February 1945
Mission #147
1 February 1945
Target: Moosbierbaum, Austria
27 aircraft with 5 early return dropped 18.0 tons of bombs with 1 losses and 10 casualties.
A maximum effort mission was planned to attack this number one priority target in the 15th Air Force operational area. The Air Force was attampting to cripple the gasoline production of Germany in order to keep the German fighters out of action, and the motorized equipment from moving. The target was cloud covered, but 36.5 tons of bombs were dropped by instruments. Results were unobserved, but later photo reconnaissance showed that the target was successfully atacked and bracketed with bombs despite its small size and adverse weather conditions.
Mission #148
5 February 1945
Target: Regensburg, Germany
36 aircraft with 4 early return dropped 65.75 tons of bombs with 1 losses and 10 casualties.
Large amounts of oil were shipped to this target from Romanian oil fields before their capture by the Russians making this target important. 36 B-24s reached the target, but found it cloud covered. Forty-two tons of bombs were dropped by instruments and results were unobserved. Photos later show results to have been very good. Two planes failed to return.
6 February 1945
The only mission flown on this date was a practice mission. The following is the flimsy for that practice mission.
Mission #149
7 February 1945
Target: Vienna, Austria (Red)
19 aircraft with 3 early return dropped 24.0 tons of bombs with 2 losses and 20 casualties.
Following the Air Force policy of attacking oil targets, the Florisdorf Refinery was the target on this date. The target area was smoke covered, but the bombs fell into this area and a great deal of damage was believed to be done. 43 tons of bombs were dropped.
Mission #149
7 February 1945
Target: Vienna, Austria (Blue)
19 aircraft with 4 early return dropped 22.5 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
Mission #150
8 February1945
Target: Vienna, Austria
24 aircraft with 6 early return dropped 34.5 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
The very important servicing and repair points for the railroad were the plannes targets for the 49th Bomb Wing on this mission. This was planned PFF mission, so the 9/10 cloud cover was expected. 30 tons of bombs were dropped on the cloud covered target with results being unobserved.
Mission #151
9 February 1945
Target: Vienna, Austria
2 aircraft with 1 early return dropped 1.5 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
Two aircraft were dispatched to this target under cover of heavy clouds and dropped on the target by PFF. Results were unobserved.
9 February 1945
A practice mission was flown on this date. The following is the flimsy for that practice mission.
Mission 152
13 February 1945
Target: Vienna, Austria (Red)
20 aircraft with 2 early return dropped 31.0 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
The 484th Bomb Group returned to this target, and this time was able to attack visually. Thirty-one tons of bombs were dropped just short and to the right of the target. This was the first target that was visual to the bombardiers for this month.
Mission #152
13 February 1945
Target: Maribor, Yugoslavia (Blue)
20 aircraft with 0 early return dropped 30.0 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
A successful mission was carried out against the M/Y at Maribor in Yugoslavia. The weather over the target was CAVU and the crews were able to do their best work. Thirty tons of bombs were dropped in an excellent pattern covering the M/Y.
Mission #153
14 February 1945
Target: Celje,Yugoslavia (Red)
19 aircraft with 1 early return dropped 27.0 tons of bombs with 1 losses and 0 casualties.
Mission #153
14 February 1945
Target: Moosbierbaum, Austria (Blue)
19 aircraft with 0 early return dropped 28.75 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 10 casualties.
The 484th Bomb Group again tried to put the Moosbierbaum Oil Refinery out of action on this date. The target was dimly visible when the group arrived, and the bomb run was to be visual. At the last minute another bomb group crowded over and the lead bombardier was prevented from swinging completely on the target. The pattern was largely to the right, but the bombs from one box landed completely in the target area.
Mission #154
15 February 1945
Target: Penzinger, Austria (Red)
15 aircraft with 3 early return dropped 23.0 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
This M/Y was loaded to 65% of capacity with some 600 cars. Still larger loading was expected by the time our formation would reach the target. Weather conditions necessitated a PFF run and the other operators believe the target to be well hit. 56 tons of bombs were dropped.
Mission #154
15 February 1945
Target: Penzinger, Austria (Blue)
17 aircraft with 0 early return dropped 33.0 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
Mission #155
16 February 1945
Target: Newburg, Austria
34 aircraft with 0 early return dropped 74.25 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
The 484th Bomb Group bombed the first alternate target, Roseheim M/Y visually. 65 tons were dropped and good results were reported. Direct hits, smoke and fires were seen.
Mission #156
17 February 1945
Target: Trieste, Italy
32 aircraft with 13 early return dropped 25.5 tons of bombs with 2 losses and 16 casualties.
