MISSION DATE: June 4, 1944
 
MISSION NBR. 80
 
TARGET: Genoa, Italy – West Marshalling Yard
 
I. CHRONOLOGY
            Thirty-eight B-24 type aircraft took off from base at 0715-0810 hours. Two aircraft retuned early. Thirty-six aircraft dropped 65.9 tons of 100 lb G.P. bombs on the target at 1203 hours from 19,700 – 20,800 feet. The two early returns landed at base with 3.8 tons. One aircraft jettisoned .3 tons in Genoa Bay due to rack malfunction. Thirty-four returned to base at 1458 hours. None lost. None  missing. Two aircraft at friendly field in Corsia.
 
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT       

            Rendezvoused with the 376th Bomb Group at San Pancrezio at 0823 hours and with other  Wing Groups on course to San Vito D'Normanni at 0829 hours. From there to key point at San Felice Cerceo to I.P. at Molare, to target. Axis of attack was 130 degrees. Rally was right and proceeded to base on reciprocal of route out. Escort of 20-30 P-38 type aircraft was met at 1130 hours off Corsica and withdrew at 1220-1230 hours. Navigation enroute relied upon an aircraft equipped with P.F.F., and navigation as a result was excellent. Cities used as check points showed clearly on the screen and no difficulty was encountered. At the target, 4/10 cloud cover was present but cleared enough so that visual bombing tactics could be used. Target was not bombed by P.F.F.

 

III. RESULTS
            Photographs show that a very heavy concentration of hits were made on both aiming points allotted. 200 bursts were visible in the marshalling yard. Many bursts on the station building.  Installations between the Compasso Yards and the Sampier Darema Yards were well covered with hits.  Many bursts were on the Ansaldo Plants to the NW of the marshalling yard.  Some fires were observed in the target area with 2 large fires near the first attack unit's aiming point.  A large number of wagons in both marshalling yards were well covered by bursts.
 
IV.  ENEMY RESISTANCE
A.     Fighters: None.
B.     Flak:    At the target area, flak was medium, accurate, and heavy. Ten aircraft were holed – minor.  Possibly 12-16 heavy guns were observed.  Six heavy guns in the general vicinity of Genoa harbor.  Bursts were mostly black with a few white in color.  No flak encountered enroute to target.    
 
V.  OBSERVATIONS
            In the Gulf of Taranto at 1448 hours, what appeared to be a yellow life raft was sighted.  Ten warships, destroyer and cruiser, approximately 23 merchant vessels and many small craft were sighted in Genoa harbor.
           
VI. CASUALTIES
None
 
VII  FLIGHT LEADERS:
Davis              McGinnity                   Scott               Poggi              Caywood        Counts
Erickson         Skau