Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
Mission 187: 36 V-weapon sites in France, 34 in the Pas de Calais area and 2 in the Cherbourg area, are targeted; 24 are attacked by 302 of 597 B-17s and 68 of 198 B-24s; 15 B-17s and 9 B-24s hit targets of opportunity (2 V-weapon sites and 3 airfields); they claim 5-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-24s and a B-17 are lost, 3 B-24s are damaged beyond repair, and 103 B-17s and 41 B-24s are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 31 WIA and 74 MIA. This mission is escorted by 49 P-38s, 531 P-47s and 48 Ninth Air Force P-51s; they claim 6-0-4 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 2-2-0 on the ground; 1 P-47 is lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 1 MIA. Mission 188: During the night, 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1.2 million leaflets on Reims, Nantes, Le Mans, Tours and Orleans, France without loss. | |
Source: THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History, |
Mission Reports
303BG Mission Report - Target: Construction Sites: A Group, Bois-Coquerel, France, B Group, Bealieu, France. Crews Dispatched: 29 (358BS - 7, 359th - 7, 360th - 8, 427th - 7). Length of Mission: 3 hours, 45 minutes. Bomb Load: 12 x 500 lb G.P. bombs. Bombing Altitudes: A - 13,000 ft; B - 12,000 ft. Ammo Fired: 3,360 rounds. This mission was a classic "milk run" – there were no abortions, there were no casualties, flak was meager and inaccurate at scattered points along the route, there was no fighter opposition, only two aircraft had minor damage and all aircraft returned to Molesworth. The eight aircraft in the 303BG-A Group lead Squadron dropped their bombs in a wooded area. The low Squadron of seven aircraft returned with their bombs. Four bomb runs were made in the target area, but each time cloud conditions prevented sightings of the target. The bombing altitude was 13,000 feet ("A" Group) and 12,000 feet ("B" Group). More info on this mission at the 303BG website | source: 303rd Bomb Group web page http://www.303rdbg.com/ | 306BG Mission Report | source: 306th Bombardment Group website www.306bg.org/ | 351BG Mission Report - 20 aircraft were sent on this mission. | source: 351st Bomb Group web page http://www.351st.org/ken.harbour | 384BG Mission Report - The group was alerted for an operational mission just as they were about to take off for a practice mission. In the space of one and one-half hours, 34 aircraft were reconfigured for combat, and dispatched to attack NOBALL targets in France. The A group of 18 aircraft, led by Major Alfred C Nuttall, attacked the Preuseville targets, while the B group of 16 aircraft, led by Major George W Harris, were unable to locate the assigned target in the Pommereval area due to cloud obscuration, and returned their bomb loads to base. | source: 384th Bomb Group web page http://384thBombGroup.com/ | 384BG Mission Report - 384th BG Mission Number 54. The group was alerted for an operational mission just as they were about to take off for a practice mission. In the space of one and one-half hours, 34 aircraft were reconfigured for combat, and dispatched to attack "NOBALL" targets in France. The "A" group of 18 aircraft, led by Major Alfred C Nuttall, attacked the Preuseville targets, while the "B" group of 16 aircraft, led by Major George W Harris, were unable to locate the assigned target in the Pommereval area due to cloud obscuration, and returned their bomb loads to base. Primary Target: V-1 Site - Preuseville & Pommereval, France. Target Attacked : Primary (Visual) 36 aircraft assigned to this mission: Completed Mission - 32. Aborted - 2. Scrubbed - 2 42-3051 Corcoran, John J - This aircraft, prepared for the practice mission, was not dispatched on the operational mission, possibly due to insufficient time available to reconfigure it for combat in the "B" group. Pilot for the intended practice mission, Corcoran, did not take part in the combat mission. 42-29688 Smith, Roger Clement - Aborted over GU as prop governor on #4 engine broke and had to be feathered 42-29723 Reed, Merlin H - Aborted B Grp; turned back at 1350 hrs over Beachy Head b/c a/c took off late and could not find a position open in the formation; 12x500GP rtd 42-39991 Courtemanche, Ralph E - This aircraft, prepared for the practice mission, was not dispatched on the operational mission, possibly due to insufficient time available to reconfigure it for combat in the "B" group. Pilot for the intended practice mission, Courtemanche, did not take part in the combat mission. | source: 384th Bomb Group web page http://384thBombGroup.com/ | 388BG Mission Report - The 388th put up two Groups, the A Group attacking Target #59 and B Group, # 78. 