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Posted by Tom Kwiatkowski Sr. - 309C
on 11/7/2009, 4:14 pm
74.44.81.74
Today, 11/6/44, the 15th Air Force will attack targets in the Vienna, Austria area. Our target for today will be the main ordnance depot in the Vienna area. Here, large scale tank repairs are carried on. A large quantity of supplies and stores are shipped daily to the German armies on the Russian Front and the Balkans. The question of how many ready supplies can be delivered to the Axis partners has now reached an acute stage. If the ready stores and tanks can be destroyed before they can be delivered, the task of the Allied forces will be lessened considerably. If the attack today is successful, the effect would be immediate rather than over a waiting period.
FLAK: With regard to flak at the Primary target, some 58 guns can pick up the formation up to bomb release line over a distance of 12 miles. At the point of bomb release about 68 guns will be within range and at the rally, 96 to 100 guns will be within reach during the 16 mile run out of the Vienna area. However, all of the guns cannot be within range at the same time. The wind will pick up on the rally and if the target is undercast, a marked deficiency in accuracy will prevail.
FIGHTERS: Regarding fighters, the enemy is capable of some 100 to 125 single-engine sorties in the target area. These will consist of Me 109s, Fw 190s and possibly some jets. Their attacks should develop from 4 to 7 o'clock high, level and low. If under jet attack, remember that the rate of closure is very rapid, and will probably come from axis high in a gliding manner. Gunners, do not neglect your positions. While the 15th has not had some serious fighter attacks for some time, it is not any indication that it will not come today.
NOTE: The above three paragraphs have been quoted directly from the gunner's secret briefing forms dated 11/6/44.
We were flying AC #628, in the #3 slot in the 3rd Box. The total time was briefed at 6 hours 35 minutes, with take off slated for 0750.
NOTE: The following is quoted directly from the Secret Results briefing form:
PERSONNEL CASUALTIES: None.
RESULTS: No results observed. Briefed course to target was followed and briefed IP was used. There was no confusion between the crew members. It is believed that bombs left the lead ship a few seconds too soon, due to a malfunction in the bomb release. The target definitely was identified, the river and town being used as check points. PFF radar set was not working well enough to synchronize on any one point but target believed hit. Only difficulty experienced in equipment was interference on scope. Drift was believed killed and magnitude of last course correction was 5 degrees left. Three sighting angles were relayed to the bombardier (90-65-90).
TO BE CONTINUED
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SOURCE: MEMORIES OF WAR AND PEACE BY ROBERT J. "BOB" GILLMAN. USED WITH PERMISSION.
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