Briefing Notes

449^th B.G.

(450^th Included)

Date:                             April 25, 1945

Target:                          Linz, Austria

Mission Number:        253

Note:                             S-2 narratives for 450^th B.G. lists this mission

Reel Number:              0593

Frame:                          0349

1.      Formation Position (See Reverse)

2.      Briefing      0515

          Stations     0615

          Start Eng   0710

          Taxi Out    0720 and take of to the ________________.

          RENDEZVOUS over Manduria on course to San Vito at 4,000 ft at 0816 Baker behind the 450^th.

          FIGHTER provide Penetration - Target - Withdrawal cover:

4.      Target Time:  1218 to 1223 Baker - Axis of Attack 133º True.

          Bombing Alt:  A-1 25000'  A-2  25500'  B-1  24500'  B-2  24000'

5.      Rally - Left

6.      Alternate Landing Fields - 1.   Zara (4405 1515)

                                                          2.   Foggia (4126-1532)

7.      Altimeter setting on return ______________________________.

8.      Communications.

9.      NOTES:

1.      Window, load 4 carriers per ship in A-1 & A-2 and dispense at rate of 3 units every 20 seconds from 3 minutes before IP until clear of flak.

2.      Use carpet from 5 minutes before IP until 15 min. after tgt.

3.      Base altitude for radio reference is 16,000 ft.

4.      Use Vilshofen 4839N 1311E as control point for assuming spacing and bombing formation.

5.      Air Force Formation loose column of wings in order 304, combined 49^th and 47^th, 55 and 5^th.

6.      Wing Formation loose col of Groups with 449 echeloned left 47^th Wing will follow 49^th in close order.

7.      No bombing of unassigned targets in Italy or Yugoslavia.

8.      Bomb by boxes.  Visual Bombing only.

ADO-717^th Sq Maj Parker in 42 taxiing out at 0700 Baker

TCO-719^th Sq Lt Col Allen

SPARES 4-53-75-34

     PFF 20-50                                                                      *   Camera Ships

                                                                                          ** Oblique

                                                                                         *** 24" camera

Mission Weather Data

1.      WINDS AND TEMPERATURES:

2.      FREEZING LEVEL:         7000 ft.

3.      GENERAL WEATHER:  SOUTH ITALY  Scattered middle clouds at 9000 ft with tops at 12000 ft.  Patches of ground fog inland with scattered low clouds along the east coast from 3000 to 6000 ft.

                                                ROUTE OUT  Nearly clear over Adriatic.  From Vis Isle northward, increasing ??? of middle clouds from 16000 to 18000 ft, becoming broken in the Fiume area and continuing northward over the Alps. Broken low clouds also on the northern slopes of the Alps.

                                                TARGETS  Over primary and first three alternates, 5/10 low clouds, 3/10 middle to 16000 ft, and scattered high clouds at 25000 ft.  Over alternate #7 on southern slopes of the Alps, only 4/10 middle clouds.

                                                RETURN  Generally clear over the Adriatic.  Broken low clouds from 3000 to 10000 ft on the Italian east coastline, thinning to scattered at 4000 ft inland and over this Base.

4.      ALTIMETER SETTINGS:  Take-off     29.96 inches.

                                                Return       29.95

5.      NOSE NAVIGATORS will take hourly weather observations.

MISSION WEATHER DATA

FOR NAVIGATORS

1.      WINDS AND TEMPERATURES:

2.      ALTIMETER SETTINGS:       (inches)

                   Take-off     __________

                   Return       __________

3.      ICING LEVEL _____________

4.      GENERAL PRELIMINARY CLOUD FORECAST

          A.      Base at take-off

          B.      Route

          C.      Target

          C.      South Italy on return

5.      SUGGESTIONS FOR FLIGHT FROM WEATHER STATEMENT

6.      WEATHER SHIPS

************** FIGHTER INFORMATION **************

36 P-51's of the 325th Fighter Group will take off at 1000 Baker to intercept 47^th and 49^th Wings at 4718N 1251E at 1120 Baker and provide escort on Penetration, Target and Withdrawal.

Alt Tgt #6 for 25 Apr 45:

Wing has changed MPI's from those originally selected.

Intell lennex? will show the correct ones as revised.

Use these instead of those shown in Field Order, which was not changed.

This applies to ALT #6 ONLY

Phone call from Sgt. ?????? (Ops) received at 2025 hrs.

MISSION STATEMENT:

            All Wings of the AF will attack communications targets at Linz.

            Since the capture of Vienna, Linz is considered to be the major Austrian rail target, containing the largest known stock concentrated behind the southeast front.

            Linz is also considered the most vital communications center for the enemy is preparing defenses of the National Redoubt and the handling of forces destined for that area.

            Photo recon of 20 April showed 675 units in the north half of the main yard and 556 in the station yard.

A.F. FORMATION:

            Loose column of Wings 304, Combined 49 & 47, then 55 and 5^th.

WING FORMATION:  450 - 449