Mission 23

Mission Summaries > February 1944

SUNDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 1944
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
ZONE OF INTERIOR:

The Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) accepts revision of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) Plan. The targets are reduced to a number that can be decisively attacked and target lists are revised to keep up with the effort of the Germans to relocate vital industrial plants. Disruption of communication lines and reduction of the Luftwaffe are high priority aims included in the CCS directive on this date.

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 221:

V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area of France are hit.

266 of 277 B-17s hit 12 sites and 138 of 192 B-24s hit 5 sites (Bonnières). 12 B-24s hit targets of opportunity; they claim 0-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-17s are lost, 2 B-17s and 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair, and 74 B-17s and 57 B-24s are damaged; casualties are 7 KIA, 23 WIA and 24 MIA. Escort is provided by 189 P-47s and 43 P-51s; they claim 6-1-4 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 0-0-4 on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost and 4 P-47s damaged; no casualties.

Target: Bonnières, France - V-1 Rocket Launch Site
8th Air Force F.O. No:	221
Aircraft Taking Off:	21
Aircraft Dispatched:	21
Aircraft Aborts:	0
Aircraft Over Primary:	21
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	12 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	252 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Results:	Unobserved due to 10/10th's cloud cover
Tactical Mission Report:	Mission Data: Date: 13 Feb 44 Primary Target: Secondary Target: Last Resort Target: Units Participating: Narrative:
Losses: None.
Note: None.

Bonnières, France - V-1 Rocket Launch Site