5th BW Missions June 1944
June 1
Non operational.
June 2
56 B-17s of the 301st and 463rd bomb groups took off to attack the ORADEA marshalling yards, ORADEA, Roumania. 25 aircraft dropped 75 tons of 500 lb. GP bombs at 0940 hours from 21,000 feet. 2 B-17s returned early. 28 B-17s forced off course enroute dropped on DEBRECZEN. Bombers met no opposition and suffered no losses. For results see attached Photo Interpretation report.
130 B-17s of the 2nd, 97th, 99th, and 483rd bomb groups, with escort of 69 P-51s of the 325th Fighter Group, were disatched to attack DEBRECZEN, Hungary, marshalling yards. 4 P-51s returned early. One B-17 of the 97th Bomb Group exploded over the target and is lost. Cause of explosion not determined. This formation, excorted throughout by the 325th Fighter Group, proceeded to RUSSIAN bases after bombing. (See Special Accouont)
June 3
Non operational.
June 4
28 B-17s of the 301st Bomb Group dropped 84 tons comprising 56 tons of 2000 lb, and 28 tons of 1000 lb. GP bombs on ANTHEOR VIADUCT, at 1000 hours from 21,000 feet. No enemy aircraft were seen. The escort reported flak enroute but we suffered no losses.
28 B-17s of the 463rd Bomb Group were dispatched to attack the VAR RR BRIDGE, dropping 78.5 tons of 1000 lb. GP bombs at 0955 hours from 21,000 feet. One B-17 jettisoned bombs. No enemy aircraft were seen. Flak at target was moderate accurateheavy. No claims and no losses.
June 5
28 B-17s of the 463rd Bomb Group were dispatched to attack the PIOPPI RAILROAD BRIDGE. One aircraft was lost to flak before dropping bombs. 27 aircraft dropped 78.5 tons of 1000 lb. GP bombs at 1341/1354 hours from 20,000 feet. No enemy aircraft were seen or encountered. Flak was intense accurate heavy.
28 B-17s of the 301st Bomb Group took off to attack the VADO VIADUCT, Italy. 28 B-17s dropped 59 tons of 1000 lb. GP bombs at 1344 hours from 20,400 feet. 7 aircraft forced out at bomb run returned bombs to base. One aircraft returned early. No enemy aircraft were encountered, though 5 enemy aircraft were seen just after target. Flak was moderate to intense, accurate heavy. One B-17 was lost to flak.
June 6
56 B-17s of the 301st and 463rd bomb groups attacked the TURNU SEVERIN IRON GATES CAVAL. 28 B-17s of the 301st Bomb Group dropped 84 tons of 1000 lb. GP bombs at 0842 hours from 20,000 feet. There were no early returns. 28 B-17s of the 463rd Bomb Group finding 9/10s cloud cover at the primary target attacked the BELGRADE marshalling yards. No enemy aircraft were encountered. Moderate accurate heavy flak waas encountered at the target. One B-17 was lost, cause unknown.
110 B-17s of the 2nd, 97th, 99th and 483rd bomb groups took off from Russian bases to attack GALATZ airdrome installations and airfield. Eight B-17s returned early. 25 enemy aircraft were encountered and were driven off by the escorting P-51s of the 325th Fighter Group. Fighters claim 8-3-1. Two P-51s are missing.
June 7
Non operational.
June 8
56 B-17s of the 301st and 463rd bomb groups took off to attack POLA DRYDOCKS AND SHIPPING. 52 B-17s dropped 156 tons of 1,000 lb. GP bombs between 1258/1316 hours from 21,300/22,000 feet. 2 aircraft returned early and 2 aircraft jettisoned. Escort provided ver good protection, target and withdrawal cover. No enemy aircraft were seen. Flak at target was moderate, accurate heavy. We suffered no losses.
June 9
61 B-17s were dispatched to attack targets in the MUNICH area. 5 B-17s returned early. 55 B-17s bombed RIEM Airdrome. There were 39 enemy aircraft present at the time of the attack, but due to cloud cover, photo interpretation is impossible. Bombs were seen to fall across the edge of the airdrome. One B-17 returned bombs to base. One other aircraft of the 463rd Bomb Group was lost to enemy action. There were no encounters, but flak was moderate, fairly accurate, heavy.
