- Saturday, December 4, 1943 - 386th Bomb Group Mission Number 50:
- Target Z141: Airdrome located at Lille Vendeville, France.
-
- This was the second part of IX Bomber Command Field Order Number 152
(the first part was a thirty-nine plane effort to Belgium) it directs the
386th Bomb Group to attack the airdrome at Lille-Vendeville, France with
eighteen aircraft. This operation will be shared with the 322nd Bomb Group
who will also supply eighteen aircraft. All bombers will be loaded with 30
x 100 pound M-30 general purpose demolition bombs - fused with M-103
instantaneous nose, with no tail fuse.
-
- Operations made a decision to let the eighteen-ship formation, mission
50 to take off first in order to clear the way for the larger formation,
mission 49. Major Hankey flying in a ship named, “TEXAS TARANTULA” 118284
RU-M leading the box of eighteen. His high flight leader, Captain La
Framboise in ship, “La GOLONDRINA” 131583 AN-X. Low flight leader,
Lieutenant Elling flying, “LORETTA YOUNG”131624 YA-S. The small attack
force left over base at 1418 hours after climbing to 12,000 feet as
scheduled. They took up a heading of 177 true, and arrived at Gravesend at
1426 hours. They were joined there by eighteen planes from the 322nd Bomb
Group. From there they took a heading of 173 degrees true. The Group
proceeded to Splasher Number 8 with a dogleg to the right to use up the
extra one and a half minutes allowed by the field order. They arrived at
Splasher Number 8 at 1434 hours.
-
- From there they were on a course of 130 degrees true to 50 Degrees 40
Minutes North - 01 Degree 10 Minutes East which was reached at 1445 hours.
No RAF fighter support was observed. The formation continued on toward the
enemy coast on a heading of 110 degrees true to a point 50 Degrees 36
Minutes North - 01 degree 31 Minutes East, which was reached at 1449
hours, four miles south of Hardelot. The Group began flying evasive action
as heavy type flak came up at them. It was slight to moderate and
inaccurate for position. The weather condition was a solid overcast over
enemy territory, the Group began a 180 degree left turn just short of the
enemy coastline. However the formation was too close to the outer defenses
of Boulogne, which will always draw attention from the flak batteries
there!
-
- Tail gunner Staff Sergeant Jerry Pokrzywinski flying with the
Lieutenant Kingsley crew in a ship called, “PERKATORY” 131627 YA-Q had a
first hand view of the fusillade at 12,000 feet. He said there were as
many as seventy-five heavy type flak bursts which were moderate in amount
and accurate! Now the formation was flying a course of 285 degrees true
which carried them to Hastings on the English Coast at 1501 hours. From
there the Group flew a course of 350 degrees true and reached base at 1533
hours.
-
- Captain Caney’s crew flying in their ship, “PRIVY DONNA” 131658 RU-A
were in number four position of the lead flight. They reported seeing some
sixty-five bursts of ugly black 88mm flak; which was accurate for position
and moderate in amount. His crew also reported seeing another eighteen
B-26’s tack onto our formation just about the time the Group began a turn
away from enemy territory. That box continued to fly with them on the
return flight to England.
-
- The following information is a weather summary prepared by our Group
weather officer. At take off time it was clear at base, and visibility was
six miles. The route out was clear to the London area, then becoming three
to five tenths stratocumulus to the channel. Over the channel it became
ten-tenths cover, and continued as far as the eye could see inland over
France. The bombers turned back after one minute of flying time into
France. Visibility was six miles over the channel and was decreasing to
four or five miles in the London area. Base was clear and visibility was
six miles.
-
- Chester P. Klier
- Historian, 386th Bomb Group
|
B26.COM