Date: 19 March 1944

MISSION #10

BASE: San Pancrazio

TARGET: Klagenfurt, Austria--Aerodrome

SHIP: Sakinshack …256

ESCORT: P-38’s on the penetration flight and P-47's from the 325th fighter group (checkertails) on the return.

BOMBS: 10 x 500 lb. General Purpose from 21,000 feet

ENEMY AIRCRAFT: Fighters attacked in waves of up to 25 aircraft and many were destroyed by our formation's gunners.

FLAK: Intense Volume, Accurate Aim, Heavy Caliber over both Styer and Graz.

RESULTS: Destroyed 16 aircraft, damaged hangars and the administration building, cratered the landing field and some bombs fell in residential area south of the target. 

SORTIES: 1 Total: 13

MISSION TIME: 8:00 Total: 63:20

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NARRATIVE: Clouds over the original target at Styer, Austria so we turned back. The secondary target, Klagenfurt Aerodrome, showed through the clouds and we dropped our bombs there.

A group of experienced pilots in ME-109’s and FW-109’s attacked a few minutes before Graz. They attacked from the rear both high and low, attacking in elements of two abreast, breaking off on the right side after firing their cannons. Then they would reform high above and to the rear of our formation waiting for stragglers damaged by flak. The flak was heavy and we flew through it twice--the second time so the Colonel could take pictures of it. The inter-phone went out on the ball turret leaving me in a world of my own.