Mission 70

Mission Summaries > May 1944

THURSDAY, 11 MAY 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 350:

364 B-24s and 536 fighters are dispatched to bomb marshalling yards in France; 8 B-24s and 5 fighters are lost: 144 B-24’s are dispatched to hit Mulhouse; 94 bomb the primary, 19 hit Belfort, 13 bomb Orleans / Bricy Airfield and 2 hit Mezidon / Pithiviers; 1 B-24 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 17 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 7 WIA and 40 MIA. 74 B-24’s are dispatched to Belfort; 33 bomb the primary and 24 hit Chaumont; 1 B-24 is lost. 76 B-24’s are dispatched to Epinal; 68 hit the primary and 1 bombs Caen Airfield; 3 B-24s are lost. 70 B-24’s are dispatched to Chaumont but none bomb; 3 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 30 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 31 MIA.

Escort is provided by 147 P-38s, 188 P-47s and 201 P-51s; the P-38s claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground, the P-47s claim 3-0-2 in the air and 2-0-6 on the ground and the P-51s claim 3-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-4s and 3 P-51s are lost, 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair and 2 P-38s, 6 P-47s and 2 P-51s are damaged; 5 pilots are MIA.

Mission 351:

In the afternoon, 609 B-17s and 471 fighters are dispatched to hit marshalling yards in Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg; 8 B-17s and 4 fighters are lost; primary targets are Brussels/Midi (55 bomb), Brussels (49 bomb) and Liege, Belgium (119 bomb, 2 lost); Saarbrucken (58 bomb, 5 lost), Kons Karthaus (55 bomb) and Ehrang (60 bomb, 1 lost), Germany; and Luxembourg (53 bomb); 12 hit the secondary target at Thionville, France; and 16 hit Volkingen, Germany; 19 hit Bettembourg, Luxembourg and 51 hit other targets of opportunity; 8 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 172 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 23 WIA and 83 MIA. Escort is provided by 99 P-38s, 182 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 190 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the P-51s claim 11-0-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 P-51s are lost, the pilots are MIA.

Mission 352:

4 of 5 B-17s drop 2.4 million leaflets over Denmark; 2 airmen are KIA and 3 WIA.

4 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions.

Target: Belfort, France - Railroad Marshalling Yard
8th Air Force Mission No:	350
Aircraft Taking Off:	14
Aircraft Dispatched:	14
Aircraft Aborts:	2
Aircraft Over Primary:	12
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	10 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	120 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Results:	Unobserved
Tactical Mission Report:	445th Bomb Group Mission Report 1. Aircraft Scheduled -------------------------------- 14 Aircraft Airborne ---------------------------------- 14 Aircraft Not Dispatched -------------------------- 0 Aircraft Abortive ---------------------------------- 2 Aircraft Over Target ------------------------------ 12 Aircraft Attacking -------------------------------- 12 Aircraft Returned -------------------------------- 12 2. Take off and Assembly: This Group was briefed to assemble at 15,000 feet. A natural Group assembly was made. Light contrails made it necessary to climb to 17,500 feet. Wing Assembly was made between Buncher #7 and Splasher #7. The first squadron flew high right on 389th Group and the second squadron flew High Right on the 453rd Group. Wing assembly was not made at the proper place because of bad visibility and VHF out. Departed on time five miles to the right of course. 3. Route In and out: The route was flown as briefed with the exception of a dog leg to keep from over running the Wing ahead. The Combat Wing IP and the Group IP were 5/10 to 8/10 overcast. Heading to the target was 58°. Route out was flown as briefed. 4. Enemy Aircraft: Several fighters were seen in the distance and attacked the Wings ahead of us, but none came near our Wing. 5. Flak: A little light flak was encountered just after making landfall on Enemy coast. Was on both sides of formation but low. 6. Fighter Cover: Fighter cover was good the entire route.
Losses: None.
Note: None.

Belfort, France - Railroad Marshalling Yard