MISSION DATE:  September 5, 1944
 
MISSION NBR.  135
 
TARGET: Ferrara, Italy  -  Railroad Bridge
 
I. CHRONOLOGY
            Twenty-eight B-24 type aircraft took off at 0635-0651 hours to bomb the Ferrara, Italy Railroad Bridge.  Sixteen aircraft dropped 43.5 tons of 1000 lb G.P. bombs on the target at 1002 hours from 20,000 – 20,500 feet.  Six aircraft returned 14.5 tons to base.  10.5 tons were jettisoned by five aircraft because of engine trouble and release malfunction.  Twenty-seven aircraft returned to base at 1216 hours, one of which stopped enroute for slight engine repair at San Severo Airdrome.  One aircraft turned back before reaching coast because of engine failure and landed at Pescaro.
           
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT       

            The briefed route was flown to the I.P. where the Group strung out into four attack boxes and attacked the target on a axis of 250 degrees T.C. Rally was left and a reciprocal course flown to base.  Escort of 20-30 P-38's joined the formation at 0850 hours at 18,000 feet, withdrew at 1115 hours at 15,000 feet at Pianoso.  Weather enroute and at target scattered cumulus with visibility excellent.

             

III. RESULTS
            Bombardier's Combat Mission Report:  Lead box lead by Lt. Leavitt of the 721st Sqdn. had a malfunction of the A-5 during the last seconds of his run.  The pilot immediately switched to P.D.I. and completed the run.  Bombs fell left and slightly short.  Box pattern was good.  Second box lead by Capt. Jefferson of the 723rd Sqdn  did not drop their bombs at the target because another box slipped underneath them just before the release point.  Third box lead by Lt. Andrews of the 722nd Sqdn. was not synchronized.  This Bombardier used poor judgment and dropped his bombs anyway.  The bombs fell approximately 2,000 feet over.  Fourth box lead by Lt. Cohen of the 720th Sqdn. dropped their bombs slightly short and left.  They had a good run on A-5 until the last few seconds when the left wing dropped.  All bombs had very good patterns which shown an improvement in toggling. 
 
IV.  ENEMY RESISTANCE
A.     Fighters:  None.
B.     Flak:    Intense, accurate, heavy type at target.    
 
V.  OBSERVATIONS
            None.
 
VI. CASUALTIES
One crew member severely wounded by flak another slightly wounded.  One crew member slightly injured leg in bailing out of disabled plane near Pescaro.  Nineteen aircraft were damaged by flak.
 
VII  FLIGHT LEADERS:
            Alexander                   Leavitt             Bolton             Jefferson        Feasel            Andrews
            Selleck                       Cohen