| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: NOVEMBER 15, 1944 |
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MISSION NBR. 175 TARGET: Innsbruck, Germany - Marshalling Yard I. CHRONOLOGY Five B-24 type aircraft took off at 0634-0650 hours to bomb Innsbruck Main Marshalling Yard by PFF Method. Five aircraft dropped 8.5 ton 500 lb RDX bombs on the target at 0937-0956 hours from 21,000 - 22,800 feet. Five aircraft returned to base at 1314-1331 hours. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT Each aircraft flew the briefed route to the I.P. (Worgel) and attacked the target individually at approximately four minute intervals on an axis of 244 degrees T. One aircraft experienced PFF failure on the turn at the I.P. and bombed on ETA. One other failed to pick up the target on the first run and circled for a run on a heading of 168 degrees T.C. which was successfully executed. A left rally was executed after bombs-away and the briefed course flown to base. All aircraft experienced ideal PFF bombing weather. Enroute and at the target, cloud conditions were generally 10/10 stratus, tops at about 18,000 feet with a cirrus layer at 18,000 - 21,000 feet. Snow and rain was encountered over the Alps. III. RESULTS Three aircraft made satisfactory runs and are believed to have achieved excellent results. The target was picked up approximately 20 miles out and Navigator-Bombardier coordination was excellent. The aircraft making a second run is believed to have dropped close to the target. One aircraft dropped on ETA but believes the bombs were very close as he hit the I.P. squarely before the PFF went out and is quite sure that his ETA figures placed the bombs near the Aiming Point. Bombardier's Combat Mission Report: Five ships were sent out to bomb the Innsbruck Main Marshalling Yard by Pathfinder Synchronous Technique. They were briefed to carry on individual operations. All ships flew the mission as briefed and dropped their bombs in the target area. Weather conditions were perfect with the entire area being under a solid overcast. The first ship to take off was a ship from the 720th Sqdn. Lt. Purwinis was the Bombardier and Lt. Cody was the "Mickey" Navigator. The crew encountered perfect weather for the type operation they were to go on. They arrived at the I.P. and started on the run. The Mickey Navigator was only able to give the Bombardier sighting angles to 60 degrees because of a failure in his set The Bombardier states the drive of his optics was good to this point so he carried through and dropped his bomb. The
second ship carried a crew from the 721st Squadron; Lt. Schmidt was
the Bombardier and Lt. Ryan as "Mickey" Navigator. Everything on this mission
went on smoothly. Both Bombardier and "Mickey" Navigator state the run was
excellent and that their coordination was perfect. The
third ship carried a crew from the 72nd Squadron; Lt. Furtado was
the Bombardier and Lt. Mauro was the "Mickey" Navigator. This crew encountered
some difficulty. The "Mickey" set worked as far as the I.P. and then gave out.
The Navigator being sure of himself gave the Bombardier the signal to release
his bombs on his D.R. – E.T.A. The
Bombardier dropped the bombs on this information. The
fourth ship to leave carried a crew from the 723rd Squadron; Lt.
White was Bombardier and Lt. Dieckman "Mickey" Navigator. Everything went
smoothly and "Mickey" Operator and Bombardier had a perfectly coordinated run. The fifth ship carried another crew from the 720th Squadron; Lt. Campbell was Bombardier and Lt. Lloyd was "Mickey" Navigator lost the target at 70 degrees. Everything went O.K. on the second run and the bombs were dropped by the briefed method. Coordination of this team was excellent. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: None B. Flak: None V. OBSERVATIONS None due to complete undercast over entire route. VI. CASUALTIES None VII. FLIGHT LEADERS PILOT BOMBARDIER NAVIGATOR PILOT BOMBARDIER NAVIGATOR Purwinis Cody Schmidt Ryan Furtado Mauro White Dieckman Campbell Lloyd |