MISSION DATE: September 18, 1944
MISSION NBR. 143
TARGET: Budapest, Hungary - South Railroad Bridge
I. CHRONOLOGY
Twenty-eight
B-24 type aircraft took off at 0610-0629 hours to bomb the South railroad
bridge in Budapest, Hungary. Twenty-six
dropped 52 tons of 2000 lb RDX bombs on the target at 1030 hours from 23,000 –
25,000 feet. One aircraft jettisoned 2
tons because of engine trouble.
Twenty-eight returned to base at 1312 hours.
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT
The
route was flown as briefed to the I.P. and excellent navigation brought the
formation into position for a run on the target at an axis of 130 degrees. Rally was sharp left, then right and the
route back was flown as briefed. Escort
of 35-40 P-51's effective rendezvous at 0950 hours at 21,000 feet and withdrew
at 1215 hours at 15,000 feet. 8 cameras
attempted photos.
III. RESULTS
Bombardier's
Combat Mission Report: All boxes
had very good runs except Lt. Butner whose sight was out. The I.P. was well hit and all bombardiers
picked up the target as soon as they started on the run. The leaders of X-1 & X-2 boxes had bombardier's
blisters and the leaders of Y-1 & Y-2 boxes did not. Lead box led by Lt. Leavitt of the 721st
Sqdn. scored excellent results with one direct hit on the bridge. Second box led by Lt. Maushart of the 723rd
Sqdn. scored unsatisfactory results with his pattern developing 1000 feet
over. No explanation except poor
synchronization has been offered by the bombardier. Third box led by Lt. Butner of the 722nd Sqdn. scored unsatisfactory
results. Lt. Butner held his bombs when a sight malfunction would not allow him
to make a satisfactory run. He was not
able to contact his number two mean to take over. Number two man dropped when his tail gunner called bombs away
from another ship. The other members of
the box dropped at various intervals.
IV.
ENEMY RESISTANCE
A. Fighters: None.
B. Flak: At the target, flak was moderate, accurate, and heavy, holing 4 aircraft.
V.
OBSERVATIONS
None.
VI. CASUALTIES
Foru
aircraft were holed by flak, none seriously.
VII FLIGHT LEADERS:
Alexander Leavitt Kahan Maushart Stevens Butner
Inglett Myers