June 10
55 B-17s of the 301st and 463rd bomb groups were dispatched to attack the MESTRE MARSHALLING YARDS, Italy. 52 aircraft dropped 156 tons of 500 lb. GP bombs at 0921/0923 hours from 21,000/22,500 feet. Three aircraft returned early. No enemy fighters were seen. Moderate, accurate, heavy flak was encountered at the target by the 463rd Bomb Group. The 301st encountered only scant, inaccurate, heavy flak. One B-17 of the 463rd Bomb Group was lost to flak.
June 11
126 B-17s of the 2nd, 97th, 99th and 483rd bomb groups left Russian bases with an escort of 60 P-51s of the 325th Fighter Group. 122 B-17s dropped 223.9 tons (comprising 178 tons of 250 lb. GP and 45.9 tons of 100 lb. incendiaries) on FOCSANI NORTH AIRDROME INSTALLATIONS, FOCSANI, Roumania between 0914/0923 hours from 20,500/24,200 feet. 3 B-17s retruned early and 2 B-17s jettisoned. 52 P-51s of the 31st Fighter Group were dispatched as withdrawal escort and provided cover over Roumanian territory and to the Dalmation coast. 52 P-51s of the 325th Fighter Group, furnished escort throughout from point of departure to the Bulgarian/Yugoslav border. Bombers encountered some 15/20 enemy aircraft, almost entirely ME-109s and FW-190s near FOCSANI. Attacks were made on the 99th and 483rd bomb groups mostly from 11 to 2 o'clock low and level. One B-17 of the 97th Bomb Group damaged by flak from GIURGIU and consequently lagginng, was attacked by 3/5 ME-109s and shot down shortly after target before escort was able to intervene.Flak at target was moderate, heavy accurate on two groups, both tracking and barrage type. One enemy aircraft was claimed destroyed by the 99th Bomb Group.
55 B-17s of the 301st and 463rd bomb groups were dispatched to SMEDEREVO MARSHALLING YARDS. One aircraft returned early. 54 aircraft dropped 162 tons of 500 lb GO bombs between 0843/0846 hours from 21,500/23,000 feet. There were no encounters and no flak. We suffered no losses.
June 12
Non operational.
June 13
167 B-17s of the 2nd. 97th, 99th, 301st, 463rd and 483rd bomb groups took off to attack OBERPFAFFEN airdrome, Germany. 7 aircraft returned early. 2 aircraft returned bombs to base. Flak at target was intense, accurate, heavy. 25/30 enemy aircraft were encountered in the target area. The E/A concentrated on rear elements and some were aggressive attacking from high and level, in line abreast at 12, 3, and 7 o'clock. One aircraft was claimed destroyed against the loss of one B-17.
June 14
168 B-17s, all groups, were dispatched to attack the SHELL KOOLAZ AND FANTO REFINERIES, BUbapest, Hungary. 156 B-17s dropped 388 tons (310 tons of 250 lb. GO and 78 tons of 500 lb. GO bombs) at 1058/1105 hours from 21,000/25,000 feet. 7 B-17s returned early, one B-17 crashed on take-off, and three B-17s jettisoned or returned bombs to base. Three separate formations of enemy aircraft were encountered. The formation of enemy fighters were taken care of by the escorting fighters, the enemy being unaggressive and easily dispersed. The second formation was encountered by the Second Bomb Group at 1200 hoours after the target. The enmy aircraft attacked for about three minutes, made two passes from 1100 to 10 o'clock, high, in 2s, 4s and 5s, some coming into 75 yards. The third formation was also taken care of by the fighters, intercepting them before they reached the bombers. The 2nd Bomb Group claims one enemy aircraft destroyed. Total losses for the day for B-17s were: one aircraft crashed on take-off; one B-17 to enemy aircraft; 2 B-17s collided in air and were destroyed; one other aircraft is missing.
June 15
Non operational.
