Mission 745

HEADQUARTERS

82^ND FIGHTER GROUP

Office of the Intelligence Officer

APO 520,

4 August 1944.

MISSION NO. 745 95^th, 96^th, 97^th Squadrons Focsani, Rumania,

NARRATIVE REPORT

MISSION AND TARGET: To strafe Focsani North and South A/D’s, Rumania, en route to Russian bases.
AIRCRAFT AND CHRONOLOGY: 45 P-38’s took off by 0810 hours; rendezvous was at 0835 over Vieste at 8,000 feet with P-51’s; 2 P-38’s returned early, both mechanical; 43 P-38’s were in target area at 1108 hours; 31 P-38’s landed safely at Poltava between 1400 and 1445 hours; 4 P-38’s and pilots missing; 2 P-38’s landed at Odessa on single engine; 1 P-38 landed at Krivoi Rog on single engine; 1 P-38 bellied in 15 miles NE of the target but the pilot was rescued; 1 P-38 crash landed 20 miles east of Poltava near Karlovko; 2 P-38’s landed at Poltava badly shot up; 1 P-38 nosed over landing at Poltava.

	Took Off	Early Returns	Target	Down
95^th	17	0	17	14
96^th	16	1	15	8
97^th	12	1	11	9
	45	2	43	31*

*Note: See paragraphs 13 and 15 below.

Route: As briefed: Bast to rendezvous, 50 miles; to Ramnicul Serat, 595 miles; to target, 20 miles; to rally point, 30 miles; to Chisinau, 100 miles; to Kremenchug, 250 miles; to Poltava, 65 miles. Total mileage: 1110 miles.
RENDEZVOUS, FORMATION AND ASSAULT: Rendezvous was made over Vieste, Italy on time at 8,000 feet with the P-51’s. After going on course, the P-51’s were not seen again. The Group flew as two squadrons, the 96^th with part of the 97^th on the right, and the 95^th with part of the 97^th on the left. The formation climbed to 23,000 feet on course, letting down to 12,000 feet when northwest of Ploesti. Heavy flak forced then down to 8,000 feet when they passed north of Ploesti, and from thereon to the target, they lowered quickly to the deck. Intense ground fire along the route between Ploesti and the target split up the formation to a certain degree before reaching the target. Target was crossed flying line abreast from south to north. After the target, one P-38 bellied in, and another pilot landed to pick him up. Part of the 95^th and 96^th gave cover for this rescue. Other P-38’s continued on to their Russian bases in small groups, several landing at other than their briefed bases. (See paragraph 13).
RESULTS OF BOMBING: None.
STRAFING:

Total Results

Aircraft: 4-0-5
Other strafing results
Split-up by A/D’s

Destroyed	Damaged
1 JU 87	2 ME 109’s
1 FW 190	1 T/E aircraft
1 T/E Transport	1 JU 52
1 S/E trainer	1 glider

Destroyed	Strafed and damaged
5 locos	3 locos
1RR tank car 1 P-38 on ground	1 troop train
	3 trucks
	7 flak batteries
	A/D installations
	Misc. rolling stock

	A/C Destroyed	A/C Damaged
Focsani S	2	3
Focsani N	2	2

Individual Results

Lt. Noel – destroyed 3 locos and strafed troop train.

Lt. Carper – destroyed JU 87 on Focsani S L/G, also destroyed RR tank car and strafed truckload of personnel in M/T convoy.

Lt. Baker – damaged JU 52 on Focsani S, strafec box cars in M/Y at Focsani.

F/O Andrews – Strafed 3 locos (1 dead), two trucks, and troop train down entire length.

Lt. Sides – damaged ME 109 on Focsani S. L/G, and strafed gun crew personnel effectively.

Lt. Spiegel – damaged ME 109 on Focsani N., strafed locomotive of armored train, truck, and staff car.

Lt. Col Mason – destroyed 1 transport-type A/C and 1 S/E A/C on Focsani N. Destroyed 1 locomotive.

Lt. Kirkham – destroyed 1 locomotive.

Lts. Durell and Hood – shot up gun positions.

Lt. Williams – destroyed 1 FW 190 on Focsani S., and damaged 1 T/E A/C. Also strafed gun crew personnel with good results.

7.ENEMY AERIAL ACTIVITY: Six E/A were encountered in the target area, making one pass at our P-38’s. Four were ME 109’s and 2 were FW 190’s. One was destroyed and the others dispersed.

