351st Bomb Group

1. Roll Call and Airplane Assignments.
2. Target:
   1. Name – Mother Ship (Depot Ship)
   2. Location – Nantes, France
   3. Name of Secondary – Airfield
   4. Location of Secondary – Port Facilities
   5. Name of Last Resort – Vannes - Meucon
   6. Location of Last Resort – Airfield
3. General Information On Formation
   1. Wing formation – 351st Lead 1st C.W. [Combat Wing] 40th Wing following
   2. Order of Groups in formation and altitude of each – 351st, 91st, 381st.
   3. Our formation for bombing – will be Group Defensive Tight.
4. Pursuit Coverage - 1 group P-47's from French Coast to target and back.
   1 group P-47's from target to French Coast.
5. Diversions - 3rd Bomb Division - Keslin-Bastard Airdrome
   1st Effort - Fighters - R.A.F. 10 Group - Morlaix area - Approx. Zero Hour.
   2nd Effort - 10 Group R.A.F. to Bomb Brest Port Area - Approx. Zero Hour.
   3rd Effort - 18 Mitchells [B-25's] to Bomb Rouen Station at Rouen - Zero + 55 [minutes].
   4th Effort - 72 - B-26's to Bomb Airfield at Conches - Zero + 115 [minutes].
6. Navigator:

7. Briefing –	0100
   Briefing –	0200
   Stations –	0355
   Start Engines –	0455
   Taxi –	0505
   Take off –	0520

8. Don't leave gun stations until - You are back to England Coast.
9. Weather -
10. S-2 [Intelligence] –
11. 1. Bomb Load is – 12 x 500#
    2. IAS [Indicated Air Speed] for bombing is – 150
    3. I.P. [Initial Point of Bomb Run] Signals are:
       1. VHF
       2. Bomb bay doors open.
       3. Flares if VHF is out.
    4. Open Doors -
12. Special Briefing for all Officers of lead crews in Group S-2 [Intelligence] - Immediately after briefing.
13. Special instruction to all personnel:
    Gunners of lead a/c [aircraft] check on Aldis lamp. Use on every airplane you see.
    Lead Squadron flash from tail and bottom Identification light - Green
    High Squadron flash from tail and bottom Identification light - Amber
    Low Squadron flash from tail and bottom Identification light - Red
    Group Leader at [Splasher] #9 will fire RR [Red Red Very Flare] & Aldis "J" from tail.
    
    Gunners, Radio operators, Navigators and Bombardiers leave the briefing room.
14. Comments to improve the formation and improve evasive action:
15. Climb at 150 IAS [Indicated Air Speed]
    Cruise at 155 IAS
    Reform after attack at 150 IAS
    Descend at 170 IAS and 500 feet per minute.
16. Any questions on who takes over the lead at anytime?
17. Special instructions in case of bad weather: Let down on Splasher #13 heading 5°
18. Call signs:
    

    1st C.W. [Combat Wing]	Goonchild		91 Group	Goonchild Red
    40th C.W.	Bullpen		351 Group	Goonchild White
    41st C.W.	Fatgal		381 Group	Goonchild Blue

19. Identification colors:
    

    1st C.W.	RR [Red Red]		91st Group	"A"
    40th C.W.	YY		351st Group	"J"
    41st C.W.	GG		381st Group	"L"

20. Bomber to Bomber freq. - Channel A.
21. VHF Channel (Bomber to Fighter) - Channel D
22. Bomber to Fighter Call Signs:
    1. Bombers - Phone Box one
    2. Fighters - Haybank
    3. Ground - Jacknife
23. Turn on VHF [Very High Frequency Radio] before Takeoff. Turn on 6440 for Tower instructions.
24. Colors of the day:

    Time	Color	Ident.	Challenge
    0001 - 0700	RY	B	M
    0700 - 1300	RG	D	O
    1300 - 1500	YY	V	B

25. Taxi Plan.
26. Spare Ship Plan.
27. Any Questions?
    Take off 1 minute intervals.
    Lead ship straight out two min., return (1/2 way to Molesworth) climbing slowly making one 6 minute 360 [turn]. Leaving base 10 min. after takeoff at 3,000. Lead Squadron will fire one green flare as it leaves base on course to New Market. Planes not in formation proceed to New Market attempting to cutoff squadron.
    2nd Squadron same as above, except level off at 2,000 and firing a yellow flare as it leaves field.
    3rd Squadron leaves at 1,000 feet firing red flare.
    All Squadrons begin climb when leaving base.
    Tail Gunners will flash squadron colors at any and all a/c [aircraft].
    In case of poor visibility taxi time may be moved up five or ten minutes.
    Remember your squadron colors - Lead - Green - 510th, High - Amber or Yellow - 508th, Low - Red - 511th.
    Group will form at Splasher #9.