June 16
85 B-17s of the 2nd, 301st and 483rd bomb groups were dispatched to attack the FLORISDORF OIL REFINERY, Vienna, Austria. 78 aircraft dropped a total of 197.35 tons, comprising 154.5 tons of 250 and 42.85 tons of 300 lb. bombs, between 1050/1059 hours from 23,000/25,000 feet. 5 aircraft returned early and 2 others jettisoned. 8/12 enemy fighters were encountered which made several aggressive passes at the rear squadron of the 2nd Bomb Group from 3 to 5 o'clock high and low closing in some cases to 50 yards, these attacks took place sporadically for one hour from Lake Balaton towards the target. Flak at target was moderate to intense, accurate, heavy. One B-17s was lost.
84 B-17s of the 97th, 99th and 463rd bomb groups were dispatched to attack the KAGREN OIL REFINERY. 70 aircraft dropped a total of 192.2 tons comprising 75 tons of 500 lb. 62.7 tons of 300 lb. and 57.5 tons of 250 lb. bombs between 1044/1050 hours from 22,700/26,500 feet. 9 B-17s returned early and 5 jettisoned bomb loads. Some 20 enemy aircraft were sighted between Lake Balaton and the target these were chiefly ME-109s and FW-190s, with one JU-88. In the target area 6/12 ME-109s made some weak attacks from 12 o'clock high but were driven off by the escorting P-51s. One aircraft lost to A.A.
June 17
Non operational.
June 18
Non operational.
June 19
Non operational.
June 20
Non operational.
June 21
Non operational.
June 22
56 B-17s of the 2nd and 97th bomb groups were dispatched to PARMS M/Y, Italy. 54 aircraft dropped 158.8 tons of bombs on this target between 1201/1203 hours from 20,100/23,500 feet. 2 aircraft returned early. No flak was encountered at the target, but intense accurate heavy flak was encountered enroute. There were no enemy aircraft encountered.
55 B-17s of the 99th and 463rd bomb groups took off to attack the MODENA marshalling yards, Italy. 51 aircraft dropped 113.5 tons of 250 lb. bombs between 1157/1158 hours from 22,000/22,500 feet. 2 aircraft returned and two others jettisoned their bombs. There were no encounters. Flak at the target was scant, accurate, heavy on one group, only one burst being fired at the other group.
55 B-17s of the 301st and 483rd bomb groups attacked the PORNOVO DI TARO MARSHALLING YARDS AND OIL STORAGE FACILITIES, Italy. 52 aircraft dropped 134.6 tons between 1202/1205 hours from 21,000/27,000 feet. 2 aircraft returned early and one aircraft returned bombs to base. No flak was encountered at the target but intense accurate heavy flak was reported enroute. One B-17 was lost to flak when they got off course on the way home and flew over Bologna.
June 23
112 B-17s of the 99th, 301st, 463rd and 483rd bomb groups took off to attack the PLOESTI AMERICANO OIL REFINERY, Roumania. 89 B-17s dropped 167.8 tons of 1000 and 2000 lb. GP incendiatary bombs at 0957/1030 hours from 23,300/25,500 feet. 9 aircraft returned early, 2 jettisoned, and 12 aircraft dropped 36 tons on NIS marshalling yards. An effective smoke screen covered the target area. Flak at target was moderate to intense, inaccurate, heavy. 30/40 aggressive ME-109s and FW-190s attacked the formation 20 minutes before the target, followed to Ploesto and continued the attacks thru the target. Some enemy aircraft dove under the formation, then pulled up to attack the bombers from below. 8/10 enemy aircraft attack the formation bombing NIS M/Y. Eight enemy aircraft are claimed destroyed against the loss of sin B-17s.
June 24
55 B-17s of the 301st and 483rd bomb groups attacked the PIATRA RR bridge, Roumania. 55 B-17s dropped 168 tons of 1000 lb. GP bombs at 1019/1024 hours from 19,000/21,000 feet. No flak was reported. 8 ME-109s were seen near KRALJEVO, but there were no encounters.
