| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 1945 | |||||||||
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MISSION NBR. 227 TARGET: Verona, Italy - Locomotive Depot I. CHRONOLOGY Twenty-six aircraft took off at 0830-0846 hours to bomb the Loco Depot at Verona, Italy. Twenty-six aircraft dropped 50 tons of 250 lb RDX bombs on the primary target at 1226-1237 hours from 23,500 - 25,500 feet. Due to rack malfunctions 3 of the aircraft over the target disposed of partial loads as follows: 2 aircraft jettisoned total of 7/8 tons two to five minutes beyond the target, and one aircraft returned 1/8 ton to base. Twenty-six aircraft returned to base a 1505-1512 hours. None lost. None missing. None at friendly fields. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT Rendezvous was effected as planned and the route was flown as briefed. On the bomb run, however, the squadron leading the Group had difficulty in finding the target because of haze and made a 360 degree turn. The other three squadrons bombed on their initial run. All squadrons bombed visually on an axis of attack varying from 160 degrees to 220 degrees. A slight left rally off the target was effected and the route to base was flown as briefed. Escort of 10-15 P-51's effected rendezvous at 1215 hours in the target area at 25,000 feet and provided cover until 1300 hours when the formation reached the Florence area. III. RESULTS Photo coverage show that the: 1st Squadron (after making a 360 degree turn) dropped its bombs short but a few bombs carried on into the target. 2nd Squadron hit 4500 feet west of the A.P. and bombs fell across the railroad tracks leading to Villafrance. 3rd Squadron hit 3000 feet to the west of the A.P. and scored hits on the choke point leading to the Brenner line. 4th Squadron dropped in the country 11,000 feet west of the A.P. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: None B. Flak: Moderate, inaccurate to accurate, heavy type flak was encountered over Verona, and one squadron coming off the target experienced moderate, inaccurate to accurate heavy flak at S. Benedetto. V. OBSERVATIONS At 1155 hours from 20,000 feet 6 JU-52's and 15 single-engine fighters were observed on the Aviano Airdrome which appeared to be in good condition. VI. CONCLUSION
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