SPECIAL NARRATIVE REPORT NO. 139
MISSION: Malacky Air Drome
Date: 20 September 1944
I. Chronology
28 B-24's took off at 0745 hours to attack aircraft on Malacky A/D. There
were no early returns. 26 dropped on target 58 tons of 1000 lb clustered
frags at 1205 hours from 20,000 to 22,500 feet. Two jettisoned 4.5 tons
and one over target jettisoned .5 tons. 28 returned to base at 1512 hours.
None lost. None missing. None at friendly fields. There were 26 effective
sorties.
II. Route and Assault
Rendezvoused with 450th Group at Manduria on course to San Vito at 8,000
feet at 0849hours with the 376th and 98th Groups falling in line behind.
Proceeded to keypoint at Murter (4349N -1536E) to Bosan Petrovac (4433N
-1622E) to Durdevac (4602N - 1703E) to Gyulevesz (4652N - 1707E) to Devecser
(4706N - 1725E) to Hlohovec (4826N - 1748E) to IP to target attacking on
a heading of 227 degrees true. Bombing was done visually and by individual
boxes. Rallied left around flak at Bratislava and proceeded to Csorna (4738N
- 1715E) to Pucisca (4322N - 1644E) to base. The weather showed the heel
area of southern Italy covered with an overcast of low cloud which cleared
northward over the Adriatic. No other clouds near flight level on remainder
of route out or back. Cirrus overcast above flight level over the target
but only 1/10 of low clouds below bombing altitude. Visibility over target
was 15 miles in slight haze. No weather affected let-down or landing on
return. Rendezvoused with approximately 25 P-51's at Byulevesz (4652N -
1707E) at 1115 hours. Escort departed at 4520N - 1659E at 1312 hours. No
radio jamming was reported.
III. Results.
Complete area of A/D well covered by bursts with majority of bursts covering
the southern portion of the field. Plotting coverage of B-1 and B-2 sections
difficult due to blowing smoke from first sections's bombing. However,
bombs walked through entire length of A/D with an excellent pattern and
at least 3 S/E and 1 T/E were probably destroyed.
IV. Enemy Resistance
A. Fighters: No E/A were sighted
B. Flak: No flak was experienced over the target.
[No losses. No damage. No casualties. No Victories.]