Mission 94

Mission Summaries > June 1944

THURSDAY, 8 JUNE 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 400:

1,178 bombers and 1,353 fighter sorties are flown on communications in France to isolate German forward elements, and airfields are bombed to prevent Luftwaffe support. Cloud conditions prevent 400+ bombers from executing attacks.

640 B-17s are dispatched to La Frilliere (66 bomb), Orleans (36 bomb), Rennes Airfield (30 bomb), Orleans / Les Aubrais marshalling yard (60 bomb), Nantes (25 bomb), La Huchetiere (31 bomb), Tours/La Riche (61 bomb) and Cinq Mars bridge (57 bomb); 18 hit Bruz, 2 hit Rennes and 13 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 63 damaged; 11 airmen are KIA and 10 MIA.

538 B-24s are dispatched to Pontaubault (67 bomb), Angers/St Laud (24 bomb), Angers (19 bomb), Le Mans/Arnage Airfield (14 bomb), Pontaubault (13 bomb), Nantes (42 bomb) and Cinq Mars bridge (55 bomb); 5 hit Dinon, 1 hits Precey, 1 hits Cinq Mars bridge, 30 hit Grandville Harbor, 19 hit a bridge at Rennes, 9 hit Precey and 26 hit targets of opportunity (Bourg); an attack on the Melun bridge by an Azon unit is foiled by clouds; 2 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 73 damaged; 17 airmen are KIA, 4 WIA and 20 MIA.

Escort for the bombers is provided by 116 P-51s; they claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost and 1 is damaged beyond repair.

Target: Primary - Rennes, France - Rennes railroad bridge west of town Target of Opportunity - Bourges, France - German occupied airfield
8th Air Force Mission No:	400
Aircraft Taking Off:	35
Aircraft Dispatched:	32
Aircraft Aborts:	12
Aircraft Over Primary:	17
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	6
Aircraft Bomb Load:	4 x 1,000 lb. AN-M44 General Purpose bombs (PFF aircraft) 4 x 2,000 lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	8 x 1,000 lb. AN-M44 General Purpose bombs (PFF aircraft) 68 x 2,000 lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Results:	Primary - Unobserved T/O - Unobserved
Tactical Mission Report:	445th Bomb Group Mission Report 1. A/C Scheduled ----------------------- 35 A/C Airborne ------------------------- 35 A/C Dispatched ---------------------- 32 A/C Returned Early ----------------- 0 A/C Over Target --------------------- 16 A/C Over T/O ------------------------- 6 A/C Not Bombing -------------------- 10 A/C Returned ------------------------ 32 2. Assembly: Assemblies were accomplished under adverse weather conditions, causing difficulties in all Combat Wings. 3. Route In: Flown substantially as briefed. 4. Bomb Run: All bomb groups were led by GH PFF aircraft; some Groups bombed visually. 5. Route Out: Flown substantially as briefed. 6. Enemy Fighters: None. 7. Fighter Support: Excellent 8. Flak: Minimal and inaccurate.
Losses: Two aircraft were lost on this mission. MACR #
Note: None.

Rennes, France - Railroad bridge

Bourges, France - German occupied airfield