8.FLAK: Moderate to intense, accurate, light and heavy flak was received from oilfields NW and N of Ploesti. Between Ploesti and the target, intense, accurate, light flak was received from innumerable points along the route, including numerous 50 cal. Positions on the tops of oil derricks. At the target, there was extremely intense, accurate, light and heavy flak as well as M/G fire and small arms fire. Heavy batteries on the hills west of the targets were firing down on our P-38’s. From the target to the front lines, additional ground fire was encountered.

9. SIGNIFICANT OBSERVATIONS: (1) On Focsani N. A/D a total of some 10-15 mixed A/C were observed. On Focsani S. A/D pilots report an approximate total of 15 A/C visible, including one probable FW 189, several T/E A/C, and several gilders, besides the A/C destroyed and damaged.

(2) Three smoke columns were seen from the target vicinity after leaving it behind.

(3) A train of flat cars loaded with armored vehicles was observed north of the target, headed north.

(4) Nine transport A/C and 10-12 single-engine A/C were observed on the A/D at Turnul-Severin en route in.

(5) An armored train was passed south of the target.

(6) Two trains were going north on the west side of Focsani S. A/D.

(7) A troop convoy was observed on the road moving north about 15 miles north of Buzau.

10. WEATHER: Heavy overcast in the mountains of Yugoslavia going up in places to 20,000 feet. A solid low overcast among the mountains north of Ploesti. In the target area, weather was CAVU. From the Russian border to base, occasional showers were passed through, with instrument flying conditions most of the way.

11. AIR SEA RESCUE: None.

12. RADIO SECURITY: Good.

13. 82^ND F. GP. A/C IN TROUBLE: (1) Lt Willsie’s P-38 was hit and one engine was knocked out by flak before reaching the target. He went on and strafed, flying on single-engine. Coming off the target, the remaining engine was knocked out by flak. He bellied in about 15 miles NE of the target, and while the other planes gave cover, F/O Andrews landed parallel to the furrows in the soft wheat field, threw out his parachute, and took Lt. Willsie aboard. Lt. Willisie then took oof and flew the plane to the Russian bases, sitting on F/O Andrews’ lap.

(2) Lt. Sides and Lt. Katschke both had an engine knocked out by flak at the target and landed on an A/D at Odessa.

(3) Lt Baker came in on single-engine at the Krivoi Rog A/D. His left engine had been shot up.

(4) Lt. Spiegel bellied in 20 miles from Poltava, near Karlovko, but is safe. His hydraulic system had been shot out.

(5) Lt. Small nosed over while landing at Poltava.

(6) Lt. Haller, Lt. Williams, and Lt. Howard landed flak-damaged P-38’s at Poltava.

14. E/A DESTROYED BY OTHER GROUPS; None seen.

15. VICTORIES AND LOSSESS: Victories: Total: 1 ME 109 destroyed and 2 ME 109’s damaged over target

Destroyed: Damaged:

1 ME 109 destroyed – 1^st Lt. N.A. Pape. 1 ME 109 damaged - 1^st Lt. Pape

1 ME 109 damaged – 2^nd Lt. James T. Gordon.

Losses:

Lt. Col. Litton, to flak, at target. Crash landed and exploded after hitting a building.
2^nd Lt. Hardin, hit by flak over target while chasing an ME 109, and exploded in mid-air.
1^st Lt. Vaughan – last seen about to belly in with right engine on fire just beyond target.
2^nd Lt. Ellison – believed hit by flak 10 miles NW of Ploesti

Damaged: 7 P-38’s damaged by flak.

16. SORTIES: Forty-three (43) effective sorties.

17. FORMATION AND FLIGHT LEADERS: 96^TH: Lt. Col. Litton (formation leader), Lt. Carper, Lt. Willsie, Lt. Doehr. 95^th: Major Gardner, Lt. Cavanaugh, Lt. Pape, Lt. Harman. 97^th: Lt. Col. Mason, Lt. Durell, Lt. Hood.

18.COMMENTS: Lt. Col. Litton’s 50^th mission. Lt. Willsie’s 59th mission. Lt. Willsie was injured slightly on the forehead in his crash.

19.CORRECTIONS TO TELEPHONIC REPORT: None.

/s/David Weld,

/t/ DAVIC WELD,

Major, Air Corps,

Intelligence Officer.

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