MISSION DATE:  August 6, 1944
 
MISSION NBR. 115
 
TARGET:  Toulon, France  -  Drydocks & Submarines
 
I. CHRONOLOGY
            Forty B-24 type aircraft took off at 0800-0830 hours to bomb the submarines and drydocks at Toulon Harbor, France.  There were two early returns.  Thirty-eight dropped 9.25 tons of 500 lb R.D.X. (.10 - .01 fused) bombs at 1301 hours from 21,500 – 23,000 feet.  One jettisoned 0.25 tons in Taranto Harbor due to bomb release malfunctions.  Thirty-three aircraft returned to base at 1550 hours, some not landing here until several hours later having stopped enroute at friendly fields.  None lost.  None missing.
 
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT       

            The route out was flown as briefed to the I.P. (43.00N-05.30E) from which the target was attacked on an axis of 67 degrees True. The rally was right and the reciprocal of the route out was flown back to the base except for the aircraft which had to land at friendly airdromes for fuel.  There was no escort. There was 3/10 – 7/10 cumulus enroute with tops at 10,000 - 15,000 feet and 2/10 – 3/10 alto-cumulus over the target.  Visibility was good.

 

III. RESULTS
            Photographic coverage revealed heavy concentration of bursts across the three drydocks at the north end of Missiessy Basin, several direct hits on four submarines in the drydocks and a heavy concentration of burs in the area of the repair shops and barracks.
 
IV.  ENEMY RESISTANCE
A.     Fighters: There were no enemy aircraft encountered and only one enemy aircraft observed.  The type was unknown but it was seen at 1308 hours flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet.  The observation was brief one and threw no light on the possible function of the enemy aircraft or its purpose.
B.     Flak: Flak in the target area was heavy and accurate and varied from moderate to intense.  Eight aircraft were holed.  The flak was uniformly black but several reports ere submitted that it was not as effective as it usually is over the same area.  Apparently there was difficulty in establishing accuracy of elevations. Before any of our aircraft were hit it was about a thousand feet below the formation and then over-corrected to a thousand feet above.  Finally it leveled off but only for a relatively short time.    
 
V.  OBSERVATIONS
            The enemy attempted to obscure the target by smoke screen from land positions and ships in the harbor but the effort was generally unavailing.
            At 1300/1303 approximately 30 vessels were observed in Toulon Harbor from 22,000 – 23,000 feet.  There were two destroyers, about 10 submarines in the middle of the harbor and 17 or 18 merchant vessels.  The latter appeared to be under steam and headed away from the docks to avoid being bombed.  These vessels were in addition to the few submarines at the aiming point.
            VHF "B" Channel sustained interference from Corsica to the target and back to Corsica.  The interference was sustained but it could be penetrated.  
 
VI. CASUALTIES
Eight aircraft received minor flak damage. 2 slight casualties.
 
VII  FLIGHT LEADERS:
            Jacoby            Jefferson        Radue             Richman         Bishop            Bozzo
            Nyreen            Martini