MISSION DATE: JANUARY 23, 1944

MISSION NBR. 14

TARGET:  Primary Assigned:  Two Landing Strips Ten Miles East of Rome.

                        Alternate Bombed:  Rieti, Italy - Airdrome

I. CHRONOLOGY

Thirty-four B-24's dropped 100.5 tons of 500 lb Demo. bombs from 19,000 – 21,000 feet at 1142 hours.

II.  ROUTE AND ASSAULT

There were three early returns. No encounters with enemy aircraft. All our aircraft returned to home base.

III.  RESULTS

Airdrome at Rieti bombed, primary target completely overcast. Claimed well hit on landing areas and hanger line. South hangers directly hit, with other hits on workshops to south side. One direct hit on factory and possibly personnel barracks 4,000 feet south of airdrome.

IV.  ENEMY RESISTANCE

     A.  Fighters:  None encountered.                

     B.  Flak:  Heavy, moderate to intense, inaccurate to accurate. Concentration of flak fire coming from both sides of Pescara River. Nine of our aircraft were holed by flak.             

V.  OBSERVATIONS

Nine single engine fighters headed to coast from Capri. Five ME-109's circled formation at 21,000 feet. Thirteen miscellaneous ships headed north of Capri.

VI.  CASUALTIES                        

None.

VII. FLIGHT LEADERS:

Gideon                                   Kingsman                               Orris                            Lehman

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

Mission No. 14.

Narrative report for mission flown 23 January 1944.

1. Unit - 450 Bomb Group.

2.  Target – Primary target assigned: 2 landing strips 10 miles east of Rome. Alternate bombed – Rieti A/D Italy. Primary target completely overcast.

3.  34 B24's dropped 100.5 tons of 500 lb demo: fuzed .10 and .025 Nose and Tail, from 19,000 to 21,500 ft at 1142 hours.

4.  There were three early returns.

5. No encounters with E/A.

6.  No preliminary claims.

7.  all our A/C returned to base.

8. Flak.

            A. Heavy, moderate, inaccurate, at 42⁰26'N – 12⁰51'E.

            B. Heavy, moderate, accurate, at 42⁰41'N – 14⁰01'E.

            C. Heavy, intense, accurate, at 42⁰28'N – 14⁰13'E.

            D. Heavy, intense, accurate, at 43⁰06'N – 13⁰50'E.

            E. Heavy, intense, accurate, at 42⁰22'N – 13⁰22'E.

            F.  Heavy, moderate, accurate at 42⁰51'N – 13⁰56'E.

            G.  Heavy, moderate, accurate at 41⁰55'N – 12⁰55'E.

            H. Heavy, moderate, accurate at 42⁰05'N – 14⁰10''E.

Concentration of Flak fire coming from both sides of Pescara River at Mouth. Identified by target chart No. 3 – 31 – NA. Nine of our A/C were holed by Flak.

9.  A/D bombed, claimed well hit on landing areas and hangar line. South hangars directly hit, with other hits on workshops to sough side. One direct hit on factory and possibly personnel barracks 4,000 feet south of A/D. Photographs establish target bombed as Rieti, Italy.

10.  5 ships carried cameras. Of these, one camera malfunctioned. One set of pictures did not cover target area. 3 cameras took pictures of good quality over target.

11.  Important observations.

            A.  Nine S/E fighters headed to Coast from Capri at 1230 hours, seen from 15,000 feet.

            B. five ME 109's at 1132 hours circled formation at 21,000 feet. (41⁰58'N – 12⁰475'E.)

            C.  13 miscellaneous ships headed north from Capri at 1033 hours from 15,000 feet.

D.  4 possible S.S. seen at Pedaso, 43⁰06'N – 13⁰50'E. Observed at 1300 hours, from 15,000 feet.

12. Weather over target - 9/10 visibility.

Verne A. Weber

Captain, A. C.

Actg. Group S-2