42 A/C took-off between 1210 and 1240 hours, made Combat Wing formation and proceeded to the IP where they broke up into Squadrons for the bombing run. Broken clouds over the Target area made it difficult for the bombardiers to pick the Targets up. As a consequence, several bomb runs were made by the Squadrons. Bombing results were satisfactory with the only "Shack" made by the low squadrons in "A" Group. Bombing was done from 12,000 feet between 1452 and 1540 hours. All A/C returned to base by 1716 hours. | source: 388th Bomb Group web page http://www.388bg.info | 392nd Bomb Group Mission Report | source: 392nd Bomb Group web page http://www.b24.net/missions/ | 401BG / 613BS Mission Report - Target: Notre Dame de Ferme, France. Five crews, all of whom returned safely, were dispatched. They were: Stelzer Hess Rohner Shotts Piper. | source: 613th Bombardment Squadron History | 401BG / 614BS Mission Report - December and January saw a mounting concentration of raids on the Pas de Calais area of France, the site of the rocket installations. This was one of those operations to try to knock out the most difficult of target, the small "ski" sites. The 614th crews on the mission were: Stine, Arneson, Chapman, Cammack, Stimson. | source: 614th Bombardment Squadron History www.401bg.org | 401BG / 615BS Mission Report - The 8th Air Force despatched 795 bombers to the French "rocket coast" because of bad weather over Germany,but the bad weather extended over the Pas de Calais also and only about a half of the force were able to bomb the primary targets or targets of opportunity. The 23 Fortresses of the 401st were under the command of Captain Carl Hinkle and took off from Deenethorpe by 1230 hrs. Ten of the Group's aircraft reported bombing their primary, and ten bombed targets of opportunity. For those interested in UFO's the Control Tower Log Book has an interesting entry for one minute after midnight on this day. It reads:- "Curious moving light, more like a Net balloon, observed over Kingscliffe." The 615th loading list for this mission was: 42-31069 Kaminski, 42-31193 Trimble, 42-37833 Lewis, 42-40057 Gardner, 42-31091 Dempsey, 42-31414 Van Syckle. | source: 615th Bombardment Squadron History www.401bg.org | 401BG / 612BS Mission Report - Crews: Dailey, Fox, Sellers, McCree, Tanner, Smith | source: 612th Bombardment Squadron History | 44th BG Crash Report - Flak and enemy aircraft attacks were heavy and quite costly. The 68th BS lost four aircraft to both types of enemy action, while the 66th lost one - A/C #42-72813 "Queen Marlene", piloted by 2nd Lt. Martin E, Spelts.
The 68ths planes were:
#42-7501 piloted by 1st Lt. F.W. Sobotka
#42-7514 0 piloted by 1st Lt. Gary M. Mathisen
#42-7635 Q "Ram It-Dam-It" pilot - 1st Lt. H.R. Howington
#41-23813 V "Victory Ship" and pilot - 1st Lt. A.A. Starring
Our 67th plane #42-99970, piloted by 1st Lt. Cookus, was leading one 44th formation but did not have benefit of PFF equipment so he had to make five attempts to seek a break in the clouds through which to bomb. Failing in this and having already remained much too long in the target area, he turned the Group towards the Channel having decided to drop the bombs there.
Meanwhile, the German gun batteries, having determined the range and altitude while the formation hovered over the target, continued to fire with deadly accuracy trying to add to the four ships they had already downed. This time the shells began to burst around his lead ship. Within 30 seconds the aircraft of Lt. Cookus received seven direct hits. Number one and two engines were completely shot out of the left wing, number three had burst into flames; the catwalk and half the bomb bay were blown away; a burst had blown off half the nose turret the bomb bay set afire the right landing gear shot away and the wings and fuselage perforated with flak in hundreds of places. The Command Pilot, Major W.N. Anderson (506th), the Bombardier 1st Lt. W.W. Cole and the top turret gunner S/Sgt. H. Becker were severely wounded by the flying razor-sharp shell fragments. The Radio Operator S/Sgt. R.J. Trechel, was blown completely clear of the ship, but managed to parachute safely to become a POW. The plane trembled and shuddered violently, but somehow held together. Diving the remnants of the B-24 three thousand feet to escape the intense barrage of flak, Lt. Cookus with superb skill, leveled the craft off and headed for England, trailing smoke and flame.
