<< previous page  |  next page >>

A. TARGET: MALINES MARSHALLING YARDS, NORTH OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM. This railroad yard contains the most extensive system of repair buildings ever targeted by the Ninth Bomber Command. Its location north of Brussels and south of Antwerp makes it a logical weak link in the transportation system of northern France. Aiming Point: The center of a large building which is itself in the center of a cluster of large buildings. Locomotive and wagon repair sheds are the primary object of this mission. Railroad tracks and freight sidings are secondary objectives.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Moderate flak. 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. M47A1 Incendiary. (oil & rubber).

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

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

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #42    5 MARCH 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 127,128 or 129)

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

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Heavy flak makes this mission very risky. This target lies well within the defenses of the town of Abbeville. Fighter opposition not expected.

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. RESULT'S:  Very good despite heavy, accurate flak. Two-thirds of the entire pattern landed within the target area.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #43    6 MARCH 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 130)

A. TARGET:  BEAUVAIS TILLE AIRFIELD, FRANCE. After repeated bombings the Germans appear quite determined to keep this airfield in operation. We seem to hit it about once each week. Aiming Point; The main hangar.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Moderate flak. Possibly fighters.

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

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS:  Fair. All bombs fell across the center of the runways.

F. LOSSES: None.

MISSION #44    7 MARCH 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 131 or 132)

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

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Hopefully none due to the nature of the target and the overcast.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  54 a/c from the 386th. Maximum effort. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Lead Bombardier of the 54 planes. (strike photo)

E. RESULTS:  Unknown. No visibility. No report.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #45    8 MARCH 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 133)

A. TARGET:  VOLKEL AIRFIELD, HOLLAND. A large, well located base in the German air defense of the northern ports of Hamburg and Leipzig. A very important target. Aiming Points: 1st. box: Hanger & dispersal area on the north. 2nd. box: This, my own, has the best target of all; a large hangar and a dozen or so double revetments (aircraft parking bunkers). 3rd. box: A large hangar & 6 revetments on the south.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Moderate flak and a few fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  54 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Lead Bombardier of the second box of 18 planes. (strike photo)

E. RESULTS:  My Pattern: The end of the pattern covered the aiming point which was the lone hanger in my target area. My Low Flight (on my left) of 6 planes wiped out a small sub-depot or mess hall area just recently constructed. The Lead and High Flights hit 6 additional revetments with an unknown number of planes inside. Others: Both of the other two boxes hit their target almost as briefed. Summary: The three boxes together made up a most successful strike against a very important target. Three hangars, 13 revetments and one large new area were damaged severely.

F. LOSSES:  Our Group Lead Plane was shot down. In falling out of formation it crashed into a wing plane, taking it down as well. Several other planes were damaged.

MISSION #46    13 MARCH 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 134)

A. TARGET:  LAUNCH CONSTRUCTION SITE # D-4 EAST OF DESVRES, FR. Believed to be a V-2 rocket site. Aiming Point: Center of the target.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  None with good navigation.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  36 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 2 - 2000 lb. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS:  Missed the target. A short bomb run appears to be the cause of this mission failure.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #47    23 MARCH 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 138)

A. TARGET:  CRIEL MARSHALLING YARDS JUST NORTH OF PARIS. A very large and important rail target. Aiming Points: Wagon and locomotive repair sheds, surrounding storage buildings and loading tracks.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Not much. Railroad yards usually have very little flak. We expect friendly fighter cover.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  36 a/c from each Group in the Ninth Bomber Command. We must want this one awfully bad.

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS:  Excellent. Right on the nose.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #48    25 MARCH 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 140)

A. TARGET:  HIRSON MARSHALLING YARDS, FRANCE. Large locomotive repair sheds and its strategic location makes this target another vital link in the transportation chain of northern France. Aiming Point: Both boxes, the locomotive repair shop.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  No flak. Fighter attacks likely.

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 - 500 lb. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Lead Bombardier of the 72 planes. (strike photo)

E. RESULTS:  My pattern: Had to bomb thru smoke. Very good. Others: Very good.

F. LOSSES:  We lost one B-26 to enemy planes. Several were hit.

MISSION #49    8 APRIL 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 142)

A. TARGET:  HASSELT MARSHALLING YARDS, BELGIUM. About the same size as the Hirson Marshalling Yards which was my last outing about two weeks ago. Aiming Point: The locomotive repair building.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  No flak. Fighter attacks likely.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each.

D. MY JOB:  Lead Bombardier of the second box of 18 a/c. (strike photo)

E. RESULTS:  My Pattern: Bulls-eye. Others: A very tight pattern centered on the aiming point. Strike photos of this mission were re-printed on propaganda leaflets and dropped behind German lines.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #50    10 APRIL 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 143 or 144)

A. TARGET: A RED-ROOFED FACTORY BUILDING IN NORTHERN FRANCE. This was a target of opportunity. The primary target was covered by clouds. Aiming Point: The center of the building.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  None.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  36 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 4 - 1000 lb. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS:  Bulls-eye. We all hoped this was a chemical warfare factory. & not a milk processing plant.

F. LOSSES:  None.