1. The 351st group took off as scheduled for the Mission of 23 September, 1943. The course was flown as briefed. The enemy coast was reached at 0736.
2. Thirty to fifty enemy aircraft attacked this Group at RENNES, on the way into the target. Flak, moderate and accurate, was encountered throughout the target area. Enemy aircraft again attacked on the return flight off the Brest Peninsula.
3. Weather forced the formation down from the briefed bombing altitude of 24,000 feet to 18,100 feet. Bombs were away at 0816. Photographs indicate that the target was well covered by hits.
4. Three of our aircraft landed at EXETER and one at RAMSBURG for refueling. Two had previously returned because of engine trouble.
5. The fighter rendezvous was not made. However, dog fights high above the formation were reported.
6. A change in the return route was made because of heavy cloud over the intended route. This change caused the formation to fly around the Brest Peninsula rather than across it, as previously planned.
7. Base was reached at 1140.
8. All of our aircrafts returned safely. Two men suffered flesh wounds.
9. All but one of the seventeen aircraft over the target suffered varying degrees of battle damage.

1. The lead aircraft of this group took off at 0512 and formed the lead squadron over the field. This squadron proceeded to Splasher #9 where it circled from 0601 till 0658 forming with the rest of the group.
2. We departed Salsey Hill at 0710 with the other two groups of the combat wing in formation. The other combat wing participating was ahead of us at this time, but made a 360° turn and fell in place behind the 1st Combat Bomb Wing.
3. No fighter rendezvous was made and the combat win proceeded as planned and bombed the primary target at 0816 on a heading of 210° magnetic.
4. Return to England was made via the sea route around the Brest peninsula. This change in route was ordered by the Air Commander because of heavy cloud along the intended route.
5. Gee equipment functioned perfectly along the entire route and was very helpful in forming the group in the dark and in returning from the target under adverse circumstances.

1. The 351st Bomb Group (H), flying in the Lead Position of the 1st ATF, reached the I.P. at 0812 on course for the Target. No difficulty was encountered in selecting the aiming point or the Target.
2. Weather forced the Group Formation to descend to an altitude of 18,100'. The bombing data was changed in a minimum of time.
3. Flak was very concentrated in the immediate Target Area, necessitating evasive action by the Lead Bombardier. Synchronization was on at bomb release.

1. The group took off as scheduled and the squadrons formed over SPLASHER #9. The high and low groups fell into position while we were circling SPLASHER #9.
2. We headed for the point of departure on time. At this point, the 40th Combat Bomb Wing crossed in front of us and their low group out of position and they continued to fly there. Our low group fell into a trailing position.
3. We crossed the enemy coast three (3) minutes late at the briefed altitude. No fighter support was observed at any time.
4. Approaching the IP [Initial Point of Bomb Run], it was obvious that cirrus clouds would compel us to bomb at a lower altitude. We let down to 18,000 feet.
5. A straight and level bomb run was made with moderate and accurate flak encountered. On “Bombs Away”, a right turn was made but because of the cloud formation, it was decided that we should return around the Brest Peninsula.
6. VHF equipment work satisfactorily. The bomb run was made on G-1. Fighter attacks were persistent and from the nose.

Bombardier - 1st Lt. James O. Bradley  Pilot - Major John R. Blaylock Navigator - Capt. Ralph W. Menees
Aircraft # 42-29925  Take-off - 0512  Landed - 1148
Objective - Submarine Mother-Ship
Aiming Point - Bow of Ship
Initial Point - St Mars
Method of Attack - Group
Number of Planes in Unit - 17
Number of Planes in Each Unit Performing Sighting Operations - 1
Time of Attack - 0816  Time of Release -
Approx. Length of Straight Approach - 120 seconds
Synchronization - On
Information at Release Point:
Altitude, True Above Target - 18,100
Calculated Indicated Air Speed - 150 M.P.H.
True Air Speed - 200 M.P.H.
Wind Direction - 50° True
Wind Velocity - 50 M.P.H.
True Heading - 200°
Drift - 11°
True Track - 204°
D.S. - 151.4  Trail - 47   ATF - 35.00   Ten. D.A. - .65
Type of Release - Train
Point of Impact If Seen - Target
Winds - Altitude - 18,000 Ft.  Direction - Est. 55° Actual 50°  Velocity - Est. 35 Actual 50  Temp C. - Est. -18° C. Actual -18° C.

