Mission 96 - 445BG

Go to content

Mission 96

Mission Summaries > June 1944
SUNDAY, 11 JUNE 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):


Mission 405:
Weather prevents operations against priority targets in Germany so the bombers attack targets in France; 1,055 bombers and 914 fighter sorties are flown; over 400 bombers abort or fail to bomb due to clouds and absence or malfunction of Pathfinders; 3 bombers and 8 fighters are lost:

471 B-17s are dispatched to airfields at Beaumont-le-Roger (38 bomb), Bernay/St Martin (50 bomb) and Dinard/Pluertuit (37 bomb), and Toucquet-Paris-Plage (27 bomb), Merlimont Plage (34 bomb), Pontaubault Bridge (50 bomb) and Berck (36 bomb); 33 others hit Conches Airfield and 4 hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 11 damaged; 20 airmen are MIA.

584 B-24s are dispatched to airfields at Cormeilles-en-Vexin (34 bomb), Beauvais/Nivelliers (27 bomb), Beaumont-sur-Oise (36 bomb) and Creil (19 bomb) and Vicomte-sur-Rance (19 bomb), Montford Bridge (18 bomb) and Blois/St Denis (41 bomb); 12 others hit Beauvais/Tille Airfield, 7 hit Poix Airfield, 32 hit Montauban marshalling yard and 52 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 14 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 3 WIA and 4 MIA.

87 P-47s and 144 P-51s provide escort for the bombers without loss.

Mission 406:
During the night, 5 B-17s drop leaflets on France and the Low Countries without loss.
Target:  Loire, France - Railroad bridge
8th Air Force Mission No:
405-A
Aircraft Taking Off:
24
Aircraft Dispatched:
23
Aircraft Aborts:
23
Aircraft Over Primary:
0
Aircraft Over Secondary:
0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:
0
Aircraft Bomb Load:
4 x 1,000 lb. AN-M44 General Purpose bombs
4 x 2,000  lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:
4 x 1,000 lb. AN-M44 General Purpose bombs
88 x 2,000 lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Results:
Weather abort
Tactical Mission Report:
445th Bomb Group Mission Report

    1.             A/C Scheduled -----------------------  24
                    A/C Airborne -------------------------  24
                    A/C Dispatched ----------------------  23
                    A/C Returned Early -----------------   23
                    A/C Over Target --------------------     0
                    A/C Returned ------------------------   23

    2.   Assembly:  Group and Combat Wing assemblies were accomplished substantially as briefed.

     3.   Route In:  Route to the target was flown substantially as briefed.

     4.   Bomb Run:  Meager and inaccurate flak in the target area. Very heavy cloud cover at the target, causing low bombing altitudes and attacks on various targets of opportunity.

     5.   Route Out:  Route out from the target was flown substantially as briefed.

    6.   Enemy Fighters:  None observed or encountered.

     7.   Fighter Support:  Excellent.
Losses:
     None.
Note:
    None.
Loire River bridge
Image courtesy of National Collection of Aerial Photographs ©
Back to content