Capt. Robert L. Ager, Group Gunnery officer and 1st Lt. Henry A. Weiser, Group Bombardier bailed out either over the Channel or near it. Both became POWs. Meanwhile, the wounded Bombardier valiantly battled the flaming bomb bay with grim determination, depending upon his hands to release the majority of the bombs from the twisted wreckage. On the flight deck, Major Anderson, flying his 25th and last mission, was given first aid unsuccessfully as he was fatally injured, while in the waist of the ship, three gunners bravely fought the flames which scorched their bodies as they attempted to jettison equipment.
Just as the coast of England loomed into view, the number three engine exploded, but the gallant ship continued on its course with but one engine still remaining on the ship. Fighting magnificently to keep the craft level and just enough flying speed, Lt. Cookus sighted a plowed field just beyond the shore line near Manston. With great skill and a bit of luck, he brought the twisted wreckage in for a belly landing. Plowing through the soft earth, the ill-fated craft skidded to a stop. Lt. Cookus, his co-pilot 1st Lt. H.K. Holladay and the three badly burned gunners battled the flaming wreckage while they extracted the two remaining crew members trapped in the crushed cabin. The casualties were three men POW, three KIA, and five survived to fight again. Lt. Cole, the brave Bombardier, did not survive. For this extraordinary achievement, Lt. Cookus was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The log shows that S/Sgt. Trechel was MIA at 1400 hours and Lt. Cole KIA at 1600 hours.
T/Sgt. Archie R. Barlow, Engineer on 1st Lt. H.R. Howingtons Q for Queenie (68th) adds his experiences: We had a midmorning call out and briefing instead of the usual pre-dawn awakening. Our target was in the Pas DeCalais area, which was cloud covered when we arrived and we were on our third run, trying to get a good visual drop from about 12,000 feet when we first saw the German fighter formation. They made the first pass from off our right wing, then climbed ahead to make the next from about 11 oclock, high. They must have raked us with several 20 mm hits - one exploding directly on the nose, killing the Bombardier (1st Lt. W.D. Crowl) and Navigator (1st Lt. Richard J. Kasten), and turning their compartment into an instant inferno. We think the Co-pilot (1st Lt. H.M. Curtis) was killed by the same blast. Another round must have gone off either on, or very near the top turret that I was manning, blowing off the Plexiglas dome cover and sending shrapnel into my left chest and arm. I grabbed the seat release cable and dropped to the floor of the flight deck. The right wall above the radio station was on fire and (T/Sgt. Alvin) Rosenblatt, the radio operator was putting on his chute. He yelled that we had other fires in the waist area and had been ordered to bail out by the Pilot (1st Lt. H.R. Howington).
A quick glance forward showed the Pilot fighting the controls and apparently unharmed. I snapped on my chute, opened the door to the nose wheel compartment and dropped down to be hit by heat and flames blowing back from the nose area. (So I backed up) and stepped out on the catwalk, thankfully noting that the bomb bay doors were open and the bombs had been jettisoned, just as Rosenblatt dropped down from the flight deck. I took one final glance into the cockpit to see the Pilot looking back at me and motioning with one hand for us to jump. I actually jumped with the intention of free-falling for 2 or 3 thousand feet before opening my chute - as we had been instructed to do many times while in training. The idea was to get you quickly out of the combat area and lessen chances of being either ran into or machine-gunned by the fighters. But the falling sensation was such a shock to the system that I couldnt have been more than twenty or thirty feet beneath the plane when I changed my mind and gave a hearty yank on the ripcord. I wanted to know - and immediately - whether or not that chute was good! It was, and the heavy jerk of the canopys opening was welcome relief.
I spent a few seconds trying to stop my wild oscillation, then looked off toward the plane. It was by then some distance off and probably at no more than 2,000 feet altitude. As I watched, it went into a steep glide and hit the ground in a fiery explosion. I saw only one chute between myself and the plane and figured that to be Rosenblatts. (Later learned that the pilot bailed out at too low an altitude and was killed). I came down in a plowed field on the edge of a small village, sprained an ankle in landing but otherwise seemingly OK. An elderly lady, once confirming that I was an American, led me into a nearby wooded area where we came upon (S/Sgt) Charles Blakely, one of our waist gunners. Within 15 minutes German troops were searching for us; walked past us but never saw us!