1. The target for today’s mission was a supply vessel at Nantes, France. Photographs show excellent results.
2. Nineteen (19) a/c [aircraft] were dispatched, but two of these returned early. A/C 850 turned back because of No. 1 engine trouble. And a/c 852 because of a runaway supercharger on No. 4 engine. All a/c returned safely.
3. An estimated total of 50-70 were encountered. This group claims 5-2-3 [5 destroyed - 2 probable - 3 damaged] (and one no claim submitted) two men of this group suffered wounds: Lt. Henry and S/Sgt. Nadeau of a/c 849, now in the evacuation hospital. Fighter support was not seen, but at least two crews reported seeing dogfights high above them.
4. Flak at the target was moderate but very accurate for both height and deflection.
5. Because of heavy cloud our formation descended to 18,000 feet at which altitude there was 2/10ths cloud over the target.
6. Numerous sailboats were observed off the southern coast of the Brest peninsula. NW of the same peninsula about 20-30 miles from shore a submarine was seen between two sail boats. Smoke pots were visible at the target. A fleet of 12 or 13 small vessels or barges accompanied by 3 larger ships was seen off the south coast of England heading north.

1. In compliance with Co-ordination Memorandum No. 3, 19 July, 1943, the following data on the Mission of 17 August is submitted.
   1. 1. No. of Aircraft Assigned: 19
         No. Failed to Take-off: 0
         No. of Abortives: 2
         No. Missing: 0
   2. 1. The 351st Group flew the Lead Combat Box of the 1st Combat Wing Formation.
      2. The bombing altitude was 18,100 feet (True altitude above Target).

Target - Nantes, France
1. Route followed. - Points de la Percee – St. Never [difficult to read and may be incorrect]– St. Mars – target - 10 minutes S of St. Nazaire – return by sea route around Brest Peninsula.
2. Visibility at Target. - 1–2/10th’s cloud. Some condensation trails, of short duration were seen.
3. No. of A/C over Target: 17
4. General Axis of attack. - 220° True
5. How long did formation fly straight and level before bombing? - 1 minute
6. Turn after bombing. - Right turn to 220 degrees true.
7. Position of Group in relation to other Groups: Lead Group of 101st C.W.[Combat Wing] with 35st low and 361 high.
8. What evasive action was taken? - None. Gradual loss of altitude.
9. A short description of Flak en route. - Two of our crews reported a few inaccurate bursts at the IP [Initial Point of Bomb Run]. In the target area, flak started several minutes before bombs away and followed our formation over the target. Flak at the target was moderate but very accurate for both height and defection. One of our crews reported 4 inaccurate bursts at Reze, 5 minutes after bombs away. Type of fire control employed appeared to be continuous following.
10. Any other comments, phenomena, etc. - Enemy fighters attacking our formation were seen to fly through the flak in the target area.

1. Following are the comments made by crew members following the mission of this date:
 a. A/C 831 – Good take off and forming. – Lt. Garoia.
 b. A/C 868 – “Over VHF the Germans were informed of route, formation, even air speed. Don’t do this!” – Lt. Kern.
 c. A/C 630 – No night formation flying. – Lt. Leimbeck.
 d. A/C 852 – Leather jacket, with escape kit and purse, lost through escape hatch, which opened accidentally. – Sgt. Turbeville.
 e. A/C 835 – Lights in latrines should be fixed for early morning missions. – Lt. Stackhouse.
[Signed] John L. Scott, Major, AC, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. Following is the summary of hot news as determined by Interrogation:
   1. A/C – X [42-29861] 509 Squadron reported a submarine 40 minutes after the target, midway along the Brest peninsula. It was between tow sailboats and 8 or 10 small boats were near. Observing A/C was at 10,000 feet.
   2. A/C – T [42-5807] 511 Squadron saw same submarine at 0912, 48 deg, 00min. N. 05 deg 00 min. W, from an altitude of 4000 feet. Small vessels were nearby.

