| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: JANUARY 27, 1944 |
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MISSION NBR. 16 TARGET:Istres/LeTube, France - Airdrome I. CHRONOLOGY Thirty-four B-24's took off at 0650 hours to bomb installations at Istres/LeTube Airdrome. Five returned early. Twenty-seven bombers dropped 80 tones of 500 lb G.P. bombs on target at 1235 hours from 21,000 - 22,000 feet. Twenty-six returned to base 1650 hours while one returned at 1850 hours, having been forced to land at friendly airdrome on the Island of Corsica to refuel. One B-24 lost. One landed at San Pancrazia airdrome due to fuel shortage. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT Arrived at rendezvous (Groltaglie) at 0755 hours at 5,000 feet but since the 449th Bombardment Group did not make contact, proceeded to rendezvous with escort at 1035 hours over Capicciolo Point. Continued on course as briefed to I.P. where a turn was made onto target. The Group was escorted by P-38's from the 82nd Fighter Group. III. RESULTS Target was very well covered with a few bombs falling outside of target area. The northsouth runway was hit in the center with approximately 24 bursts while the north, northwest runway was hit near the south end. Bomb strike photos showed the barracks area, factory work shops and central hangers heavily hit. Three aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Two hangers were destroyed and some warehouses seen burning. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: Only one aircraft, believed to be enemy, was sighted but it did not attack. B. Flak: Over the target it was heavy, intense and extremely accurate. One aircraft was hit as it turned off the target, side slipping toward the ground and was seen to explode in the air. Eleven other aircraft were holed, one being severely damaged. The first few bursts of flak were black, then pink started appearing seemingly in the ration of 1 pink to 25 black with a few white or grey bursts interspersed. The pink bursts may have been a warning to enemy aircraft or a check on altitude and accuracy. V. OBSERVATIONS Fifteen merchant vessels in Lake Berre. VI. CASUALTIES One aircraft lost to flak, 6 chutes seen to open. Eleven aircraft damaged by flak, 1 severely, 10 minor. |
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VII. FLIGHT LEADERS |
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| Gideon | Kaecker | Orris | Lehman |