| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: JANUARY 21, 1944 |
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MISSION NBR. 12 TARGET: Prato, Italy - Marshalling Yard I. CHRONOLOGY Five B-24's dropped 12.5 tons of 500 lb Demo. bombs at 1241 hours from 20,000 feet over primary target area. Seven B-24's dropped 17.25 tons of 500 lb Demo. bombs at 1246 hours from 20,500 feet over Pisa, Italy. Six B-24's returned bomb loads to base. Twelve jettisoned in mountains and sea enroute to home base. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT There were four early returns. All our aircraft returned to home base. The Group was escorted by P-38's from the 82nd Fighter Group. III. RESULTS No bomb bursts were observed on any releases due to heavy overcast above areas. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: Four ME-109's made three passes at one of our early returns as it was alone near San Marinella. Attacks were made from 5 to 7 o'clock high, passing under and returning to same attack. Immediately upon opening of action, 10 to15 P-38's appeared and drove enemy aircraft off. We suffered no damage, and observed none to enemy. B. Flak: One aircraft reports 3 black smoke explosions occurred from an hours from 14,000 feet. Only 3 black smoke explosions occurred from an unidentified emplacement. There was no flak over target areas. V. OBSERVATIONS Twenty-three ME-109's - FW-190's seen circling in target area, (Prato) at 1240 hours. Two to three hundred ship convoy headed north with 30 Spitfire escorts and a balloon barrage. Observed at 1100 hours from 14,000 feet. In San Marinella Harbor, one large freighter. Landing strip observed north of same town, no planes, no activity. An eighty merchant vessel ship convoy going to NW, seen at 1416 hours from 20,000 feet. VI. CASUALTIES None |
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VII. FLIGHT LEADERS |
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| Gideon | Carr | Johns | Gladstone | Word | Siegle |
| Davis | Kingsman | Colley | Murray | Lael | Hagenson |