MISSION DATE: JANUARY 8, 1944  

MISSION NBR.  1

TARGET:  Mostar, Yugoslavia - Airdrome

I. CHRONOLOGY

The 721^st and 723^rd Squadrons participated in this first mission of the 450^th Bomb Group. Twenty-four tons of bombs were carried by each squadron and dropped on the target from an altitude of 19,000 – 19,500 feet. The Group was escorted by P-38's from the 82^nd Fighter Group.

II.  ROUTE AND ASSAULT

There was only minor damage to our aircraft with small holes in wing and tail surfaces and in the fuselage. There were no crew members wounded. The flak was not used in coordination with any enemy fighter attacks as there were no fighters in the area at the time. The only evasive action taken was to tighten the entire formation.

III.  RESULTS

Light cloud cover over the target prevented any accurate and creditable hit observations.

IV.  ENEMY RESISTANCE

     A.  Fighters:  None observed or encountered.      

     B.  Flak:  There were four points of contact with flak. One at the Southeast comer of the airdrome, one at the Southwest corner of the airdrome, and one at the Northeast comer of the airdrome and one at the Northwest corner of the airdrome. The bursts were from heavy guns of medium intensity and of the aimed variety with accuracy as to altitude.          

V.  OBSERVATIONS

Many warehouses and storage dumps, and some ground activity was observed at the City of Metkovic, Yugoslavia. There was one freighter seen at the docks of Makarska, Yugoslavia, believed too be of medium size.

VI. CASUALTIES

None

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

8 January 1944

SUBJECT:  Narrative Mission Report for Mission Flown 8 January 1944. Mostar A/D

TO:  Commanding General, 47^th Wing APO #520

1.  Enemy Aircraft. There were no enemy aircraft encountered during the entire course of this mission.

2.  Flak.  Interrogation reports show that there were four points of contact with Flak, one at the southeast corner of the A/D, one at the southwest corner of the A/D, one at the northeast corner of the A/D and one at the northwest corner of the A/D.  The bursts were from heavy guns of medium intensity and of the aimed variety with accuracy as to altitude. There was only minor damage to our A/C with small holes in wing and tail surfaces and in the fuselage. There were no crew members wounded. The Flak was not used in coordination with any enemy fighter attacks as there were no fighters in the area at the time. The only evasive action taken by this Group was to tighten the entire formation.

3. Observation:

A. Target.  Light cloud cover the target prevented any accurate and creditable observations.

B. Enroute. Many warehouses and storage dumps, and some ground activity was observed at the city of Metkovic, Jugoslavia, 43⁰ 03'N-17⁰ 40'E.  There was one freighter seen at the Docks at Makarska, Jugoslavia, believed to be of medium size.

For the Commanding Officer:

James A. McKamy

Major, Air Corps

Group S-2