5th BW Missions May 1943
May 5 - Docks & Shipping: La Goulette & Tunis, Tunisia, Convoy: Off Sicily
Excellent results were obtained in B-17 attacks on the harbors at Tunis and La Coulette.
May 6 - Docks & Shipping: Marsala & Trapani, Sicily
Waves of B-17s went after Trapani. The entire target area of docks, RR Yds, naval base, etc., was left buring and smoking.
May 9 - Palermo, Sicily
122 B-17s raised hell with Palermo docks, RR Yds, center of city,, Army Hq., and shipping. One ship in the harbor was sunk. 14 E/A were destroyed. We lost only 1 bomber but 51 were damaged by flak.
May 11 - Marsala, Sicily
100 B-17s joined in a 198 plane attack on Marsala in which a total of 435 tons of bombs were dropped. The entire area of docks, RR Yds, warehouses, Seaplane base, hangars and barges along the shore was smothered with bombs. Smoke from fires was visible from Tunisian coast 90 miles away.
May 13 - Cagliari, Sardinia
104 B-17s unhooked 1000 pounders on Cagliari harbor. M/Vs were plastered with bombs and the piers were ripped wide open. Fire and smoke rising from the area were seen from 70 miles away at 18000 feet.
May 18 - Trapani & Messina, Sicily
53 Fortresses dumped 140 tons on Trapani and left ruins in the RR Yds and at the docks. A few ships in the harbor were crippled. P-38s who were escorting the 17s got in a scrap with Axis fighters and KO'd 5 in a running 120 mile fight coming home.
May 19-29
B-17s, along with mediums and fighters of the Strategic Air Force plowed up airdromes in Sicily, Sardinia and southern Italy, destroying many planes in air and scores on the groun.
May 28 - O/R, Docks, Shipping & Shipyards, Leghorn, Italy
106 B-17s flew to Leghorn and caused severe damage to oil refineries, harbor marshing yds and shipbuilding yards. 3 M/Vs in the harbor were hit.
May 30 - M/Y & A/D: Naples, Italy
Over 100 Forts roared over Naples and blasted the aircraft factory and RR Yds. The A/D at Capodichino also was pounded.
May 31 - Main A/D & M/Y: Foggia, Italy
Over 100 Forts went to the eastern side of Italy and hit Foggia A/D and Foggia marshalling Yds.