MISSION DATE: JANUARY 30, 1944

MISSION NBR. 19

TARGET: Udine, Italy - Airdrome

I. CHRONOLOGY

Thirty-six B-24's took off at 0825 hours to bomb the Udine Landing Ground at Campo Formida. Four returned early. Thirty-two dropped 38.10 tons of fragmentation bombs on target at 1221 hours from 22,000 – 24,000 feet. One brought back .12 tons and one jettisoned .12 tons in the Adriatic Sea, both due to malfunctions of bomb release mechanism. O f the four early returns, two brought back their complete bomb load and two jettisoned in the Adriatic Sea. Thirty-one returned to base at 1400 hours. One landed at friendly airdrome (Foggia) with pilot seriously wounded and aircraft holed by flak.

II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT

Rendezvoused with the 449^th Bomb Group at 0927 hours at 4,000 feet at Lake Varano. The course was continued to I.P. where right turn was made onto target. Rally was right and flight continued on reciprocal course to Lake Varano to base. The Group was escorted by P-38's from the 82^nd Fighter Group.

III. RESULTS

The target was well covered with hits observed on administration building, barracks, hangars and runways. Observations showed the installations to be smoking and aflame with several aircraft destroyed on the ground.

IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE

A. Fighters: The attack occurred at 22,500 feet after the formation had rallied right from the target and commenced at 1222 hours and lasted until 1235 hours. Between 10 to 12 enemy aircraft consisting of ME-109's, FW-190's and Italian aircraft with Italian Markings believed to be MA-202's, jumped the lead element of the Group. The enemy aircraft were first sighted coming from the Southeast and all approaches were made from this direction either singly or in pairs from 1 to 3 o'clock high, broke off at not less than 600 yards and dived under the element. None of these attacks were aggressive and apparently were not coordinated. None of our aircraft were holed. During this period the escort was busy with an undetermined number of enemy aircraft and it is believed were successful in discouraging a larger number of attacks. Our claims are as follows: Destroyed 1 ME-109, Probable 1 Italian Aircraft.

B. Flak: The only flak to be experienced was over the target and it was heavy, of moderate intensity and accurate. One of our aircraft was damaged. Four additional aircraft where holed.

V. OBSERVATIONS

None.

VI. CASUALTIES

Five aircraft were damaged by flak, 1 sever, 4 slight. Four crew members were wounded, 1 seriously and 3 slight.

VII. FLIGHT LEADERS:

Snaith Leebody Orris Lehman

450^TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) A. P. O. 520, U. S. ARMY

31 January 1944

Special Narrative Report No. 19

MISSION: 30 January 1944 - Udine A/D.

I. CHRONOLOGY

36 B-24's took off at 0825 hours to bomb the Udine landing ground at Campo Formida. 4 returned early. 32 dropped 38.10 tons of ANM-41 fragmentation (instantaneously fused) bombs on target at 1221 hours from 22,000 - 24,000 feet. 1 brought back .12 tons and 1 jettisoned .12 tons in the Adriatic, both due to malfunction of bomb release mechanism. Of the 4 early returns, two brought back their complete bomb load and 2 jettisoned in the Adriatic. 31 returned to base at 1440 hours. 1 landed at friendly A/D (Foggia) with pilot seriously wounded and A/C holed by flak.

II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT

Rendezvoused with the 449^th Bombardment Group (H) at 0927 hours at 4000 ft. over Manduria, with escort at 1018 hours at 4000 ft. at Lake Varano. The course was continued to I.P. (San Veto Al Lag) where right turn was made onto target which was attacked on axis of 60⁰. rally was right and flight continued on reciprocal course to Lake Varano to base.

III. RESULTS

A consolidation of interrogation reports showed the target to be well covered with hits observed on administration building, barracks, hangars and runways. The bomb strike photos were incomplete with no hits recorded by the camera in the lead element. The other three cameras were placed as follows: 1 A/C which did not take off, 1 A/C whose cameraman waist gunner was too occupied in gunnery to use the camera and in 1 A/C which landed at Foggia A/D and whose film strip has not been returned to the base as yet. However, observations showed the installations to be smoking and aflame with several (believed either three or four) A/C destroyed on the ground. The weather over the target wand target area was clear.

IV. ENEMY RESISTENCE

A. FIGHTERS. The attack occurred after the formation had rallied right from the target and commenced at 1222 hours. It lasted until 1235 hours diminishing in intensity toward the last. Between 10-12 enemy A/C consisting of ME-109, FW=190 and Italian A/C with Italian markings believed to be MA-202 jumped the lead element of the group. The attack started at approximately 45⁰55'N - 13⁰18'E and lasted approximately seventeen minutes. The enemy aircraft were first sighted coming from the south east and all approaches were made from this direction either singly or in pairs from one to three o'clock high, broke off at not less than six hundred yards and dived under the element. None of these attacks were aggressive and apparently were not coordinated. None of our A/C were holed although it is believed that

20 MM cannon were used. The entire attack took place at approximately 22,500 ft. During this period the escort was busy with an undetermined number of enemy A/C and it is believed were successful in discouraging a larger number of attacks. Our claims during this engagement are as follows: Destroyed - 1 ME-109, Probable - 1 Italian A/C with Italian markings believed to be MA-202. Markings: 4MA202 - black fuselage, grey wings, green, white and red circles on wing tip.

B. FLAK. The only flak to be experienced was over the target and it was heavy, of moderate intensity and accurate. One of our A/C was damage, extent hot determined, as it landed at Foggia A/D and not report has been received and four additional A/C were holed. The burs noted were mostly black with some white or grey mixed therein. Inasmuch as the right element of the formation received all flak burs it is presumed that installations were mostly located on the right side of the landing strip.

V. SIGNIFICANT OBSERVATIONS

A. Ground. An airdrome was observed with 30-40 A/C located on landing strip and dispersal areas situated at 45⁰48'N - 13⁰27'E. The A/C appeared to be twin engine. A new Army camp was seen at 1208 hours from 23,000 ft at 45⁰32'N - 12⁰42E.

B. Naval. Four destroyers were observed at 45⁰05'N - 13⁰32'E from 20,800 ft. at 1148 hours.

VI. CONCLUSION:

A. TOTAL LOSSES:

FROM FLAK 0

FROM FIGHTERS 0

OTHER REASONS 0

B. DAMAGE:

FROM FLAK 5 (1 severe - 4 slight)

FROM FIGHTERS 0

OTHER REASONS 0

C. CASUALTIES:

FROM FLAK

KILLED

SERIOUSLY WOUNDED 0 - ?

SLIGHTLY WOUNDED 4

FROM FIGHTERS

KILLED 0

SERIOUSLY WOUNDED 0

SLIGHTLY WOUNDED 0

D. VICTORIES:

DESTROYED PROBABLY DAMAGED DAMAGED

1 ME - 109 1 Unidentified 0

(believed to be MA 202)

E. Correction on telephone mission report not included above: None.

James A. McKamy

Major, Air Corps

Group S-2

1. E/A attacked flights A, B, and C of lead element (A/C Nos. 222, 604, 710, 095, 448, 228, 454, and 109). They attacked singly and in pairs from 1 to 3 o'clock diving down and under formation and breaking away at 7 P.M.

2. Lone E/A (Probably MA 202) attacked flight A (A/C 090) left wing man. Came in level at 9 o'clock to within 350 yards where A/C was hit, then slipped toward ground partially out of control.