Mission 69

Mission Summaries > May 1944

TUESDAY, 9 MAY 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 347:

823 bombers and 668 fighters are dispatched to hit marshalling yards and airfields in France, Belgium and Luxembourg; this is the beginning of the pre-invasion bombing of enemy installations; 6 bombers and 7 fighters are lost:

Of 220 B-17s, 75 hit St Dizier Airfield, 53 hit Thiensville Airfield and 37 hit Thiensville marshalling yard, France and 53 hit Luxembourg marshalling yard, Luxembourg; 38 B-17s are damaged.

242 B-17s are dispatched to bomb airfields in France; 113 hit Laon/Athies, 71 hit Juvincourt, 43 hit Laon/Couvron, 10 hit Lille/Vendeville and 1 hits Chievres; 2 B-17s are lost and 44 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 1 WIA and 20 MIA.

Of 361 B-24s, 101 hit St Trond Airfield, 96 hit Florennes Airfield, 63 hit Liege marshalling yard and 6 hit Hody Airfield, Belgium and 68 hit Laon/Couvron Airfield and 10 hit Nivelles Airfield, France; 2 B-24s are lost, and 35 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 44 MIA.

Escort is provided by 144 P-38s, 277 P-47s and 247 P-51s; the P-47s claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-4 on the ground, the P-51s claim 1-0-0 in the air; 1 P-38 and 6 P-51s are lost; 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair and 1 P-51 is damaged; 6 pilots are MIA.

Mission 348:

3 of 3 B-17s drop 1.34 million leaflets on 4 towns in The Netherlands and 3 in Belgium.

13 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions without loss.

Target: Florennes, Belgium - German Occupied Airfield
8th Air Force Mission No:	347
Aircraft Taking Off:	28
Aircraft Dispatched:	28
Aircraft Aborts:	2
Aircraft Over Primary:	26
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	40 x 100 lb. AN-M30 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	1,025 x 100 lb. AN-M30 General Purpose bombs
Results:	Excellent
Tactical Mission Report:	445th Bomb Group Mission Report 1. Aircraft Scheduled ---------------------- 28 Aircraft Airborne ------------------------ 28 Aircraft Dispatched --------------------- 28 Aircraft Not Dispatched ---------------- 0 Aircraft Abortive ------------------------ 2 Aircraft Over Target -------------------- 26 Aircraft Returned ----------------------- 26 2. Take off and Assembly: This Group was briefed to assemble at 12,000 feet. A normal assembly was accomplished was accomplished at 12,000 feet under changes of middle clouds. The Wing was briefed to assemble at 13,000 feet. Prior to the turn for the Wing assembly, the assembly altitude was raised to 15,000 feet. This was done by announcing our intentions over VHF to the other Groups of the Wing. A normal Wing and Division assembly took place and we proceeded on course departing the English coast on time, on course, visual and at 15,000 feet. 3. Route In and Out: While proceeding crossing the channel the Wing ahead was observed making landfall south of the briefed point of entry. This Wing made landfall at the proper place and proceeded on course. From the conversation heard over the VHF it was ascertained that the Wing ahead knew they were off course so we did not notify them by VHF. At the Combat Wing IP the 2nd Wing was forced to make a 360° turn to the left to avoid a collision course with the preceeding Wing. This collision course was due to the fact that when correcting back on course, they over-corrected, running into the 2nd Combat Wing. Attempting to avoid this collision we slid left of course and made another 360° turn when it was apparent that we were being forced over Brussels. From the Combat Wing IP to the Group IP the route was flown as briefed. From the Group IP to the target and the entire routeout was flown as briefed. 4. Enemy Aircraft: Fifteen to twenty enemy aircraft were encountered about 40 miles from the enemy coast on the way out. The attacks on this Group were nil and the attacks on other Groups appeared to be one pass then away. 5. Flak: Flak was meager to nil and inaccurate. 6. Fighter Cover: Fighter cover was excellent until the Combat Wing Rally where it seemed to peter out.
Losses: None.
Note: None.

Florennes, Belgium - German Occupied Airfield