittersill (town) at 0513 hours from 25,500 feet, located at 47.17N - 12.29E. The early return landed at 0413 hours while the other two aircraft landed at 0730 hours. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT The three aircraft took off at one minute intervals ot 0146 hours and departed on course from San Vito at 0215-0217 hours at optional altitudes. The route was flown as briefed. One aircraft turned back due to engine trouble; another aircraft penetrated to Mittersill and dropped its bombs on it by E.T.A. method because PFF equipment was inoperative and undercast made visual bombing impossible; and the third aircraft reached the Initial Point, but because of insufficient cloud cover over Innsbruck, a target of opportunity (Lienz) was attacked visually (by moonlight) because of defective PFF equipment. The return route was flown as briefed. The weather enroute to and from the target was 8/10-10/10 undercast but clearing in the Innsbruck area. III. RESULTS Bomb strikes were unobserved for one aircraft due to 9/10-10/10 undercast. One aircraft which bombed visually reports 4 to 5 fires started in the Lienz target area. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: One unidentified enemy aircraft was seen in the Pola area at 0432 hours from 22,500 feet. The enemy aircraft passed under our aircraft then made a climbing turn but made no attack. B. Flak: None V. OBSERVATIONS A. AIR Triple red flared were reported by one of our aircraft as being fired parallel and horizontal with our line of flight. The series of flares began at about 41.55N-16.20E and extended north into enemy territory. VI. CONCLUSION
|