1. Aircraft which failed to reach target.
   1. Abortives.
      1. Airplane No. 42-29882, 508th Squadron, returned early due to a runaway supercharger at 23,000 feet altitude, one #1 engine. #4 turbo has been overspeeded and lost a bucket. Upon investigation #4 supercharger was found to have a frozen waste gate. There was also a broken valve shaft in the carburetor filter duct. The waste gate or filter valve shaft could have either one caused overspeeding.
      2. Airplane No. 42-29850, 510th Squadron, returning early due to lose of power on #1 engine. Then checked on the ground it was found to have several blowing valves. All engines have a total of 265.15 hours. No. 4 turbo sheet lost a bucket.
2. Battle Damage.
   1. Airplane No. 42-29821, 508th Squadron, One flak hole left aileron. One flak hole in fuselage under pilot's window also severed supercharger control cable. One flak hole in both right and left wing tip. Two flak holes in waist by waist window.
   2. Airplane No. 42-29823, 508th Squadron, One flak hole #4 exhaust stack. One flak hole right stabilizer. One flak hole tail gun enclosure. One flak hole vertical stabilizer.
   3. Airplane No. 42-29868, 508th Squadron. One shell case hole top leading edge right wing. One flak hole vertical stabilizer, one flak hole right bomb bay door.
   4. Airplane No. 42-3120, 509th Squadron. One 20mm. shell exploded above landing light top of left wing. Spar damaged, gasoline lines severed, and vacuum lines to de-icer boots severed. One .30 cal. Hole through right wing cowling #2 engine and spent itself in #1 cylinder collector right. One flak hole under life raft compartment. Spar damage above #3 oil cooler by .30 cal. bullet. One .30cal. bullet hit #8 cylinder exhaust rocker rod cover on #4 engine. .30 cal. bullet also severed propeller governor control cable. Also severed #2 engine and hydraulic cowl flap lines to #4 engine.
   5. Airplane No. 42-29630, 509th Squadron. One flak hole in plexiglass nose. One shell case hole leading edge right wing between #3 and #4 nacelle. One flak hole left aileron. One flak hole left waist. One flak hole in dorsal fin.
   6. Airplane No. 42-29861, 509th Squadron. One flak hole right wing tip, One flak hole vertical stabilizer. One flak hole top left wing. One flak hole top nose section by Navigator’s compartment.
   7. Airplane No. 42-29945, 510th Squadron. One large flak hole through center of rudder. One large flak hole through left waist forward of window, several Oxygen line. One flak through #1 ring cowl, and one flak hole through #3 ring cowl. Three flak holes in right side of fuselage under copilot’s window.
   8. Airplane No. 42-29925, 510th Squadron. One small flak hole left aileron through fabric. One flak hole in right horizontal stabilizer. Six small flak holes through right wing and bottom. Spar also damaged.
   9. Airplane No. 42-29762, 510th Squadron. One flak hole top left wing, also clipped aileron control cable. One large flak hole through vertical stabilizer. One flak hole right flap. Three small flak holes through top right wing.
   10. Airplane No. 42-29831, 510th Squadron. One flak hole left waist through skin and circumferential. Two small flak holes in ring cowl #1 nacelle. Four small flak holes left wing top side.
   11. Airplane No. 42-29848, 510th Squadron. #1 engine hit by 20mm. One flak hole through right side of fuselage under co-pilot’s window, also severing hydraulic line.
   12. Airplane No. 42-29852, 511th Squadron. Four 13.9mm. holes through leading edge of right wing. One shell case hole leading edge right wing. Several 13.9 mm. bullet holes through right wing tip. One shell case hole right flak holes left wing (skin patches) and one flak hole in plexi-glass nose.
   13. Airplane No. 42-29824, 511th Squadron. One flak hole through right wing, causing spar damage. One flak hole through #4 oil cooker. One flak hole right side of fuselage under co-pilot’s window. One flak hole top left wing trailing edge. One flak hole left horizontal stabilizer leading edge.
   14. Airplane No. 42-29835, 511th Squadron. Two flak holes between fuselage and #3 nacelle on leading edge of right wing. Two flak holes right side of fuselage below co-pilot’s window. One flak hole top left wing at tip.
   15. Airplane No. 42-29849, 511th Squadron. One flak hole top left wing at tip. One flak hole through left outer panel. One place of flak up push rod housing of #2 engine. One 30cal. Hole in #3 intercooler duct. One .30 cal. hole through bombardier’s vision window. One .30 cal. hole through ball turret door, and glass cracked in ball turret.
   16. Airplane No. 42-5807, 511th Squadron. One flak hole through plexi-glass nose. Tail wheel tire and tube shot up by .30 cal. bullet. Co-pilot’s windshield damaged by flak. Left hand stabilizer damaged by flak and 20mm. shell. 20mm damage to left elevator. One hole through right stabilizer butt which severed the rudder control cable caused by flak.

