Po Valley
R E S T R I C T E D
HEADQUARTERS TWELFTH AIR FORCE
APO 650
GENERAL ORDERS
16 August 1945
NUMBER 178
CITATION OF UNIT
Under the provisions of Circular 333, War Department, 1943, and Circular 73, MTOUSA, 12 May 1945, the 47th Bombardment Group (L) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations from 21 April 1945 to 24 April 1945.
When, after 5 ½ months of intensive night aerial effort against enemy communications and other key targets in Northern Italy during which more than 680 tons of bombs were dropped on vital Po River Crossings in April alone, the 47th Bombardment Group (L) was called upon to render all-out effort in coordination with the Allies drive through the Po Valley, air and ground crews responded so valiantly as to exceed expectations. In the 60-hour period from sundown of 21 April to dawn of 24 April, flying around the clock despite unquestioned weariness of air crew members and an extreme shortage of ground personnel, assigned on a basis of a day-operating light bombardment group with six less aircraft per squadron than were actually assigned and called upon to maintain aircraft which in many cases had been in combat more than a year, the 47th Bombardment Group (L) flew 334 sorties against the enemy at the peak of the battle, hitting his motor transport and horse-drawn vehicles with such precision accuracy that he was unable to withdraw across the Po River as an organized, fighting force. Courageous airmen, in the face of adverse weather and rugged terrain which made night flying exceedingly difficult, relentlessly attacked the enemy night and day, while ground crews, supplemented by clerks and cooks who left their duties to bomb up the A-20 and A-26 aircraft, maintained operations for 60 consecutive hours with only brief and intermittent halts for sleep. In several hundred single-aircraft attacks which taxed the professional skill an determination of the air crews to the utmost, motor, rail and other transport in and to the North of the battle zone were attacked with highly destructive results. During this period, the Group was officially credited with destroying 55 motor vehicles, 17 railway cars, 1 fuel dump and many other varied targets while damaging 50 motor vehicles, 3 tanks, and 18 railway cars; much greater damage and destruction was caused but could not be assessed in the darkness. Despite long months of training in evasive action, so intense and accurate was the anti-aircraft fire encountered that three aircraft were lost and four others damaged, yet these gallant airmen, many of whom flew voluntarily, displayed such extraordinary heroism and espirit de corps that they played a major role in defeating the enemy in Italy by preventing him from reaching the mountain fastnesses of the Southern Alps. The courage, determination, and selfless devotion to duty displayed by the personnel of the 47th Bombardment Group (L) in this last battle in Italy have reflected highest credit upon themselves and the Military Service of the United States.
BY COMMAND OF BRIGADIER GENERAL MYERS:
CULPEPPER EXUM
Colonel, GSC
Chief of Staff
OFFICIAL:
L D CUMMINGS
Lt. Col, AGD
Adjutant General