<< previous page  |  next page >>

A. TARGET: BEAUVAIS TILLE AIRFIELD, FRANCE.  In the German front-line defense against our bombers heading for Paris or southern France. Long concrete runways and extensive repair facilities gives this airfield a combination fighter & bomber designation. Aiming Point; Hangar and dispersal area on the west.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: Moderate flak and 50 to 60 fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 30 - 1001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Togglier.

E. RESULTS: Mission cancelled because of weather over the target.

F. LOSSES: None.

MISSION #12    22 SEPTEMBER 1943    (GROUP MISSION # 26)

A. TARGET: EVERAUX FAUVILLE AIRFIELD, FRANCE.  Excellent triple runways. Extensive aircraft repair shops. Sub-depot storage and supply facilities. Aiming Point: Aircraft dispersal and gas storage on the northwest, for both boxes.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: Light to moderate flak. 40 to 50 fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 30 - 1001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Lead Bombardier for all 72 planes. (strike photo)

E. RESULTS: My Pattern: Bulls-eye. A 15,000 gallon storage tank for high-test gasoline and one-half of the dispersal area was destroyed. Others: The Lead Bombardier of the second box reported bomb-sight difficulty. They were instructed to follow close behind our formation and to release their load along with ours. Their pattern hit just beyond ours. They cratered the landing area but did little real damage.

F. LOSSES: None.

G. REMARKS: This was the final mission out of BOXTED AIRFIELD in England. Mission # 13 took off from our new base at Great Dunmow, located about 40 miles north of London.

MISSION #13    24 SEPTEMBER 1943    (GROUP MISSION # 28)

A. TARGET: EVERAUX FAUVILLE AIRFIELD, FRANCE.  This German fighter base lost some of its value due our raid two days ago. It is too large to wipe out in just one or two missions. Aiming Points: 1st. 18 a/c -- The junction of the highway & railroad in the center of the complex. 2nd. 18 -- Hangars, headquarters & dispersal areas on the east.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: Light to moderate flak. 40 to 50 fighters. C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Togglier.

E. RESULTS: All bombs landed in the target area causing great destruction of most installations-One large repair hangar was damaged by a near-miss. Excellent mission.

F. LOSSES: None.

MISSION #14    8 OCTOBER 1943    (GROUP MISSION # 32)

A. TARGET: LILLE VENDEVILLE AIRFIELD, FRANCE. This target was hit hard on our previous mission of 8 SEPTEMBER. We try to tear it up. They try to fix it. Aiming Point: Hangar & headquarters area.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: Moderate flak. About 60 fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Togglier.

E. RESULTS: Mission scrubbed because of bad weather.

F. LOSSES: None.

MISSION #15    3 NOVEMBER 1943    (GROUP MISSION # 36)

A. TARGET: TRIQUEVILLE AIRFIELD, FRANCE. A sod landing field used by German fighter planes operating in the Paris-LeHavre-Brest area. Dispersed parking and the lack of buildings keeps this from even looking like an airfield. Aiming Point: Center of the installation on the west.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: Light flak. Possibly 50 single-engine fighter planes.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 4 - 10001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Lead Bombardier for all 72 planes.

E. RESULTS: My Pattern: Excellent work on the par of my Navigator, Capt. Pete Bingham, resulted in our location of the target through small breaks in the clouds below our formation. Bombs were released with no bomb run at all. We missed the aiming point but destroyed one large aircraft hangar. All bombs landed in the target area. Others: The 2nd. box of 18 a/c in my formation as well as those of the other Group hit the general target area, mostly cratering the landing field. Very good overall considering the very difficult conditions.

F. LOSSES: None.

MISSION #16    5 NOVEMBER 1943    (GROUP MISSION # 38)

A. TARGET: VIMOS BUZZ-BOMB LAUNCH SITE, CALAIS AREA, FRANCE.  Described to Ninth Bomber Command by the British Air Ministry as a secret enemy installation that must be destroyed. Aiming Point: Center of the target.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: Heavy flak. 30 to 40 fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 2 - 20001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Togglier.

E. RESULTS: Near miss. No damage done.

F. LOSSES: One plane was shot down out of my flight of 6. Several were badly damaged by flak.

MISSION #17    7 NOVEMBER 1943    (GROUP MISSION # 40)

A. TARGET: MONTDIDER AIRFIELD, FRANCE. This airfield has good runways and repair facilities. Both light and heavy aircraft operate from this base located just north of Paris. Aiming Points: Headquarters, hangar & dispersal areas.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: Moderate flak. 60 to 70 fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Togglier.

E. RESULTS: Mission cancelled due to bad weather in the target area.

F. LOSSES: None.

MISSION #18    1 DECEMBER 1943    (GROUP MISSION # 47)

A. TARGET: LILLE VENDEVILLE AIRFIELD, FRANCE.  This airfield has been badly damaged but a large a/c dispersal area, fuel and ammunition storage remain intact. We should finish this target for some time if this mission is successful. Aiming Points: Above areas on the southeast.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: Moderate flak. 50 to 60 fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 30 - 1001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Togglier.

E. RESULTS: Very good. Exploded one ammunition dump and severely damaged the entire target area.

F. LOSSES: None. Minor flak damage.

MISSION #19    5 DECEMBER 1943    (GROUP MISSION # 51, 52, or 53)

A. TARGET: BUZZ-BOMB LAUNCH SITE, NORTHERN FRANCE. Aiming Point: Center of the target.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: No flak. 30 to 40 fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb. Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Togglier.

E. RESULTS: Mission aborted due to weather.

F. LOSSES: None.

MISSION #20    13 DECEMBER 1943    (GROUP MISSION # 54)

A. TARGET: AMSTERDAM SCHIPOL AIRFIELD, HOLLAND. Reported to be the largest and most important airfield in Western Europe. Has 9 runways and 7 large hangars. Aiming Point: The two main runway intersections, with the purpose of causing such damage to the sub-surface drainage system as to flood the entire field and make repairs out of the question anytime soon.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION: 87 flak guns plus about 70 German fighters are expected to go all out to defend this target.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: Every available B-26 in the Ninth Bomber Command is ordered into this action. The number probably exceeds 300 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 4 - 10001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB: Togglier. In a way I was glad that I was not a Lead Bombardier on this most spectacular of missions. The weather was clear & sunny.

E. RESULTS: This strike reportedly caused the death of over 200 German enlisted personnel and 20 officers, including the Base Commander. Amsterdam Schipol Airfield was rendered unserviceable for all practical purposes to the end of the war. An official commendation was awarded to each Group participating.

F. LOSSES. One B-26 was shot down. Many planes were damaged.