MISSION DATE: JANUARY 27. 1944
MISSION NBR. 16
TARGET: Istres/LeTube, France - Airdrome
I. CHRONOLOGY
Thirty-four B-24's took off at 0650 hours to bomb installations at Istres/LeTube Airdrome. Five returned early. Twenty-seven bombers dropped 80 tones of 500 lb G.P. bombs on target at 1235 hours from 21,000 – 22,000 feet. Twenty-six returned to base 1650 hours while one returned at 1850 hours, having been forced to land at friendly airdrome on the Island of Corsica to refuel. One B-24 lost. One landed at San Pancrazia airdrome due to fuel shortage.
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT
Arrived at rendezvous (Groltaglie) at 0755 hours at 5,000 feet but since the 449th Bombardment Group did not make contact, proceeded to rendezvous with escort at 1035 hours over Capicciolo Point. Continued on course as briefed to I.P. where a turn was made onto target. The Group was escorted by P-38's from the 82nd Fighter Group.
III. RESULTS
Target was very well covered with a few bombs falling outside of target area. The northsouth runway was hit in the center with approximately 24 bursts while the north, northwest runway was hit near the south end. Bomb strike photos showed the barracks area, factory work shops and central hangers heavily hit. Three aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Two hangers were destroyed and some warehouses seen burning.
IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE
A. Fighters: Only one aircraft, believed to be enemy, was sighted but it did not attack.
B. Flak: Over the target it was heavy, intense and extremely accurate. One aircraft was hit as it turned off the target, side slipping toward the ground and was seen to explode in the air. Eleven other aircraft were holed, one being severely damaged. The first few bursts of flak were black, then pink started appearing seemingly in the ration of 1 pink to 25 black with a few white or grey bursts interspersed. The pink bursts may have been a warning to enemy aircraft or a check on altitude and accuracy.
V. OBSERVATIONS
Fifteen merchant vessels in Lake Berre.
VI. CASUALTIES
One aircraft lost to flak, 6 chutes seen to open. Eleven aircraft damaged by flak, 1 severely, 10 minor.
VII. FLIGHT LEADERS:
Gideon Kaecker Orris Lehman
450TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) A. P. O. 520, U. S. ARMY
28 January 1944
Special Narrative Report No. 16.
MISSION: 27 January 1944 - Istres/Le Tube A/D.
I. CHRONOLOGY
34 B-24's took off at 0650 hours to bomb installations at Istres/Le Tube A/D. 5 returned early. 27 dropped 80 tons of 500# (.10 and .025) G.P. bombs on target at 1235 hours from 21,000 - 22,000'. 26 returned to base at 16540 hours while 1 returned at 1850 hours, having been forced to land at friendly A/D in Corsica to refuel. 1 lost. 1 landed at San PanGrazia A/D due to fuel shortage.
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT
Arrived at rendezvoux (Groltaglie) at 0755 hours at 5,000' but since the 449th Bombardment Group (H) did not make contact, proceeded to rendezvoux with escort at 1035 hours over Capicciolo Pt. (41025'N - 09015'E). continued on course as briefed at I.P. (Arles - Sur - Rhone) where a right turn was made onto target, attacking on an axis of 1200. Rallied right and returned to 43022'N - 04054'E to 43010'N - 05000'E to Alghero to Capri to base.
III. RESULTS
Target was very well covered with few bombs falling outside of target area. The North-South runway was hit in the center with Approximately 24 bursts while the North, North-West runway was hit near the South end. Bomb strike photos showed the barracks area, factory work shops and central hangars heavily hit, but the damage was more or less obscured by smoke. Three A/C were destroyed on the ground, one was seen to be burning. A revetment on the West side of the A/D was destroyed. Two of more hangars were destroyed and some warehouses were seen burning.
IV. ENEMY RESISTENCE
A. FIGHTERS. Only one A/C believed to be enemy, was sighted twenty miles off Hyeros Island at a distance estimated at 8,000 yards but it did not attack.
B. FLAK. On the route in and out, this Group did not encounter any flak, but over the target it was heavy, intense and extremely accurate. One A/C was hit as it turned off the target, side-slipped toward the ground and was seen to explode in the air. Eleven other A/C were holed, one being severely damaged. The weather around the target was clear but 2,000' above the bombing altitude there was a slight overcast sufficient to screen enemy A/C while to the west, north and east, the overcast deepened. The first few bursts of flak were black, then pink started appearing seemingly in the ratio of 1 pink to 25 black with a few white or grey bursts interspersed. The pink burst may have been a warning to enemy A/C or a check on altitude and accuracy. The same colors maintained during the entire attack.
V. SIGNIFICANT OBSERVATIONS
A. Flak Positions: From an altitude of 21,000', the following positions have been observed:
13 Batteries - 4 guns - 43031'N - 04058'E.
4 Batteries - 4 guns - 43030'N - 04058'E.
This is the target area and not be confused with other areas.
B. Naval: 15 merchant vessels in Lake Berre 43035'N - 05003'E.
VI. CONCLUSION:
A. TOTAL LOSSES:
FROM FLAK 1 (6 chutes seen to open) Coastline just south
of target
FROM FIGHTERS 0
OTHER REASONS 0
B. DAMAGE:
FROM FLAK 11 (1 Severe, 10 Minor)
FROM FIGHTERS 0
OTHER REASONS 0
C. CASUALTIES:
FROM FLAK 0
KILLED 0
WOUNDED 0
FROM FIGHTERS
KILLED 0
WOUNDED 0
D. VICTORIES:
DESTROYED PROBABLY DAMAGED DAMAGED
0 0 0
E. Correction on telephone mission report not included above:
Par. 7. One believed down at Corsica, landed at 1850 hours 27 January 1944.
James A. McKamy
Major, Air Corps
Group S-2