MISSION DATE: September 23, 1944
MISSION NBR. 148
TARGET: Ora, Italy - Bridge
I. CHRONOLOGY
Twenty-eight
B-24 type aircraft took off at 0625 – 0705 hours to bomb the Railroad Bridge at
Ora, Italy. Twenty-six aircraft retuned
70 tons of 2000 lb G.P. (instantaneous) to base. 12 tons were jettisoned by six aircraft as follows: 2 tons near
I.P. by accidental release; 10 tons in northern Adriatic, to enable aircraft to
keep up with the formation.
Twenty-seven aircraft returned to base at 1346 hours. One aircraft was a prior return. None missing. None lost. None at
friendly fields.
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT
The
route to the Initial Point was flown as briefed and thence on an axis of 295
degrees to a point approximately 10 miles past the initial point. The target was not attacked because of cloud
conditions. The formation turned left
to keypoint and reciprocal course to the home base. The weather enroute was 2/10 – 3/10 over Adriatic building up to
3/10-4/10 over land with visibility 15-25 miles. The target was overcast with 8/10-10/10 cumulus at 14,000 feet
with visibility 5 miles. No escort was
provided. No aircraft attempted photos.
III. RESULTS
No
bombs were dropped.
IV.
ENEMY RESISTANCE
A. Fighters: None were encountered.
B. Flak: None at target. At Pola, Vicenza,
and Villobra, Italy accurate, intense and heavy flak was encountered. No aircraft holed.
V.
OBSERVATIONS
At
1000 hours from 20,000 feet at 44.30N-13.4E, long wake, possible submarine,
heading 120 degrees, moving slowly. At
1135 hours form 19,000 feet at Pola, Italy, one vessel at harbor. At 1030 hours from 19,000 feet 2 vessels in
bay, stationery.
At
1045 hours from 19,500 feet at 45.58N-12.08E 3-4 rows of tanks and field guns
alongside large building.
At
1107 hours from 16,000 at Conegliano, Italy about 300 cars in marshalling
yard. At 1050 hours from 20,000 feet,
at Belluno, Italy 30-40 cars in marshalling yard.
VI. CASUALTIES
None.
VII FLIGHT LEADERS:
Gideon Richman Lombard Hudson Coguillette Carter
Nyreen Martini