Mission 85

Mission Summaries > May 1944

WEDNESDAY, 31 MAY 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 382:

1,029 bombers and 682 fighters attack marshalling yards and aircraft industry targets in Germany and rail targets in France and Belgium; the fighters claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 1 bomber and 3 fighters are lost:

Of 246 B-17s, 36 hit Luxeuil marshalling yard, France; 30 hit Florennes/Juzaine Airfield and 4 hit Namur marshalling yard, Belgium; 23 hit Gilze-Rijen Airfield and 12 hit Roosendaal marshalling yard, The Netherlands; and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 45 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 4 WIA.

287 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards in Germany; 88 hit Osnabruck, 54 hit Schwerte, 52 hit Oeske and 50 hit Hamm; 1 B-17 is lost and 58 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 10 MIA.

491 B-24s are dispatched to hit rail targets in France and Belgium but are recalled due to clouds; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged.

4 of 5 B-24s hit rail bridges at Beaumont-sur-Oise and bridges at Melun without loss; Azon radio-controlled bombs are unsuccessfully used against the bridges.

Escort is provided by 193 P-38s, 180 P-47s and 309 P-51s; P-38s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground with 1 P-38 being damaged; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot is MIA) and 3 are damaged; P-51s claim 3-0-1 aircraft on the ground with 2 P-51s lost (pilots are MIA). 674 Ninth Air Force fighters provide support; no claims or losses.

Target: Lumes, France - Railroad Bridge
8th Air Force Mission No:	382
Aircraft Taking Off:	27
Aircraft Dispatched:	27
Aircraft Aborts:	0
Aircraft Over Primary:	0
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	3 x 2,000 lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	81 x 2,000 lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Results:	All Groups abandoned mission because of adverse weather conditions
Tactical Mission Report:	No Mission Report
Losses: None.
Note: None.

No Target Photo Available