| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: FEBRUARY 24, 1945 | |||||||||||
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MISSION NBR. 228 TARGET: Verona/Porto Nuovo, Italy - Main Railway Station I. CHRONOLOGY Twenty-eight B-24 type aircraft took off a 0945-0959 to bomb the Verona/Porto Nuovo Main Railway Station. One aircraft returned early. Twenty-seven aircraft dropped 53 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs on the primary target at 1410-1421 hours from 24,000 - 25,000 feet altitude. One aircraft jettisoned 2 tons of bombs in the Adriatic, when making an early return with one engine inoperative. Twenty-four aircraft returned to base at 1642 hours. None lost. None missing. 3 aircraft landed at friendly fields: one of which has since returned to base. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT Rendezvous was made over Tisteno (42.55N-16.40E) at 1146 hours and course was flown to initial point, Schio (45.43N-11.21E), as briefed. From that point the planned axis 223 degrees T. The target was bombed visually on headings of 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 250 degrees and 310 degrees by the four squadrons. The rally off the target was to the left and the course was flown as briefed on withdrawal. 15-20 P-51 aircraft rendezvoused as escort at 1320 hours. 24,000 at ( 46.17N-13.54E) and 10 P-51 aircraft withdrew at 1430 hours, 18,000 at (45.09N-10.42E). At the target weather was 2/10 cumulus at 20,000 feet with visibility restricted to 8 miles by haze. III. RESULTS Bomb strike photos show: 1st squadron scored 15 hits on target with several bombs 2,000 feet SE of target on small industrial buildings. The three other squadrons put heavy concentrations on the target causing fires and explosions. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: None B. Flak: Moderate, accurate, heavy at target. Slight, accurate, heavy, from S. Benedetto a Po (45.03N-10.55E). V. OBSERVATIONS None VI. CONCLUSION
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