HEADQUARTERS
450TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) AAF

MISSION DATE: APRIL 25, 1944

MISSION NBR. 56

TARGET: Varese, Italy - Aircraft Factory

I. CHRONOLOGY
Twenty-nine B-24's took off at 0829-0902 hours to bomb Varese, Italy, Aircraft Factory. Thirteen dropped 32.5 tons of 500 lb G.P. bombs on target of opportunity (Ferrara Marshalling Yard) at 1335 hours from 19,000 feet. Two dropped 5 tons on Riomaggiorie Marshalling Yard at 1252 hours from 18,500 feet. One dropped 2 ½ tons on airdrome from 23,000 feet. Four jettisoned 10 tons at various places because of adverse flying conditions and enemy fighter attacks. Nineteen returned to base a t1630 hours. Six Missing. Two landed at friendly fields and returned to base later.

II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT
Rendezvoused with the 449th Bomb Group over Manduria at 0929 hours at 600 feet and with the other Wing groups along the rendezvous line San Pancrazio and San Vito Di' Normanni at 6000 feet at 0934 hours; and with escort. Twenty P-38's which accompanied formation for 20 minutes. On course until 20 miles west of Ancona when weather conditions broke up formation. Fifteen aircraft continued on course as briefed to target, which was obscured by cloud cover, then to Milano, Piacenza and Ferrara when the marshalling yard was used as a target of opportunity. Attack was made on an axis of 130 degrees and the formation then proceeded to base. The other 4 aircraft who had become separated by weather attempted to locate the formation but finding this impossible, two bombed the marshalling yard at Riomaggiore while one bombed and airfield. They returned to base by flying down the west side of Italy over the Mediterranean.

III. RESULTS
Photographic coverage shows concentration of hits on industrial buildings in center of Ferrara with approximately 15 hits in marshalling yard and 35 car freight train leaving yard believed hit. All bombs fell short at Riomaggiorie Marshalling yard. No other results observed due to cloud cover.

IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE
A. Fighters: Enemy aircraft were first sighted about 30 miles NW of Ancona but cloud cover prevented any accurate orientation of their approach direction. They consisted of 10 FW-190's, 15 ME-109's and 1 ME-210. The first attack which commenced at 1130 hours, lasted approximately 30minutes and 11 encounters were listed, all occurring at 18,000 - 21,000 feet. While some were aggressive, the majority were not and attacks were seldom pressed home beyond 400 yards. They circled the formation shooting 20mm shells, then attacked singly from 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, both high and low. IN general, the basic tactic seemed to be to wait for any stragglers. Dense could cover caused the attacking aircraft to break off momentarily but it was renewed a fee minutes later. All attacks were broken off at 1200 hours by P-38 escort. One of our aircraft was definitely lost during this attack.
The second assault occurred at 1345 hour just east of Varli Di Commchio and was made by 4 ME-109's and 2 FW-190's who attacked from 4 and 6 o'clock high. Several ineffectual passes were made, breaking off at 400 yards as all showed a definite lack of aggressiveness. No further passes were made and enemy aircraft flew off to the north. Markings of enemy aircraft are as follows: yellow noses, grey wings and fuselages with large white hand all around fuselages just behind pilot's cockpit and large white bands all around each wing approximately in the center. Several ME-109's were first noted (they were the first enemy aircraft see) flying on either of the formation about 100 feet higher and waggling their wings so that the USAAF star and insignia could be seen. In as much as the ME-109's and the P-51's resemble each other, it was an evident attempt to confuse our gunners into believing that they were friendly escort.
B. Flak: At the primary target (Varese) slight and inaccurate heavy type flak was experienced. At Ferrara, moderate and accurate, heavy type; at Vercelli, slight and inaccurate, heavy type; at Malpensa, slight and accurate, heavy type; at Padua, moderat and accurate, heavy type; at Spezia, slight and inaccurate, heavey type; at Prato, slight and inaccurate, heavy type; and at Padova, moderate and accurate, hevay type. All bursts were black and 6 of our aircraft were holed.

V. OBSERVATIONS
At 1135 hours from 20,000 feet, 20 miles west of Florence, a B-24 attacked by FW-190 and seen to explode, 2 chutes seen to open. At 1140 hours from 21,000 feet, about 20 miles DW of Rimini, a B-24 seen to peel off from formation and head towards sea. At 1144 hours from 20,000 feet, tail blown off a B-24 and ship crashed, three chutes seen to open.

VI. CASUALTIES
Two bombers were lost in fighter attacks, 10 chutes seen to open. Four other bombers missing, reason unknown. Six bombers received minor flak damage. Two crew members were slightly wounded by flak. Two bailed out of aircraft #205 as plane went into a spin.