| source: Army Air Forces Online Forum http://forum.armyairforces.com/ | 44BG Mission Report - Four of our 67th planes took off with the Group at 1130 hour with the target being St. Agathe D'Aliermont in France as well at Escal-les-Sur-Buchy. The first of the new B-24-J type Liberator arrived on the base and the electronic supercharger controls are viewed with envious eyes by all the pilots. Once again the weather was poor, cloudy, but the bombs were finally dropped visually after five runs were made over the target. Flak and enemy aircraft attacks were heavy and quite costly to the Group. The 68th lost four aircraft to both types of enemy action, while the 66th lost one - A/C #42-72813 "Queen Marlene", piloted by 2nd Lt. Martin E, Spelts. The 68th's planes were: #42-7501 piloted by 1st Lt. F.W. Sobotka #42-7514 0 piloted by 1st Lt. Gary M. Mathisen #42-7635 Q "Ram It-Dam-It" pilot - 1st Lt. H.R. Howington #41-23813 V "Victory Ship" and pilot - 1st Lt. A.A. Starring Our 67th plane #42-99970, piloted by 1st Lt. Cookus, was leading one 44th formation but did not have benefit of PFF equipment so he had to make five attempts to seek a break in the clouds through which to bomb. Failing in this and having already remained much too long in the target area, turned the Group towards the Channel having decided to drop the bombs there. Meanwhile, the German gun batteries, having determined the range and altitude while the formation hovered over the target, continued to fire with deadly accuracy trying to add to the four ships they had already downed. This time the shells began to burst around his lead ship. Within 30 seconds the aircraft of Lt. Cookus received seven direct hits. Number one and two engines were completely shot out of the left wing, number three had burst into flames; the catwalk and half the bomb bay were blown away; a burst had blown off half the nose turret the bomb bay set afire the right landing gear shot away and the wings and fuselage perforated with flak in hundreds of places. The Command Pilot, Major W.N. Anderson (506th), the Bombardier 1st Lt. W.W. Cole and the top turret gunner S/Sgt. H. Becker were severely wounded by the flying razor-sharp shell fragments. The Radio Operator S/Sgt. R.J. Trechel, was blown completely clear of the ship, but managed to parachute safely to become a POW. The plane trembled and shuddered violently, but somehow held together. Diving the remnants of the B-24 three thousand feet to escape the intense barrage of flak, Lt. Cookus with superb skill, leveled the craft off and headed for England, trailing smoke and flame. Capt. Robert L. Ager, Group Gunnery officer and 1st Lt. Henry A. Weiser, Group Bombardier bailed out either over the Channel or near it. Both became POWs. Meanwhile, the wounded Bombardier valiantly battled the flaming bomb bay with grim determination, depending upon his hands to release the majority of the bombs from the twisted wreckage. On the flight deck, Major AndersDn, flying his 25th and last mission, was given first aid unsuccessfully as he was fatally injured. While in the waist of the ship three gunners bravely fought the flames which scorched their bodies as they attempted to jettison equipment. Just as the coast of England loomed into view, the number three engine exploded, but the gallant ship continued on its course with but one engine still remaining on the ship. Fighting magnificently to keep the craft level and just enough flying speed, Lt. Cookus sighted a plowed field just beyond the shore line near Manston. With great skill and a bit of luck, he brought the twisted wreckage in for a belly landing. Plowing through the soft earth, the ill-fated craft skidded to a stop. Lt. Cookus, his co-pilot 1st Lt. H.K. Holladay and the three badly burned gunners battled the flaming wreckage while they extracted the two remaining crew members trapped in the crushed cabin. The casualties were three men POW, three KIA, and five survived to fight again. Lt. Cole, the brave Bombardier, did not survive. For this extraordinary achievement, Lt. Cookus was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The log shows that S/Sgt. Trechel was MIA at 1400 hours and Lt. Cole KIA at 1600 hours. T/Sgt. Archie R. Barlow, Engineer on 1st Lt. H.R. Howington's ?Q for Queenie? (68th) adds his experiences: "We had a midmorning call out and briefing instead of the usual pre-dawn awakening. Our target was in the Pas DeCalais area, which was cloud covered when we arrived and we were on our third run, trying to get a good visual drop from about 12,000 feet when we first saw the German fighter formation. They made the first pass from off our right wing, then climbed ahead to make the next from about 11 o'clock, high. They must have raked us with several 20 mm hits - one exploding directly on the nose, killing the Bombardier (1st Lt. W.D. Crowl) and Navigator (1st Lt. Richard J. Kasten), and turning their compartment into an instant inferno. We think the Co-pilot (1st Lt. H.M. Curtis) was killed by the same blast. Another