MISSION DATE:  JANUARY 16, 1944

MISSION NBR.  7

TARGET:  Ossopo, Italy  -  Airdrome

I. CHRONOLOGY

Five b-24's dropped 12 ½ tons of 500 lb Demo. bombs on primary target at 1306 hours from 21,000  feet. Twenty-four of our aircraft dropped 60 tons of 500 lb Demo. bombs on alternate target, Zara, Yugoslavia at 1312 hours from 19,000 – 22,000 feet. Five of our aircraft jettisoned bombs in the Adriatic Sea enroute to home base, since they left the formation early.

II.  RESULTS

Five ship elements over Ossopo report bombs in general area of target, administration or barracks destroyed. Twenty-four aircraft at Zara report harbor installations and town area well covered by bomb bursts. One large ship in harbor claimed hit, and sunk  -  unconfirmed.

III.  ENEMY RESISTANCE

     A.  Fighters: Nine of our aircraft reported attacks from 35 to 40 ME-109's and FW-190's, in the primary target area and over the water along the adjacent Adriatic Coast. Attacks principally from 5 – 6 – 7 o'clock from above. During these attacks the formation was flanked on each side about 2,000 yards out by enemy aircraft. Five of our aircraft claim to have destroyed 9 ME-109's as follows: Ship #163, claimed 2 enemy aircraft shot down by Top and Tail Gunners. Leading enemy aircraft blew up with fragments hitting second ship which went into dive and disappeared. Our aircraft #905, reports that Tail Gunner hit one enemy aircraft coming from 4 – 5 level. Enemy aircraft burst into flames, pilot bailed out. Aircraft #161, claimed that Top Turret, Ball Turret, and Left Waist Gunners hit 3 to 15 attacking ME-109's at 1330 hours. Attacks from tail at 5 o'clock high. 3 enemy aircraft hit water. In addition, hits were observed on 2 other enemy aircraft, probables, in the same encounters. 

     B.  Flak:  Encounted as follows: Over Ossopo, Coorke, Cosara, Italy of heavy type, slight to medium intensity. Accurate over Ossopo, inaccurate at other points. At Zara, flak heavy type, medium intensity inaccurate. Pola, same type, inaccurate.             

IV.  OBSERVATIONS

A submarine and 10 small miscellaneous ships seen at Pola. A large Aircraft Carrier seen headed southeast off coast of Island of Unie.

V.  CASULTIES

One B-24 of our element attacking primary target was seen going down with 2 engines on fire at 1330 hours. 8 to 11 mean seen to bail out.                                 

VI. VICTORIES         

  Destroyed                            Probable                                Damaged

9  ME-109's                           2  ME-109's

VII. FLIGHT LEADERS:   

Orris                                   Hart                     Snaith                         Gottlieb

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

Mission No. 7

Narrative report for mission flown 16 January 1944.

1.  Unit 450 Bomb Group.

2.  Target – A/D Ossopo, Italy

3.  5 B-24H's dropped 12 ½  tons of 500 lb. Demo, Nose .10, tail .025 bombs on Primary Target Area at 1306 hours from 21,000 feet. 24 our A/C dropped 60 tons of 500 lb. Demo, Nose .10, Tail .025, bombs on Alternate Target Zara, Yugoslavia at 1312 hours from 19-22,000 feet. 5 our A/C jettisioned bombs in Adriatic en route to home base, since they left formation early.

4.  There were 5 early returns to home base.

5.  Encounters.  9 of our A/C reported attacks from 35 – 40 ME 109's and FW 190's, in the Primary Target Area and over the water along the adjacent Adriatic Coast. Attacks principally from 5 – 6 – 7 o'clock from above.  During these attacks the formation was flanked each side about 2,000 yds out by an E/A.

6.  Five of our A/C claim to have destroyed 9 ME 109's as follows: Ship 163 claimed 2 E/A shot down by Top and Tail gunners. Leading E/A blew2 up with fragments hitting second ship which went into dive and disappeared. Our A/C 095 reports that Tail gunner hit one E/A coming from 4 -5 level. E/A burst into flames, pilot bailed out. A/C 161 claimed that Top Turret, Ball Turret, and Left Waist gunners hit 3 of 15 attacking ME 109's. All three seen to go down out of control. Our A/C 620 reports that Left Waist, Ball Turret and Right Waist gunners hit 3 ME 109's at 1330 – 46⁰N – 13⁰E. Attacks from tail at 5 o'clock high. 3 E/A hit water. In addition, hits were observed on 2 other E/A, probables, in the same encounters.

7.  One B-24 of our element attacking Primary Target was seen going down with 2 motors on fire at 1330 hours. 8 to 11 men seen to bail out.

8.  Flak was encountered as follows:  Over Ossopo, Coorke, Cosara, Italy of heavy type, slight to medium intensity. Accurate over Ossopo, inaccurate at other points. At Zara, flak heavy type, medium intensity, inaccurate. Pola, same type, inaccurate.

9.  5 ship element over Ossopo reports bombs in general area of Target, administration or barracks destroyed. 24 A/C at Zara report harbor installations and town area well covered by bomb bursts. One large ship in harbor claimed hit, and sunk – unconfirmed.

10.  Three cameras took photos over Zara confirming hits. No photographs reported over Primary Target.

11.  Observations: One seaplane in Zara habor. A submarine, 2 CL, and 10 small miscellaneous ships seen at Pola. A large A/C carrier seen headed S. E. on coast of Island of Unie, 44⁰40'N – 14⁰15'E at 1210 hours.

12.  Weather at Primary Target 5/10 – with good visibility at Zara Cavic.

Verne A. Weber

Captain, Air Corps

Actg. Group S-2