SPECIAL NARATIVE REPORT No. 191

MISSION: BRONZOLO North M/Y

DATE: 4 January 1945

  1. CHRONOLOGY
    27 B-24’s took off at 0757 hours to bomb BRONZOLO North M/Y. 2 returned early due to mechanical failures, jettisoning their bombs in the Adriatic. 18 dropped 33 tons of 500 lb GP bombs on target at 1206 hours from 23,500 to 26,000 feet. 1 of these A/C jettisoned .5 tons and 1 returned .5 ton because of rack malfunctions. 7 A/C jettisoned 14 tons into Lake Garda. The lead A/C of this box had an A-5 malfunction immediately before the target causing the box to fail to drop at the target. 24 returned to base at 1550 hours. None lost, none missing, and 1 at friendly field.
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  3. ROUTE AND ASSAULT
    Rendezvoused as the last group in the Wing over SAN VITO at 0909 hours at 9,000 feet. From there the course lay over ZOLLA (4553N – 1400E) at 1118 hours at 23,000 feet, to RATTENDORF (4637N – 1316E) at 1134 hours at 24,000 feet, to FARRA (4607N – 1223E) at 1146 hours at 24,500 feet. The last two points were not on the briefed route. However the formation immediately preceding our own missed the TP at DOGMA (4627N – 1319 E) and proceeded somewhat north before beginning its turn to the west. Our formation turned to the south at RATTENDORF and flew to FARRA in order to allow the other group space in which to correct its course. From FARRA our formation went to the IP PREDAZZO (4618N – 1136E) at 25,000 feet and make its attach on the briefed axis of 291° true. A rally left brought them to TIONE (4602N – 1043E), from which the course passed over DESENZANO (4528N – 1031E), to MONEGLIA (4414N – 0929E), to GORGONA (4326N – 0955E). From GORGONA at direct line to base was flown.Weather was broken to overcast on route until Spur was reached. From the Spur to target there were only scattered low clouds becoming clear over the target area with visibility of 20 miles. The return weather was clear until South Italy where broken to overcast low clouds at 6,000 feet were encountered.50 P-51’s were sighted at 1105 hours at 4518N – 1408E flying at 22,000 feet. They were last sighted at 1155 hours at 4620N – 1200 E.
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  5. RESULTS
    Strike photos show the yard to have been missed. Two boxes fell short and the third dropped over. The fourth box did not bomb because of A-5 malfunction in the lead ship.
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  7. ENEMY RESISTANCEA. Fighters: None.
    B. Flak –M – I – H at the target from 2 to 4 minutes.
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  9. CONCLUSIONS
    None lost; one minor damaged by flak; no casualties; no victories.

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