MISSION DATE: JANUARY 14, 1944

MISSION NBR. 5

TARGET:  Mostar, Yugoslavia  -  Town

I. CHRONOLOGY

Thirty-five B-24's dropped 90.5 tons of 500 lb. Demo. bombs in the target area at 1040 – 1052 hours from 20,000 – 21,000 feet. Disposition of bombs in missing aircraft unknown. Eight other aircraft jettisoned bombs in the Adriatic Sea due to early returns or inability to bomb at target.

II.  ROUTE AND ASSAULT

There were five early returns to home base. Of these early returns, one aircraft dropped 12 X 500 in area of Porto Largo, Island of Lagosta. Four other early returns jettisoned in the Adriatic Sea enroute back to home base. All early returns due to mechanical failure. The Group was escorted by P-38's from the 82^nd Fighter Group.

III.  RESULTS

Seventeen of our planes claimed to have hit target with all bombs. Seven aircraft went wide and claimed hits on Mostar Airdrome. Three other ships reported hits on road and bridge approximately one mile NW of target.

IV.  ENEMY RESISTANCE

     A.  Fighters: Three encounters reported with ME-109's. All contacts near target area and back to the Adriatic Coast. One of our aircraft attacked by seven ME-109's. Second bomber reports passed by four or five ME-109's from high rear. Exact location of attack not stated. Third bomber reports three ME-109's or FW-190's at 1050 hours, just beyond target at 20,000 feet, coming out of sun at 11 o'clock high. On one pass, one enemy aircraft trailed smoke after breakoff. No damage resulting from fighter attacks per reports. 

     B.  Flak: Reported in target area and over Mostar Airdrome. Heavy type, moderate to intense, accurate over target area and airdrome. Twenty of our aircraft hit by flak. One plane reported failure of engine from same cause.             

V.  OBSERVATIONS

Several of our aircraft reported one ME-109 shot down in flames by a P-38 SW of target at 1100 hours. Nine of our aircraft reporting seeing a B-24 explode over target at 1100 hours. Various reports indicate from one to four parachutes seen.

VI.  CASUALTIES

One bomber lost to flak. Twenty aircraft received flak damage. Two crew members wounded by flak.                            

VII. FLIGHT LEADERS:      

Snaith                                     Kaecker                                 Orris                            Lehman

HEADQUARTERS 450^TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) A.P.O. 520

Mission No. 5.

Narrative report for mission flown 14 January 1944.

1. Unit – 450 Bomb Group.

2.  Target – Town of Mostar, Yugoslavia.

3.  32 B24 H's dropped 90.5 tons of 500 lb Demo. AN – M64 nose AM 103 Tail AM 101 A2 bombs in the Target area at 1040 – 1052 hours from 20,000 to 21,500 feet. Disposition of bombs in missing A/C unknown. 8 other A/C jettisoned bombs in Adriatic due to early returns or inability to bomb at target.  One ship dropped near Island of Lagosta.

4. Early Returns. There were 5 early returns to home base. Of these early returns one A/C dropped 12 X 500 in area of Porto Largo, Island of Lagosta. Believed that bombs fell in water near shoreline installations. 4 other early returns jettisoned in Adriatic enroute back to home base.  All early returns due to mechanical failure.

5.  3 enemy encounters reported with ME 109's . All contacts near target area and back to Adriatic Coast.  One of our A/C attacked by 7 ME 109's. One pass high from 1 o'clock breaking off low. Second bomber reports passed by 4 or 5 ME 109's from high rear. Exact location of attack not stated.  3^rd bomber reports three ME 109's or FW 190's at 1050 hours, just beyond target at 20,000, coming out of the sun at 11 o'clock high.  One pass, one E/A trailed smoke after break-off. No damage resulting from fighter attacks per reports.

6.  No preliminary claims.

7.  One of our A/C failed to return being reported going down headed toward Island of Mijet.  All others returned to home base.

8.         A. Flak reported in target area and over Mostar Airdrome. 8 batteries of 4 guns each believed seen at N. W. section of town.

            B. Heavy type, moderate to Intense, accurate over Target area and Airdrome.

C. 20 our A/C hit by flak. Holes in fuselage and wings. One plane reported failure of engine from same cause.

9.  Bombing results.  17 of our planes claimed to have hit Target with all bombs.  7 A/C went wide and claimed hits on Mostar Airdrome.  3 other ships report hits on road and bridge approx. 1 mile N. W. of Target.

10.  6 ships carried cameras. One camera in missing plane. One failed to function and 4 obtained photos which confirmed hits on the Target.

11.       A. Several our A/C report 1 ME 109 shot down in flames by a P-38 S.W. of Target at 1100.

            B. 9 of our A/C reporting seeing B-24 explode over target at 1100 hrs. Various reports indicate from one to four parachutes.

12.  Weather good – 15 mile visibility over target area.

Verne A Weber

Capt, A. C.

Actg. S-2, Group