Mission Number: 9

Date: 18 Jan ’44

Target: Pisa, Italy M/Y

449th A/C Over Target: 26

Tons of Bombs Dropped: 65 GP

Flak: None

Enemy A/C Destroyed: 0

449th A/C Lost: 0

Results: Good

Twenty nine B-24-H’s took off to bomb the marshalling yards at Pisa, Italy, and twenty-six of these planes flew over the target in a column of squadrons in two sections of eleven and fifteen ships, respectively. Three planes returned early, two with malfunctioning superchargers, and one with the pilot sick. All the planes over the target reported the majority of the bombs fell in the marshalling yards with several hits in the gas works north of the target with fires in the same general area. Photographs taken by the first flight confirm the verbal reports of hits on the target. The smoke of the bomb bursts is concentrated directly over the marshalling yards with a very few scattered bursts outside. The yards are well covered with the exception of the extreme east end. The second flights’ bombs had not yet fallen. Three of the planes failed to drop their bombs with the bombsight, either salvoing or toggling them out in the vicinity of the target. Sixty-five tons of 500-lb GP .1 and .025 bombs were dropped on the target between 1333 and 1335 hours from 19,700′ to 25,500′. Seven and one-half tons were jettisoned by the three early returning planes.

None of our A/C are missing.

There were no attacks by enemy planes, although 10 FW-190s were seen at 30,000′ at 4143N – 1214E.

There was no flak over the target. Slight flak was reported on the return trip over the Island of Elba 2,000 feet below the formation. Intense heavy flak was seen over the mainland at Piombino opposite Elba below a formation of B-17s. Because of the distance of our A/C from flak area, no observations as to accuracy was obtained.

Three aircraft returned early, two with malfunctioning superchargers, and one with a sick pilot.

Pin It on Pinterest