| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: DECEMBER 25, 1944 | |||||||||
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MISSION NBR. 200 TARGET: Innsbruck, Germany - West Marshalling Yard I. CHRONOLOGY Twenty-seven B-24 type aircraft took off at 0745-0806 hours to bomb the West Marshalling Yard at Innsbruck, Germany. None returned early. Twenty aircraft dropped 38 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs at the primary target. Seven aircraft dropped 12 tons of 100 pound bombs. clustered, as briefed on anti-aircraft defenses in the target area. Bombing was at 1145 hours from 23,000 - 24,000 feet. Two aircraft jettisoned partial loads totaling 1.5 tons of 100 pound clusters near Venice, Italy in the Adriatic. One aircraft jettisoned partial load of 1 ton of 500 pound RDX bombs. These bomb failed to release over the target. Seven aircraft returned to base at 1515 hours and 17 at 1543 hours. One aircraft lost. One missing. One at friendly field. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT The route was flown as briefed. Seventeen aircraft rallied to right off the target as briefed. Seven aircraft accomplished a successful rally to left because of anti-aircraft fire to the right. These latter aircraft had bombed anti-aircraft defenses, as briefed, just short of the marshalling yard. The lead box (seven aircraft) of the Second Attack Unit made a 360 degree turn at the target and bombed on briefed axis; when they failed to pick up target on first run. The fourth and last box, bombed on first run. Bombing was visual. The weather was CAVU. There was no escort. III. RESULTS Bomb strike photo assessment shows a good concentration on a railroad bridge, at the West end of the marshalling yard, with two or three hits on the bridge. Two anti-aircraft positions were destroyed. Many hits were made in the marshalling yard and repair shed were hit. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: None B. Flak: Moderate to intense, accurate, heavy at the target. V. OBSERVATIONS None VI. CONCLUSION
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