| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: MARCH 11, 1944 |
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MISSION NBR. 34 TARGET: Toulon, France - Submarine Repair Facilities I. CHRONOLOGY Thirty-six B-24's took off at 0810 hours to bomb the submarine repair facilities at Toulon, France. Five returned early. Twenty-eight dropped 69 tons of 1500 lb G.P. bombs on target at 1150 hours from 20,000 - 21,500 feet. One jettisoned 2 tons of 1000 lb bombs in sea at 1315 hours because of malfunction of bomb release mechanism. Twenty-nine returned to base at 1525 hours one lost and one missing. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT Rendezvous with the 98th, 376th and the 451st Bomb Groups at 0840 hours at 6,500 feet over Manduria and proceeded on course as briefed to target thence reciprocal to Isle of Capri to base. The Group was escorted by P-38's from the 82nd Fighter Group. III. RESULTS There were approximately 12 bursts in the target area but in general, observations were difficult as it was obscured by smoke from pots and previous bursts. Outside the target area but immediately adjacent thereto, there were approximately 150 bursts being mostly on harbor installations with the heaviest concentrations about 2,500 feet north of the target. There were hits on the choke point at SW end of marshalling yard as well hits on the docks. Several bursts were observed on gas works SE of marshalling yard and a fire was started. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: Enemy aircraft were not seen until 1158 hours when 20 to 25 were encountered over the target area. They were ME-109's and FW-190's and they did not attack until the end of the bomb run. They attacked at 1159 hours and then came in without any apparent coordination and seemingly without any operations plan. The attacks lasted until 1207 hours and came from all around the clock, high, in every instance. With two exceptions, the attacks were not pressed home with any aggressiveness with the break off usually 600 yards in a diving turn after firing several bursts. One exception was a FW-190 who attacked from 10 o'clock high, closed to 200 yards before he was hit and fell off in a straight dive. The other was an aircraft positively identified by crew members as a Spitfire with British markings on the top of the wings and fuselage but with German making on the underside of the wings. This enemy aircraft flew straight at the formation from 12 o'clock high, dived through lead element and up into the trailing element, shooting down one of our bombers. No unusual markings were noted on any of the other attacking aircraft. B. Flak: Over the target, this Group experienced moderate, inaccurate, heavy flak of the barrage type, holing six of our aircraft but the damage was slight in each instance. The barrage seemed to be of the creeping variety as it seemed to follow the formation on course. No evasive action was taken as the accuracy did not justify it. Five batteries were seen around the target. V. OBSERVATIONS An effective screen was put up by the enemy at the first stage of the attack. Smoke pots around the target area were used as well as ships in the harbor which appeared to be using oil through their funnels. VI. CASUALTIES One bomber was shot down by fighters, another missing, reason unknown. Six aircraft received minor flak damage. |
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VII. VICTORIES |
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| Destroyed | Probable | Damaged | |
| 2 FW-190's | 1 ME-109 | 2 | |
| 2 ME-109's |
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VIII. FLIGHT LEADERS |
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| Snaith | Gottlieb | Kellman | Richman | Word | Lehman |