Mission 61

Mission Summaries > April 1944

THURSDAY, 27 APRIL 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 323:

486 bombers and 543 fighters are dispatched to bomb airfields, marshalling yards and targets of opportunity in France and Belgium; 4 bombers and 4 fighters are lost.

168 B-17s are dispatched to bomb Nancy/Essay Airfield (103 bomb) and Toul/Croix de Metz landing ground (60 bomb), France; 2 B-17s are lost and 33 damaged; 20 airmen are MIA.

120 B-17s dispatched: 98 bomb Le Culot Airfield and 20 bomb Ostend/Middelkerke Airfield, Belgium; 2 B-17s are lost and 29 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 20 MIA.

198 B-24s dispatched; 118 bomb Blainville sur L'eau marshalling yard and 72 bomb Châlons sur Marne marshalling yard, France; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 22 damaged; casualties are 24 KIA, 6 WIA and 1 MIA.

Escort is provided by 106 P-38s, 283 P-47s and 154 P-51s; the fighters claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 4-0-5 on the ground; 4 P-47s are lost and 2 P-47s and 1 P-51 are damaged; 3 airmen are MIA.

Mission 324:

5 of 5 B-17s drop 3.36 million leaflets on 23 towns in France including Cambrai, Orleans, Rennes, Nantes, Brest, Tours, Lorient, Caen, Le Mans, Limoges and Châteauroux without loss.

Target: Châlons-sur-Marne, France - Marshalling Yards
8th Air Force Mission No:	323
Aircraft Taking Off:	26
Aircraft Dispatched:	24
Aircraft Aborts:	0
Aircraft Over Primary:	24
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	12 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	288 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Results:	Good
Tactical Mission Report:	Mission Data: 2nd Bomb Division tactical Mission Report Date: 27 April 1944 Primary Target: Blainville and Châlons-sur-Marne - Marshalling Yards. Secondary Target: Any airdrome in occupied country not adjacent to a built-up area. Last Resort Target: Any airdrome in occupied country not adjacent to a built-up area. Units Participating: 20th CBW (448th, 446th, 453rd BG). 96th CBW (467th, 466th, 458th BG). 14th CBW (392nd, 44th, 445th BG). Narrative: a. Nine Groups dispatched 199 aircraft from 3 Combat Wings to attack the marshalling yards at Blainville and Châlons-sur-Marne. b. Assemblies were accomplished without incident and units departed the English Coast on course and on time. Routes flown to and from the target were flown as briefed. Both targets were bombed with fair to good results. c. Flak was light enroute and in the target area, but on the route out became moderate and accurate. Fighter support was excellent and there were no losses or claims. Assembly: Route In: Bomb Run: Route Out: Enemy Fighters: Fighter Support: Flak:
Losses:
Note:

Châlons-sur-Marne, France - Marshalling Yards