round must have gone off either on, or very near the top turret that I was manning, blowing off the Plexiglas dome cover and sending shrapnel into my left chest and arm. I grabbed the seat release cable and dropped to the floor of the flight deck. The right wall above the radio station was on fire and (T/Sgt. Alvin) Rosenblatt, the radio operator was putting on his chute. He yelled that we had other fires in the waist area and had been ordered to bail out by the Pilot (1st Lt. H.R. Howington)? A quick glance forward showed the Pilot fighting the controls and apparently unharmed. I snapped on my chute, opened the door to the nose wheel compartment and dropped down to be hit by heat and flames blowing back from the nose area. (So I backed up) and stepped out on the catwalk, thankfully noting that the bomb bay doors were open and the bombs had been jettisoned, just as Rosenblatt dropped down from the flight deck. I took one final glance into the cockpit to see the Pilot looking back at me and motioning with one hand for us to jump. I actually jumped with the intention of free-falling for 2 or 3 thousand feet before opening my chute - as we had been instructed to do many times while in training. The idea was to get you quickly out of the combat area and lessen chances of being either ran into or machine-gunned by the fighters. But the falling sensation was such a shock to the system that I couldn't have been more than twenty or thirty feet beneath the plane when I changed my mind and gave a hearty yank on the ripcord. I wanted to know - and immediately - whether or not that chute was good! It was, and the heavy jerk of the canopy's opening was welcome relief. I spent a few seconds trying to stop my wild oscillation, then looked off toward the plane. It was by then some distance off and probably at no more than 2,000 feet altitude. As I watched, it went into a steep glide and hit the ground in a fiery explosion. I saw only one chute between myself and the plane and figured that to be Rosenblatt's. (Later learned that the pilot bailed out at too low an altitude and was killed). I came down in a plowed field on the edge of a small village, sprained an ankle in landing but otherwise seemingly OK. An elderly lady, once confirming that I was an American, led me into a nearby wooded area where we came upon (S/Sgt) Charles Blakely, one of our waist gunners.... Within 15 minutes German troops were searching for us; walked past us but never saw us. 2nd-Lt. Decker transferred to the 66th Sq. Sgt. Williard A. Pride T/5 Salvatore P. Landano and Gabor Fath, Pvt. James S. Gabowy, Estee N. Bennett and Joseph L. Ulrich, Edwin Behr joined the Sq. | source: 44th Bomb Group web page http://www.8thairforce.com/44thbg | 445BG Mission Report - Target: Bonnieres, France - V-Weapon Launch Site. A/C Took Off: 29. A/C Bombed Target: 25. A/C Lost: 0 | source: 445th Bomb Group http://445bg.org | 446th Bomb Group Mission Report Noball target The group was unable to locate the target due to cloud cover and was forced to turn back. On their way home, they were met by intense flak, which heavily damaged one plane, Merle Lee (42-7584), forcing a crash landing in the UK. There were no casualties. | source: 446th Bomb Group www.446bg.com | 447BG Mission Report - Between the hours of 1240 and 1301, 21 January 1944, 21 A/C of the 447th Bombardment Group (H) took off and assembled over base. There were no difficulties encountered in assembly of the Group and there was no Wing assembly. The Group met all control times accurately and bombed the target with 21 A/C. All A/C returned to base with no casualties. Bombing results were reported as from good to fair. SAV photos show bursts in priority target area. Rocket type missiles from ground came up to approximate altitude of formation. Some spiraled or zig-zagged up. Some when spent, traveled horizontally then dropped; with no apparent residue. B-24s in the immediate area of bombing run caused a small part of formation to break up slightly just before bombs away.
| source: 447 Bomb Group Association http://www.447bg.com | 91st BG / 323nd BS Mission Report - Enemy airfields and installations in France: Ten ships 323rd squadron took part. We were leading ship 323rd group formation that day. Major Bishop and Captain Gladstone flew the lead ship #639, "The Careful Virgin". 1/Lt. Sidney R. Francis went along as an observer. The "A" crew is one that fly's in the lead ship when our squadron is leading the group. It is composed of personnel who are more experienced combat men and who know their jobs thoroughly. Little enemy opposition was encountered from either their fighters or anti-aircraft. Three 323rd ships, including #639 made more than one bomb run over the target area. Members of the "A" crew reported that they were "sweating" it out as they repeatedly made that bomb run trying to make a perfect release right on the target. After it was made, our ships made what is called the "Old 91st Getaway" when they really speed for home. No ships were lost.
