Mission 259

HEADQUARTERS 47TH WING APO 520

CONSOLIDATED MISSION REPORT NO. 259. Period ending 2400 hours 17 Aug 1944

1. 98TH BOMB GROUP. At 0730 hours, 28 B-24's took off to bomb PLOESTI UNIREA Refinery. 5 returned early. 23 over target at 0955/1001 hours at 24,500/26,500', 21 dropping on primary 35.5 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs with .1 and .025 fusing. 2 dropped 4.0 tons on XENIA Refinery. 23 returned at 1245. ROUTE: Went to rendezvous N of PLOESTI. At 0933 hours received instructions to bomb first ASTRA ROMANO or UNIREA. Made 180° turn to IP and turned to target. RESULTS: Bombed visually. Smoke screen obscured results. Bombs landed in general area ASTRA ROMANO to UNIREA. Black smoke up to 12,000'. Six packages of leaflets R-4-711-714. E/A: 2 F*190's seen at 1050, 17,000', 44 20 N - 24 30 E. No encounters. FLAK: IAH at target. IAH at 42 20 N - 23 20 E. PHOTOS: 6 a/c attempted. OBSERVATIONS: Control ship: Received information, but a little too late; 20 minutes before target. At 1031, 23,000', 42 20 N - 22 40 E, B-24 down, 3 chutes. At 1134, 10,000', SKOPLJE, B-24 blew up; no chutes seen at same time at 44 55 N - 26 40 E, other B-24 hit in # 4 engine, peeled off and not seen again. At 1000, 23,400', 44 37 N - 26 33 E, 3 a/c with 2 B-17's and 1 B-17. ESCORT: 25 P51's at 0920, 23,000', 45 00 N - 23 20 E; left at 1100, 15,000', 42 40 N - 23 20 E.
2. 376TH BOMB GROUP. At 0545 hours, 29 B-24's took off to bomb ASTRA ROMANO Refinery. 3 returned prior to bombing. 24 over target at 0950 hours at 24,500/25,000', 12 dropping on target 23.5 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs with .1 and .025 fusing. 14 returned bombs to base because part of bomb run made before PFF found objective. 3 lost to flak at target and at SKOPLJE. 23 returned at 1240 hours. ROUTE: As briefed, but got inside IP and went directly to target. RESULTS: Bombed by PFF. Target smoke covered. Believed hit. Three towering columns of black smoke seen. E/A: 2/10 unidentified a/c seen in target area. No encounters. FLAK: IAH at target. PHOTOS: 7 a/c attempted. OBSERVATIONS: Control ship: Wing Air Commander received orders from control and in turn passed them on to formation. ESCORT: 18/20 P51's at 0920, 25,500', 44 45 N - 23 30 E; left at 1130, 12,000', 42 15 N - 20 10 E.
3. 449TH BOMB GROUP. At 0548 hours, 28 B-24's took off to bomb UNIREA Refinery. 4 returned early. 19 over target at 1018 hours at 24,000/27,200', dropping on target 24.75 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs with .1 and .025 fusing. 5 others jettisoned 9.25 tons and 2 returned 4.0 tons. 1 landed at friendly field. 23 returned at 1328 hours. ROUTE: As briefed, except that 2nd unit went in first, making unsatisfactory run, then 1st unit went into target. RESULTS: Bombed visually. Believe to have achieved fair pattern. E/A: 11 unidentified a/c seen: 10 in target area at 1010 and 1 near BUCHAREST at 1055. No encounters. FLAK: IAH at target. PHOTOS: 3 a/c attempted. OBSERVATIONS: Control ship: Wing Air Commander did not announce decision until formation was past turning point, 8 minutes too late. ESCORT: 35 P51's at 0700, 23,000', 44 40 N - 22 20 E; left just after target.
4. 450TH BOMB GROUP. At 0545 hours, 27 B-24's took off to bomb ASTRA ROMANO Refinery. 1 returned early. 26 over target at 0958 hours at 24,000', dropping on target 51.25 tons of 500 lb RDX bombs with .1 and .025 fusing. 2 lost: 1 to flak at 30,000'. 24 returned at 1255 hours. ROUTE: As briefed to IP for plan 1. Lead attack unit went beyond IP and as result had to attack on 345°. Second attack unit went on 50° towards IP +/- 10° off course on return and passed over SKOPLJE. RESULTS: Smoke screen prevented observation. Possibly some hits on W edge of ASTRA ROMANO. E/A: None seen. FLAK: IAH at target. IAH at SKOPLJE and ERJEY. MAH at BUCHAREST. 17 a/c holed. PHOTOS: 8 a/c attempted. ESCORT: 25/30 P51's at 0910, 24,000', 44 45 N - 22 30 E; left at 1055, 19,000', 43 15 N - 23 28 E.
5. WEATHER. 10/10 at key point, 45 06 N - 24 22 E. On return 10/10 from 43 25 N - 23 13 E to 43 00 N - 22 20 E. 3/10 from there to coast.
6. TIME TABULATION: TIME DOWN FLASH MISSION 98th 1245 1300 (15') 1445 (2 hrs) 376th 1240 1310 (30') 1505 (2 hrs, 25') 449th 1328 1340 (12') 1500 (3 hr, 32') 450th 1255 1307 (12') 1435 (3 hr, 40')
    

THOMAS, A-2.

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