| APO-520 | US ARMY |
| S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT | |
| MISSION DATE: APRIL 16, 1944 | ||||||||||||||||||
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MISSION NBR. 50 TARGET: Brasov, Rumania - Marshalling Yard I. CHRONOLOGY Thirty-nine B-24's took off at 0753 hours to bomb Brasov Marshalling Yard. Five returned early. Thirty-two dropped 79 tons of 500 lb G.P. bombs on target at 1103 hours. Two others jettisoned: one plane dropped one bomb in Adriatic and one dropped 3 bombs just past target, both because of electrical malfunctions. Thirty-two returned to base at 1400 hours. II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT Rendezvoused with 449th Bomb Group at 0759 hours at 6000 feet at Manduria and with the other Wings groups on course to San Vito Di'Normanni at 0800 hours, with P-38's fighter escort at 0930 hours at Uyice. On course to I.P. and target attacked on axis of 117 degrees. Rallied right and returned on course to base. III. RESULTS Target area well covered with excellent concentration of bombs at aiming point. A huge column of smoke seen at aiming point from oil fire. Other fires and smoke seen over entire marshalling yard as formation pulled away. Photo coverage shows 50 to 75 hits in center of marshalling yard and tracks and wagons covered by other strings. IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: Approximately 5 minutes after leaving target 20 to 30 enemy aircraft attacked. These consisted of ME-109's and Fw-190's and they attacked very aggressively for about 25 minutes. These attacks were all single from 6 o'clock high, low, and level, and firing 20mm cannon and rockets. Two of our bombers were shot down by these attacks. B. Flak: Over the target, this Group experienced slight to moderate, inaccurate, heavy type flak. Seven of our aircraft received minor damage. V. OBSERVATIONS One B-24 #929 crashed at 1129 hours seen at 18,500 feet, 8 to 9 chutes seen to open. One B-24 #090 crashed at 1141 hours seen at 18,000 feet, 10 chutes seen to open. VI. CASUALTIES Two bombers lost to fighters, 18 to 19 chutes seen. Seven aircraft received minor flak damage. One crew member slightly wounded.
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