| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: MARCH 29, 1944 |
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MISSION NBR. 40 TARGET: Bolzano, Italy - Marshalling Yard I. CHRONOLOGY Thirty-six B-24's took off at 0740 hours to bomb Bolzano Marshalling Yard. Five returned early. Twenty-six dropped 65 tons of 500 G.P. bombs on target at 1214 hours from 21,000 feet. One returned 2 ½ tons of bombs to base. One dropped 2 ½ tons of bombs on railroad line. One dropped 2 ½ tons on railroad bridge and one salvoed 2 ½ tons in Adriatic Sea. Of the early returns two returned 5 tons of bombs to base while 3 salvoed 7 ½ tons of bombs in Adriatic Sea. Twenty-one returned to base at 1450 hours. None lost. None at friendly fields. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT Rendezvoused with 451st Bomb Group at 0825 hours at 3000 feet, proceed on course to Ostuni and rendezvoused with the rest of the Wing. Proceeded to Vieste and kept on course to I.P. (Marano) where right turn was made and target attacked on axis of 148 degrees. Rallied left and continued to Vieste to base. III. RESULTS The target was well covered with a concentration of hits near the bridges and in the marshalling yard. Photo coverage showed ten direct hits at choke point of marshalling yard with three of the bombs on end of the bride and one near end of the highway bridge. The bridges are believed to be severely damaged. Several direct hits were recorded on locomotive depot and car repair shops and the buildings were seen burning. There were bursts among cars in main marshalling yard. Approximately five bombs hit on rail line leading out to Innsbruck. A direct hit on the flumes of power station broke the leads and water was seen running out. The entire target area was smoke covered as the formation made its rally. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: : Near Padova, 12 ME-109's were seen, 10 ME-109's seen near Verona, 9 ME-109's seen near Vicenzia, 10 ME-109's seen near Prento while just off the target, 4 ME-109's were spotted flying near a cloud formation. None of these enemy aircraft made any attacks on our formation as the top cover provided by the P-38's proved too effective. There were no stragglers in the formation and it was apparent that the enemy aircraft were awaiting such bait. One of our aircraft which turned back due to engine failure, was attacked by 10 enemy aircraft comprising 2 FW-190's and 8 ME-109's at 1126 hours. The attacks were pressed home from all angles but predominately from 3-7 o'clock level to high. Enemy aircraft would not break away before 100 yards. When the attacks started our aircraft was at 21,000 feet but was followed down to 2000 feet at which point our aircraft sought protection in a cloud formation and was successful in escaping. During the engagement the following claims are made, 2 ME-109's and VW-190 destroyed, 2 ME-109's probable. During the entire encounter the enemy aircraft did not seem to have any coordinated plan of attack as each aircraft attacked singly and seemed to use its own tactics in the closure and break away. Our aircraft were severely damaged by machine gun and explosive cannon fire. B. Flak: Over the target the flak was medium to intense, accurate, being of the barrage type. Enroute to and from the target flak was encountered as follows: slight, inaccurate heavy from navel vessel near Vinezia, slight, inaccurate heavy around Venice, moderate, accurate heavy over Ferrera and slight, accurate heavy at Vicenzia. Three of our ships were holed but the damage was minor. V. OBSERVATIONS At 1214 hours from 21,500 feet, one B-24 was seen hit by flak and it blew up. No chutes seen to open. At 1220 hours from 19,000 feet, 25 miles south of target, one B-24 was seen heading toward Switzerland. It was thought to be losing altitude. At 1218 hours from 20,000 feet, six to eight chutes were seen from a B-24 but later on pilot apparently rejoined formation. VI. CASUALTIES None. Three aircraft received minor flak damage. One aircraft received serious damage from fighters. One crew member received a minor eye injury. |
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VII. VICTORIES |
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| Destroyed | Probable | Damaged | |
| 2 ME-109's | 2 ME-109's | 0 | |
| 1 FW-190 |
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VIII. FLIGHT LEADERS |
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| Colley | Bauder | Hervey | Gottlieb |