Michael Peter Vono Mission May 12, 1944

17th Mission
Prombioro, Italy – Awaken at 2:30 – takeoff 4:55 – Went up thru low overcast, accumulating snow on wings although it was warm on the ground. Quite a mess getting into formation because of the overcast Flares being shot as identification signals. On course 5:55. Went along front lines in Western side at 10,000 ft to put on show for ground troops. Then up along western edge to “target” harbor. No escort but no enemy action. However we went over target 3 times before Group Bomb. got his sights on target Plenty ack-ack but slight injury to ships only. Returned close to Anzio beachhead, Naples, Capri & S. Italy. Saw some nice old castles. Landed 12:30. Our crew not scheduled for 2nd Mission, which was eventually cancelled
Every plane (bombers and pursuits) were supposed to be over Italy today to knock out transportation facilities.

From 15th Air Force History: “Around 730 B-17's and B-24's (largest heavy bomber force used by Fifteenth AF on any day to this time) attack German HQs at Massa d'Albe and Monte Soratte; town of Civitavecchia; A/Fs at Tarquinia and in surrounding area; marshalling yards at Chivasso, Piombino, Marina di Carrara, Viareggio, and Ferrara; Orbetello I; Piombino harbor; docks and comm at San Stefano al Mare; harbor, marshalling yards, and railroad bridge at Chiavari; La Spezia marshalling yards and harbor; and several targets of opportunity. 26 P-38's strafe Piacenza airfield. Other fighters fly over 250 sorties in support of bombing missions.”

Dad’s attack on the harbor at “Prombioro” was “Piombino”, a harbor across from the northern tip of Corsica. (I probably misread his cursive.) This was part of Operation Strangle in support of Operation Diadem. That is, it was a unique air interdiction campaign to strangle supplies to Germans forces as the Allies moved to take Rome and the surrounding areas. Also called Battle of Liri Valley and Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino.

This mission seems to have also been to encourage our troops on the ground with a show of force by our B-24s. 

As always, Dad takes every chance to enjoy the scenery beneath him. Speaking as a pilot, there is definitely a change of mental perspective that occurs when you can fly over so much of our beautiful Earth and sense how hostile the atmosphere is just a few thousand feet higher than people usually live. This effect is even more pronounced in astronauts and cosmonauts of course.