Mission 86

Mission Summaries > June 1944

FRIDAY, 2 JUNE 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)

The role of the heavy bombers from 2-5 Jun in preparation for the invasion of Normandy on 6 Jun includes continuation of attacks against transportation and airfield targets in N France and the institution of a series of blows against coastal defenses, mainly located in the Pas de Calais coastal area, to deceive the enemy as to the sector to be invaded (Operation COVER).

Mission 384:

In the morning, 521 of 633 B-17s and 284 of 293 B-24s hit V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area, coastal defense gun emplacements near Berck, and the Saint-Aubin airfield; 11 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 1 WIA and 1 MIA.

Mission 385:

In the afternoon, 242 B-17s are dispatched to railroad targets in the Paris area; 163 hit the primaries, 49 hit Conches Airfield, 12 hit Beaumont-sur-Oise Airfield and 1 hits Caen/ Carpiquet Airfield.

77 B-24s are dispatched to Bretigny Airfield in France; 13 hit the primary target, 47 hit Creil Airfield and 14 hit Villanueva Airfield; 2 B-17s and 5 B-24s are lost, 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 90 B-17s and 37 B-24s damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 4 WIA and 68 MIA.

Mission 386:

3 of 7 P-38s hit the Ostend Bridge, Belgium without loss.

3 B-17s fly weather reconnaissance over the Atlantic.

Mission 387:

During the evening, 5 B-17s drop leaflets on targets in Belgium and France; and 18 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER operations.

Target: 1st Squadron - St. Aubin, France - German Airfield (High Right on 389th Bomb Group) 2nd Squadron - Berck, France - Coastal Gun Emplacement (High Right of 453rd Bomb Group)
8th Air Force Mission No:	384
Aircraft Taking Off:	1st Squadron - 11 2nd Squadron - 12
Aircraft Dispatched:	23
Aircraft Aborts:	0
Aircraft Over Primary:	23
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	1st Squadron - 12 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs 2nd Squadron - 8 x 2,000 lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	1st Squadron - 132 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs 2nd Squadron - 96 x 2,000 lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Results:	Unobserved
Tactical Mission Report:	445th Bomb Group Mission Report 1. A/C Scheduled ----------------------- 23 A/C Airborne ------------------------- 23 A/C Dispatched ---------------------- 23 A/C Returned Early ----------------- 0 A/C Over Target --------------------- 23 A/C Returned ------------------------ 23 2. Assembly: 3. Route In: 4. Bomb Run: 5. Route Out: 6. Enemy Fighters: 7. Fighter Support: 8. Flak:
Losses: None.
Note: None.

Berck, France - Coastal Gun Emplacements

Saint Aubin, France - German Occupied Airfield