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