As the ships came back, three of them gave the field a "medium buzz". These ships were being flown by Major Bishop, Lt. Ward and Lt. KoLieutenants. Lieutenants Ward and KoLieutenants, later left Major Bishop to put on the show alone on ship #639 "Careful Virgin". He came so low the first time that the men on the ground thought of falling for cover. Next time, they started for cover, and the third time they fled, supposedly praying as they went. That ship came so low that a man standing up would have fallen flat, either for his own safety or for fright. Photographers were on hand taking pictures of the "buzz job" and afterwards they showed just what a job it was.
| source: 323rd Bomb Squadron / 91BG Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/ | 91st BG / 322nd BS Mission Report - Raid on constructional works in the Cherbourg Peninsula. Bomb Load: 12 x 500. Bombing Altitude: 20,000. Bombing results: Cloud obscured target. Time; Take off 1150. Target 1418. Ar. Base 1535. A.A. Fire: Meager to moderate and accurate. Battle damage to A/C: 7 A/C suffered minor damage.
| source: 322rd Bomb Squadron / 91BG Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/ | 91BG / 401BS Mission Report - Mission to Cherbourg, France. 16 A/C of this Group identified Target and bombed same with fair results; crews reported bursts in Target area. 16 A/C of which this Squadron was a part, made two bomb runs on target but were unable to identify same. 5/10 to 8/10 cloud cover made identification impossible. ENEMY AIRCRAFT: None encountered. Moderate accurate AA fire reported coming from vicinity of Cherbourg. Meager, gray bursts reported three miles NE of Valognes and moderate accurate AA fire from vicinity of target. FIGHTER SUPPORT: Our A/C were covered throughout the first bomb runs but the fighter support left before some 324th ships had made the second run. | source: 91st BG / 401st BS Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/ |
Non-Combat Accident Reports
Aircraft: B-24H (#41-29191). Organization: 712BS / 448BG of Seething, Norfolk. Pilot: Moseley, Kent C. Notes: landing accident. Location: Seething, Norfolk England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: F-5B (#42-67362). Organization: 13PRS / 7PRG of Mount Farm, Oxfordshire. Pilot: Hawes, Clark J. Notes: landing accident. Location: Bradwell Bay England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 5 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-47D (#42-22767). Organization: 62FS / 56FG of Halesworth, Suffolk. Pilot: Goetz, Joseph (NMI). Notes: landing accident. Location: RAF Manston #9 England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-47D (#42-74663). Organization: 336FS / 4FG of Debden, Essex. Pilot: Ingold, Conrad C. Notes: landing accident. Location: RAF Gravesend England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-47D (#42-7870). Organization: 62FS / 56FG of Halesworth, Suffolk. Pilot: Nordquist, Dean A. Notes: landing accident. Location: Halesworth, Suffolk England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51B (#43-12469). Organization: / BAD2 of Warton, Lancashire. Pilot: Willett, John P Jr. Notes: crashed belly landing. Location: Warton, Lancashire England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ |
Mission "8th AF Fighter Command Fighter Operation 221" Fighter support for 8th AF 187 January 21, 1944Primary source for mission statistics: Mighty Eighth War Diary by Roger A. Freeman |   | Aircraft Sent | Aircraft Effective | Bomb Tonnage | Enemy Aircraft X-P-D | Enemy Aircraft (on gnd) X-P-D | USAAF Aircraft X-E-D | USAAF Personnel KIA-WIA-MIA | Notes | 628 | 628 | 0.0 | 6-0-4 | 2-2-0 | 1-1-5 | 0-0-1 | 361FG first mission 56FG crash-lands Manston 56FG first enemy aircraft ground strafing claims | Mission Targets Click blue links for maps, photos and other documents. This will open a new tab in your browser | |
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Aircraft Groups Click blue links for info on the group This will open a new tab in your browser. | |
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Aircraft Losses Click blue links for info on the MIA aircraft (if known). This will open a new tab in your browser. | | |
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