June 25
163 B-17s, all groups, toof off to attack the SETE MARSHALLING YARDS AND OIL STORAGE, France. 153 aircraft dropped 455.25 tons of 500 lb. GP bombs between 0959/1009 hours from 19,300/23,600 feet. 5 B-17s returned early and 5 jettisoned or returned bombs. Flak at target was scant, inaccurate, heavy. No enemy aircraft were encountered, however 2/3 JU-88s and several unidentified enemy aircraft were seen off the French coast. There were no losses.
6 B-17s of the 301st Bomb Group, AZON force, were dispatched to attack the TARASCON RAIL BRIDGE. 5 B-17s, using special equipment, dropped 13.5 tons of 1000 lb. GP bombs between 1000/1030 hours from 24,000/25,000 feet. One aircraft jettisoned. Flak at target was intense to moderate, accurate, heavy. 10 ME-109s were seen in the target area but were not encountered. There were no losses.
June26
54 B-17s of the 2nd and 97th bomb groups were dispatched to attack the SCHWECHAT OIL REFINERY, Vienna, Austria. 49 B-17s dropped 156 tons of 500 lb. GP bombs at 0957 hours from 21,500/23,000 feet. 5 B-17s returned early. Flak at target was intense accurate heavy. No enemy aircraft were seen. There were no claims and no losses.
82 B-17s of the 301st, 463rd and 483rd bomb groups took off to attack the VIENNA LOBAU OIL REFINERY. 79 B-17s dropped 221.8 tons of 500, 300 and 250 lb. bombs between 0956/1006 hours from 23,000/23,500 feet. 3 aircraft returned early and one aircraft jettisoned. Flak at target was intense accurate heavy. Some 40/50 enemy aircraft were seen in the target area, ME-109s, ME-210s, ME-410s and FW-190s and JU-88s. The 301st Bomb Group encountered 15/20 enemy aircraft of these type which attack from all around the clock, in very aggressive fashion. Attacks commenced 20 miles south of the target on the way in and continued to and through the target. Each of the other groups encountered 1 ME-109 in the vicinity of the target. These aircraft made unaggressive attacks at the B-17s. The 301st Bomb Group lost 2 aircraft, one to flak and one to fighters. Two(?) enemy aircraft were destroyed
28 B-17s of the 99th Bomb Group were dispatched to attack the WINTERHAFEN OIL REFINERY in the Vienna area. 26 aircraft dropped 60.9 tons of 300 and 250 lb. bombs at 0957 hours from 22,000/23,000 feet. 2 B-17s returned early. Flak at the target was intense accurate heavy both barrage and tracking type. 8/10 enemy aircraft were seen in the target area, ME-109s, ME-110s, FW-190s and JU-88s. 2 B-24s in the target area were under attack by ME-109s as took cover under our formation. Both ME-109s were engaged by the B-17s of this group in thier only encounter with enemy aircraft. Two(?) enemy aircraft were destroyed. We suffered no losses.
June 27
182 B-17s, all groups, with escort of 82 P-38s of the 306th Wing, took off to attack the BUDAPEST RAKOS MARSHALLING YARDS. 113 aircraft dropped 284.25 tons of bombs at 1019/1025 hours from 17,000/21,700 feet. 7 B-17s and 3 P-38s returned early. 3 B-17s jettisoned and one dropped on a target of opportunity. 56 B-17s dropped, on BROD MARSHALLING YARDS, 157.65 tons of bombs, when they were separated from the formation because of route weather. Two other aircraft droped 5.5 tons on SARAJEVO M/Ys. Flak was varyingly reported by groups from intense accurate heavy, to slight, inaccurate heavy. About 60/70 enemy aircraft were encountered. These included ME-109s, ME-110s, ME-210s, ME-410s, FW-190s and JU-88s. No unusual tactics were reported. Some enemy aircraft (JU-88s and ME-210s) fired rockets, the attacks were generally of varying aggressiveness, some enemy aircraft closing in to 50 yards. 3 B-17s were lost and one is missing. 21 enemy aircraft were claimed destroyed, 19 by bombers. Flak at the BROD M/Ys was scant to moderate mainly inaccurate heavy. Some 15/20 enemy aircraft were seen in the target area but there were no encoounters. Escort destroyed 10 enemy aircraft. We suffered no losses.
June 28
Non operational.
June 29
?
June 30
?