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