Mission 111

Mission Summaries > June 1944

SATURDAY, 24 JUNE 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 438:

During the morning 967 bombers are dispatched to hit targets in Germany and France: 5 bombers are lost:

Of 340 B-17s, 213 hit oil industry targets in Bremen, 53 hit an aircraft factory at Wesermunde and 40 attack Bremen; 1 B-17 is lost and 105 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 6 fighter groups (185 P-38s and 85 P-47s); 1 group strafes an airfield and rail transport in the Munster and Hamm areas and claims 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; no losses.

407 B-24s are dispatched to France; 78 hit Conches Airfield, 45 hit Château dun Airfield, 45 hit Orleans/Bricy Airfield, 34 hit Toussus/Le Noble, 31 hit a fighter strip, 12 hit Pont Audmer, 11 hit Toussus/Paris and 9 hit Dreux Airfield; 2 B-24s are lost and 81 damaged; 20 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 45 P-38s and 36 P-47s; 1 P-38 is lost (pilot is MIA); the fighters later fly strafing missions.

86 B-17s and 60 B-24s are dispatched to hit 12 CROSSBOW (V-weapon) sites in the Pas de Calais area but are prevented by overcast from bombing the sites, but 11 B-17s fly S and release bombs near the industrial area of Rouen; 1 B-17 is lost to AA fire; 13 B-17s and 1 B-24 are damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 35 of 36 P-47s without loss.

Of 74 B-17s dispatched to the Saumur bridge, 38 hit the primary and 36 hit Tours/La Riche Airfield without loss; escort is provided by 121 of 135 P-51s who claim 4-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.

Mission 439:

During the afternoon 62 B-17s and 167 B-24s are dispatched to targets in France; 2 B-24s are lost; escort for the mission is provided by 71 P-47s and 50 P-51s without loss; 25 other P-51s fly a sweep of the Angers/Le Mans area and claim 25-0-6 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground:

Of 62 B-17s, 32 hit V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area, 12 hit Holque electrical stations and 12 hit Saint-Pol-sur-Mer marshalling yards; 17 B-17s are damaged.

Of 167 B-24s, 67 hit V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area, 14 hit the Abbeville power station, 12 hit Pont-a-Vendin and 12 hit the Tingry electrical station; 2 B-24s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 44 damaged; 20 airmen are MIA.

Mission 440:

5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

Target: Mazingabe, France - Power Station
8th Air Force Mission No:	439
Aircraft Taking Off:	12
Aircraft Dispatched:	12
Aircraft Aborts:	12
Aircraft Over Primary:	0
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	52x100 lb. AN-M30 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	624x100 lb. AN-M30 General Purpose bombs
Results:	Did not drop (weather abort)
Tactical Mission Report:	445th Bomb Group Mission Report 1. A/C Scheduled ----------------------- A/C Airborne ------------------------- A/C Dispatched ---------------------- A/C Returned Early ----------------- A/C Over Target --------------------- A/C Returned ------------------------ 2. Assembly: 3. Route In: 4. Bomb Run: 5. Route Out: 6. Enemy Fighters: 7. Fighter Support: 8. Flak:
Losses: None.
Note: None.

No target photo available