Unit History: 459th Group (March 1944)

459TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HV)

Office
of the Group Historian

A.P.O.
520

14 April 1944

SUBJECT: Historical
Records.

TO: Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, attention: Historian. (through channels).

  1. Unit history of the 459th Bombardment Group (HV) for the period, 1 March 1944 to 30 March 1944.

    1. The present designation of this unit is 459th Bombardment Group (HV), 304th Bomb Wing.

    2. There have been no organizational changes.

      1. None.

      2. None.

      3. Lt. Col.
        Casey became Deputy Group Commander vice Major Elbert W. James, 13 March 1944, by SO #34, 304th Bomb Wing.

      4. Capt. Magnus
        F. Susemiehl became S-4 vice Lt. Lewis, by SO113, 23 Dec. 1943, 1st Bomber Command.

    3. Strength. For
      March.

    4. Giulia No. 1, Cerignola, Italy.

    5. None.

    6. Italian
      Campaign, still in progress.

    7. Operations.

      1. Missions
        Flown Sorties Flown

        1. 756 B.S.
          14 128

        2. 757 B.S.
          14 115

        3. 758 B.S.
          14 115

        4. 759 B.S.
          14 118

Mar 2: 36 planes dropped 42 tons of frags on Veletri Town; results not good. Some flak experienced.

Mar 3: 36 planes dropped 35 tons of frags on Viterbo Main A/O;
overcast prevented observation. Flak and fighters encountered; 2 planes lost. 

Mar 7: 38 planes dropped 310 500-pounders on Viterbo Main A/O with good results; oil dump and hangar hit. Moderate flak experienced.

Mar 11: 39 planes started for Bad Voslau but because of weather bombed alternate target of Vienna with unobserved results. Flak heavy. Two planes were lost and one is missing.

Mar 18: 34 planes dropped 138 tons of frags on ?aniago B/G; many hits on target seen and 5-7 planes destroyed on ground.

Mar 19: 33 planes started for Steyr-Daimler A/C Factory but because of weather bombed Klagenfurt A/D and scored substantial number of hits. Flak and fighters opposition heavy.

Mar 22: 36 planes took off for Verona East M/Y but because of weather bombed Bologna M/Y, good number of hits. One A/C seriously damaged by Flak.

Mar 24: 37 Planes took off for Steyr-Daimler A/C Factory but because of weather bombed Rimini M/Y. Some damage done but traffic not entirely blocked. Some flak and aggressive fighters experienced.

Mar 26: 35 planes took off for Steyr-Daimler but weather forced all back.

Mar 28: 36 planes bombed Verona East M/Y with good results; intense flak and fighters met; 2 planes seriously damaged.

Mar 29: 35 planes bombed Milan-Lambreate M/Y with good results; no flak or fighters.

Mar 30: 33 planes bombed industrial portion of Sofia with good
results; flak and fighters encountered.

    1. Commanding Officer in important operations: Lt. Col. Marden M. Munn.

    2. Losses: None.

    3. Members who
      have distinguished themselves: None.

  2. Enclosed is the
    War Diary of this Unit for the period March 1 to March 1944.

Robert T. Herz,

1st Lt., Air Corps,

Group Historian.