On this mission the 484th Bomb Group bombed the third alternate, Triesti harbor, after an unfortunate accident. The two lead planes, Able 11 and Able 12 collided on the way to the target and it was necessary for the leader of the second attack unit to come up and lead the formation. 20 tons of bombs were dropped on the target on the second bomb run. The first run found the tyarget obscured.
Mission #157
18 February 1945
Target: St. Valentin, Austria
28 aircraft with 28 early return due to bad weather with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
28 aircraft were recalled because of bad weather.
Mission #158
19 February 1945
Target: Vienna, Austria
28 aircraft with 2 early return dropped 39.0 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
For the third mission in succession it was necessary for the group to bomb an alternate target. This time it was the first alternate, Graz. The formation took off to bomb the Vienna South Station, but a strong head wind caused excessive fuel comsumption, making it impossible to reach the primary target and return. 39 tons of bombs were dropped to the west of the target.
Mission #159
20 February 1945
Target: Bolzano, Italy
27 aircraft with 3 early return dropped 45.0 tons of bombs with 1 losses and 10 casualties.
Again it was necessary for the formation to bomb an alternate. This time the primary target was teh Bolzano M/Y, but it was obvious on the route out that the solid undercast would extend over Bolzano. The Group leader elected to go to the first alternate, Pola. The target was bombed in boxes, and hits were seen in the target area.
Mission #160
21 February 1945
Target: Vienna, Austria
25 aircraft with 1 early return dropped 41.25 tons of bombs with 4 losses and 42 casualties.
Communications target in Vienna were under attack on this date, and the 484th Bomb Group went to the Vienna Souoth Station. Forty tons of bombs were dropped on the target with result believed to be excellent. The main weight of bombs fell in the target area with a few scattered hit slight north and east. Over the target the Lead and Deputy Lead ships were hit by flak but they were able to get their bombs out and lead the formation before going down.
Mission #161
22 February 1945
Target: Donauworth
25 aircraft with 25 early return due to bad weather with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
Twenty-three aircraft took off to bomb this target, but because of adverse weather conditions all returned their bombs to the base. Runs were attempted on the alternates, but they were also closed in.
Mission #162
23 February 1945
Target: Amstettin, Austria
24 aircraft with 3 early return dropped 45.0 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
The 484th Bomb Group was scheduled to hit the Amstettin M/Y on this date, but weather again forced the formation to go to the third alternate, Knittlefeld M/Y. A great deal of difficulty was experienced in picking up the target in the 7/10 undercast, but good results were made. One box scored direct hits on the M/Y, and the round house, while other bombs fell short. Forty-five tons of bombs were dropped.
Mission #163
24 February 1945
Target: Bolzano, Italy
27 aircraft with 27 early return due to bad weather with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
The 484th Bomb Group was briefed to bomb the M/Y at Bolzano, but because of adverse weather conditions, all bombs were returned to the base. Attempts were made to bomb alternates, but they were all closed in.
Mission #164
25 February 1945
Target: Linz, Austria
28 aircraft with 5 early return dropped 34.5 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
The Linz M/Y was bombed on this date using offset bombing methods because of a very effective smoke screen. However just before bombs away another bomb group rallied under the 484th Bomb Group forcing the bombardier to hold his bombs. The results were scattered patterns starting short of the target with some bombs in the area. Thirty-four tons were dropped on this target.
Mission 165
26 February 1945
Target: Capraz, Yugoslavia
28 aircraft with 28 early return due to bad weather with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
28 aircraft recalled bacause of bad weather.
Mission #166
27 February 1945
Target: Augsburg, Germany
28 aircraft with 1 early return dropped 38.0 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
Because of its key position in the enemy rail network from west to east or from Italy to the north, Augsburg was made the target of the day. The target was covered in smoke from previous bombings so that PFF methods had to be used. Results could not be observed, but hits were belived to have been made in the target area. 56 tons of 1000 pound bombs were dropped.
Mission #167
28 February 1945
Target: Bressanone, Italy (Red)
28 aircraft with 1 early return dropped 38.0 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
The object of this mission was to close the Brenner Pass, but the target was missed. The M/Y was to be bombed in a column box, but poor terrain features and faulty navigation from the IP to target cause the bombs to hit over the target.
Mission #167
28 February 1945
Target: Bressanone, Italy (Blue)
20 aircraft with 1 early return dropped 33.0 tons of bombs with 0 losses and 0 casualties.
The object of this mission was to close the Brenner Pass, but the target was missed. The M/Y was to be bombed in a column box, but poor terrain features and faulty navigation from the IP to target cause the bombs to hit over the target.