Date: 16 April 1944

MISSION #17

BASE: Castelluccio dei Sauri

TARGET: Brasov, Romania--Marshalling Yard

SHIP: Sakinshack …256

ESCORT: Ten P-38’s from Uylce to the initial point of the bomb run. Twelve P-47’s (325th Fighter Group--Checker Tails) were picked up in vicinity of Turnu-Severin on route back.

BOMBS: 210 Fragmentation Bombs from 21,000 feet

ENEMY AIRCRAFT: Approximately 5 minutes after leaving target 20 to 30 enemy aircraft attacked. These consisted of ME-109's and Fw-190's and they attacked very aggressively for about 25 minutes.

FLAK: Moderate Volume, Inaccurate Aim, Heavy Caliber. Four guns were noted about 700 yards NNW of north corner of Brasov airfield, and also several guns just across the Timisul River about the center of the NE side of the airfield.

RESULTS: Target area well covered with excellent concentration of bombs at aiming point. A huge column of smoke seen from oil fire.

SORTIES: 1 Total: 23

MISSION TIME: 6:00 Total: 109:45

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NARRATIVE: The weather at our base is improving again. Now we have another problem--dust on the landing strip will be troublesome in the coming months. The engines will need extra maintenance. Saw a beautiful, circular rainbow on the clouds below us today.

 The group attacked Brasov marshalling yard today. Half of the group had to turn back because of adverse weather and bombed a secondary target (Zemun Airdrome, Belgrade, Yugoslavia). Brasov is an important transportation center in Romania and our attack was in support of the advancing Red Army. Fires and smoke seen over entire marshalling yard as formation pulled away.

 The enemy fighter attacks were all single from 6 o'clock high, low, and level, and firing 20mm cannon and rockets. They would attack through vapor trails and I couldn’t see them until they were fairly close. Other groups lost several B-24’s to fighters. Enemy fighters circled the descending parachutes.