Mission 75 - 445BG

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Mission 75

Mission Summaries > May 1944
SATURDAY, 20 MAY 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 359:
638 bombers and 657 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in France and Belgium; 2 bombers and 4 fighters are lost; AAF claims 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground:

190 B-17s are dispatched to bomb Orly Airfield (90 bomb) and Villacoublay Air Depot (73 bomb) in France; 4 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 48 damaged; 20 airmen are KIA and 6 WIA.

125 of 177 B-24s bomb Reims airfield and marshalling yard in France; 5 B-24s are damaged.

271 B-17s and B-24s are dispatched to marshalling yards at Liege and Brussels, Belgium but the mission is abandoned due to heavy cloud cover; 2 bombers are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 41 damaged; 17 airmen are KIA, 16 WIA and 17 MIA.

Escort is provided by 146 P-38s, 177 P-47s and 334 P-51s; P-38s claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground; 1 P-38, 1 P-47 and 2 P-51s are lost; 5 P-38s are damaged; 4 pilots are MIA.
Target: Reims, France - Marshalling Yard
8th Air Force Mission No:
359
Aircraft Taking Off:
15
Aircraft Dispatched:
15
Aircraft Aborts:
2
Aircraft Over Primary:
13
Aircraft Over Secondary:
0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:
0
Aircraft Bomb Load:
6 x 1,000 lb. AN-M44 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:
78 x 1,000 lb. AN-M44 General Purpose bombs
Results:
Good
Tactical Mission Report:
445th Bomb Group Mission Report

    1.             A/C Scheduled ----------------------- 15
                    A/C Airborne ------------------------- 15
                    A/C Dispatched ---------------------- 13
                    A/C Returned Early -----------------   2
                    A/C Over Target --------------------- 13
                    A/C Returned ------------------------ 13

    2.   Assembly:  The Group assembled over Buncher #6 at 15,000 feet and fell in behind the 389th on the turn around Buncher #6 waiting for the 453rd to form. Time 08:32. Circled Buncher #6, and fell in high right of 453rd, until 09:41. The Wing cut short of Splasher #5 to Buncher #7 at 09:58 and left at 10:03 thence to Oxfordness at which point we left the coast at 10:19:30.

     3.   Route In:  Enemy coast was on course at 10:42, 9 minutes late. The Wing was south of course, turned short of the I.P. at 11:33. No Flak.

     4.   Bomb Run:  Made 8 minute bomb run, target was hazy but clear of clouds. Bombing on A-5 with good results, time of bombs away 11:41. Light flak.

     5.   Route Out:  Group rally point made good, slightly south of course at turn point #1. Land flare at enemy coast as briefed and let down over Channel. Light flak just inside enemy coast.

    6.   Enemy Fighters:  None.

     7.   Fighter Support:  Excellent.

    8.   Flak:  Light over target, lead squadron encountered light flak just inside enemy coast.
Losses:
     None.
Note:
     None.
Reims, France - German Occupied Airfield
Image courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration ©
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