I. CHRONOLOGY
16 B-24’s took off at 0900 hours as Red Force and 14 B-24�s took off at 1001 hours as Blue Force to attack VIENNA/MATZLEINSDORF M/Y. There were no early returns. 29 dropped 57.25 tons of 500 lb GP bombs with the Red Force dropping at 1253 hours from 24,000 to 26,000 feet and the Blue Force at 1355 hours from 24,300 to 25,600 feet. One A/C dropped one ton on FREISACH R/R Bridge at 4657 N � 1425 E at 1215 hours from 23,500 feet because an engine failure caused this A/C to leave the formation. 16 A/C of the Red Force returned to base at 1528 hours and 14 A/C of the Blue Force at 1644 hours. None lost. None missing. None at friendly field.
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT
Red Force executed a remote rendezvous over PELAGOSA (4223 N � 1615 E) as the last group in the Wing line, departing on course at 12,000 feet at 1022 hours. Proceeded to 4245 N � 1558 E to 4430 N � 1538 E to 4710 N � 1444 E to MOOS (4741 N � 1456 E) to IP to target, attacking on an heading of 63° true. Rallied right to ILIMITZ (4746 N � 1648 E) to IVAN (4727 N � 1654 E) to NAGYKANIZSA (4828 N � 1653E) to SKRADIN (4350 N � 1600 E) to base.
Blue force ex executed a remote rendezvous over PELAGOSA (4223 N � 1615 E) as the last group in the Wing line, departing on course at 12,000 feet at 1122 hours. Proceeded to SIBENIK (4343 N � 1553 E) to JUDENBERG (4710 N � 140 E) MOOS (4741 N � 1456 E) to just south of the IP to target, attacking on an heading of 51° true. Rallied right to ILIMITZ (4746 N � 1648 E) to GYULEVESZ (4652 N � 1708 E) to DREVNIK (4326 N � 1605E) to base.
On the route out there were 9/10 low clouds over the land area of Southern Italy, breaking to lightly scattered over the Adriatic with tops through out at 5,000 feet. North to the Alps, only scattered low clouds were encountered. The southern slopes of the Alps were clear with low overcast with tops at 10,000 feet over the northern slopes. Visibility was 20 miles over the Adriatic and unrestricted elsewhere. At the target, there were 8/10 low clouds with tops at 10,000 feet. On the return route, there was a decrease in clouds over the entire route. Inland over Southern Italy, there were lightly broken low clouds at 5,000 feet.
25 P-51�s rendezvoused with the Red Force at 4620 N � 1500 E at 1200 hours at 23,500 feet. The escort departed at 1415 hours at 4326 N � 1605 E at 14,000 feet. The Blue Force had no escort but sighted 7 P-38�s and 5 P-51�s in the target area.
III. RESULTS
The Red Force bombed by PFF methods because of the undercast. A-2 box was forced to drop on A-1 box because of a PFF malfunction in the lead A/C of A-2 box. Through breaks in the clouds, approximately 30 bursts can be plotted in open fields five miles southeast of the target.
The Blue Force bombed by boxes by PFF methods because of the solid undercast. No results could be observed visually and no terrain is visible in the photographs.
Visual reports of bombing at the target of opportunity state that the bombs fell shour and to the left of the R/R bridge.
IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE
A. Fighters: No E/A were sighted.
B. Flak �Red Force reported I � A- H flak at the target and Blue Force M � A � H of 4 to 6 minutes duration.
V. CONCLUSIONS
None lost, Red Force 11 damaged (minor), Blue Force 5 damaged (2 major), no casualties, no victories.
