Mission Number: 64

Date: 23 May ’44

Target: Grottaferrata, Italy Troop Concentration

449th A/C Over Target: 10

Tons of Bombs Dropped: 22-3/4 GP

Flak: H-S-A

Enemy A/C Destroyed: 0

449th A/C Lost: 0

Results: Poor

Thirty-seven (37) B-24’s took off at 0720 to 0744 hours to bomb troop concentrations at Grottaferrata, Italy. One returned early. Ten (10) dropped 22-3/4 tons 500-lb GP (.1 – .01 & .025) bombs on target at 1039 hours from 18,900 to 22,500 feet. Three jettisoned 73 tons and 22 returned their bombs. Two dropped 5 tons at 4136N – 1305E and one dropped 22 tons at 4142N – 1248E. One of the A/C included above jettisoned nine bombs and dropped one on the target. None lost. None at friendly fields. Thirty-six (36) returned at 1216 hours.

Rendezvoused with 450th Group at Manduria at 7,000 feet at 0828 hours. Continued on course to San Vito to accomplish rendezvous with 376th and 98th Groups. Thence to Capri, Ponza Island, thence to 4125N – 1215E. From there to the IP at 4140N – 1220E. Attack on target was made at 63° True. The rally was right and continued to the turn point Monteianico (4138N – 1303E) to the turn point Thepaola (4113N – 1302E) to Capri to base.

Fighter escort of P-38’s and P-51’s observed along route and over target.

Results: Unobserved because of overcast.

Fighters: None.

Flak: Just before the target and for a very short time thereafter this group encountered scant, accurate, heavy flak.

[Total losses: None. Nine aircraft suffered minor damage from flak. No casualties or victories.]

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