SPECIAL NARATIVE REPORT No. 223
MISSION: MOOSBIERBAUM Oil Refinery
DATE: 15 March 1945
I. CHRONOLOGY
40 B-24’s took off at 0856 to 0915 hours to bomb MOOSBIERBAUM Oil Refinery. 2 returned early, 1 jettisoning its bombs in the Adriatic and 1 returning its bombs to base. 38 dropped 76 tons of 500 lb RDX and GP bombs on target at 1344 hours from 23,500 to 25,000 feet. 38 returned to base at 1647 hours. None lost, missing or at friendly fields.
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT
Rendezvoused behind the 450th Group over SAN VITO at 1005 hours at 7,000 feet. From there the formation followed the briefed course with only slight deviation to avoid tops of weather at 17,000 feet over the central Adriatic. The I.P. NEUKIRCHEN (4841 N – 1533 E) was reached at 1336 hours at 25,000 feet. An attack was made on an axis of 1350 true. A sharp right rally carried the formation to BOHEIMKIRCHEN (4812 N – 1545 E) from which point the briefed route to base was flown.
All bombing was by PFF because of cloud obscured target area. In the target area there was 8/10 total cloud cover with 4/10 low clouds to 10,000, and 1/10 middle clouds to 15,000 feet.
20 P-51’s were contacted as escort at AMSTETTEN (4807 N 1453 E) at 1315 hours at 24,000 feet. They were last sighted at 4715 N 1550 E at 1405 hours. Escort was evaluated as good.
III. RESULTS
The following results were obtained from study of bombstrike photos:
716th Sqdn: Through breaks in cloud coverage approximately 45 bursts are plotted on North bank of Danube River and into river 6 miles East of target.
717th Sgdn: No strikes visible due to cloud coverage. Photos show bombe away over general target area.
719th Sgdn. Approximately 65-70 bursts are plotted immediately southwest of M/Y at ST POLTEN.
718th Sgdn: Through breaks in cloud coverage approximately 60-70 bursts plotted at West edge of target with bursts walking into center of installation.
IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE
A. Fighters: None.
B. Flak –S/M – I – H lasting 2-3 minutes.
V. CONCLUSIONS
None lost, None damaged, no casualties, no victories.
