12 Marauders airborne from IESI by 11.05 hours to attack three bridges at ZIDANI MOST (Yugoslavia) led by Lt. Col. ORD. After rendezvous with a close escort of 8 Mustangs at FANO, formation set course for OLIB Island, whence the two boxes of six aircraft each swung North to the target. Pinpointing was difficult due to low cloud and snow. Short pattern from the first box of about 200 yards resulted in a slight right error with direct hits on Eastern approach to centre Rail Bridge and on Eastern portion of Marshalling Yards. No hits on bridges claimed. 2 x 500 lbs bombs hung-up and jettisoned in sea. 2nd box, which had become separated from 1st, failed to locate briefed target and eventually bombed on two smoke columns (thought at first to be effects of 1st Box bombing) straddling what appeared to be a small railway terminus. One aircraft did not drop bombs due to U/s release switch. No enemy opposition encountered and last aircraft down at 14.30 hours.
Sortie Report No. 891.