Date: 28 MARCH 1944

MISSION #11

BASE: San Pancrazio

TARGET: Mestre, Italy--Marshalling Yards

SHIP: Sakinshack …256

ESCORT: P-38’s from the 14th Fighter Group 49th Squadron

BOMBS: 10 x 500 lb. General Purpose from 23,400 feet

ENEMY AIRCRAFT: 4 ME-109’s and 7 FW-190's sighted.

FLAK: Not much. Slight Volume, Inaccurate Aim, Light Caliber

RESULTS: Excellent strikes observed on target, with bombs falling in an effective pattern.

SORTIES: 1 Total: 14

MISSION TIME: 7:00 Total: 70:20

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NARRATIVE: Snow today. The ground crew told me two ships had frozen bomb bay doors at preflight. We flew over Venice, city of canals. No encounters with fighters but some were sighted over the target. Fire and smoke came from explosions in oil or gasoline tank cars on the tracks. The entire marshalling yard was a mass of smoke and flame as we turned and left the target area. I don’t think I’ll ever get warm again.