1. Following are the malfunctions reported after the mission of September 23, 1943:
   1. a/c 607 – Center and right nose guns wouldn’t band charge. – Lt. Blair.  C-1 [Autopilot] elevator control shot out. – Lt. Nauman.
   2. a/c 654 – Bad feed on left waist gun. – Sgt. Jeenes.  Azimuth clutch out of gear on ball turret. – Sgt. Nelson.  Safety switch froze to safe position on RW guns. – Sgt. Stanek.  Left center nose extractor jammed. – Lt. Tynan.
   3. a/c 823 – RW [Right Waist] gun blew up. – Sgt. Market.
   4. a/c 821 – Center nose gun parts have fallen out. Left nose gun oil buffer too tight. – Lt. Stevens.
   5. a/c 120 – Bombardier’s nose guns out. – Lt. Piech.  Top turret glass has many blind spots. – Sgt. Arkwright.
   6. a/c 852 – Light in BT [Ball Turret] sight went out. – Sgt. Hereford.
   7. a/c 948 – Right TT [Top Turret] gun out. – Sgt. Sharp.  Right nose gun ejector broken; center nose gun had to be hand charged. – Lt. Hemm.  Right radio gun has left hand feed chute. – Sgt. Pressel.  BT gun bold switches turned the wrong way. – Sgt. Blais.
   8. a/c 925 – Right TT trigger bar pin came out. – Sgt. Mile.  C-1 went out after bombing. – Maj. Blaylock.
   9. a/c 3824 – Tight head space in nose gun. – Lt. Moriarity.  BT cover groups installed incorrectly. – Sgt. Hasseltine.
   10. a/c 831 - TT gun has broken shear knob. – Sgt. Zibas.  Right center nose gun has third position slip. – Lt. Rosenthel.

1. The following malfunctions were reported upon the completion of the Mission of 23 September, 1943.
   1. A/C 42-5807 - C-1 [Autopilot] elevator control shot out.
   2. A/C 42-29654 - Left center nose gun extractor jammed; receiver clearance became excessive.
   3. A/C 42-5823 - Right waist gun blew up when a defective round exploded in open receiver.
   4. A/C 42-3120 - Center nose gun’s E-5A adapter jammed.
   5. A/C 42-29852 - Light in ball turret sight burned out.
   6. A/C 42-29948 - Right nose gun ejector broke.
   7. A/C 42-29925 - Trigger bar pin came out on right top turret gun.
   8. A/C 42-29831 - Right top turret gun sear broke.  Right center nose gun cover warped because of excessive firing.
2. The necessary repairs and adjustments have been made.

1. The Station Ordnance Officer has submitted the following expenditure of ammunition for the Mission of 23 September, 1943:

1. Following are the deficiencies and disabilities as determined by interrogation:
a. A/C 120 – Left shoe out. – Sgt. Harvey.
b. A/C 821 – Electric cord for suit burned out. – Sgt. Bowne.
c. A/C 654 – Boots out. – Sgt. Johnson, Sgt. Nelson. Gloves out. – Sgt Stanek.
d. A/C 925 – Slight flak wound on hand. – Lt. Bradley.
e. A/C 945 – Heated boots and gloves out. – Sgt. Butterbash.
[Signed] John L. Scott, Major, AC, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

Aircraft No. 850 Squadron 510th   Pilot - Koszarek
Time of Abortive - 0720  Location when Aborted - 10 minutes off Selsey Bill
Reason - #1 Engine Failure
Enemy Opposition Encountered - None
[Signed] Andrew J Koszarek

Aircraft No. 882 Squadron 508th   Pilot - 1st Lt J.S. Peck
Time of Abortive - approx. 0735  Location when Aborted - Splasher #9
Reason - Runaway supercharger - Unable to feather engine
Enemy Opposition Encountered - None
[Signed] JS Peck, 1st Lt.

1. Total No. A/C in each Squadron and Letters of each:

   Sqdn 508th A/C: 9812–F, 9882–L, 5823–C, 9654–B, 9868–K	(5)
   Sqdn 509th A/C: 31202–O, 9861–X, 9630–S	(3)
   Sqdn 510th A/C: 9925–L, 9848–F, 9948–B, 9850–G, 9831–H, 9762–D	(6)
   Sqdn 511th A/C: 9852–V, 5824–S, 9835–Y, 9849–U, 5807–T	(5)

2. Target: Z-546
   
3. Station call sign and Operational call sign respectively of each Squadron

   Squadron	508 Ops:	MF8		Squadron	510 Ops:	KM3
   	Sta:	Panpipe			Sta:	Backward
   Squadron	509 Ops	MF8		Squadron	511 Ops:	KM3
   	Sta:	Sprocket			Sta:	Pointer

4. Taxi Time – 1st A/C 0455;     Take-Off Time 1st A/C 0510;     E.T.D. Over Field 0540

5. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast OUT:
   0710	24,000 Ft	Selsey Bill

6. Time:	Height:	Place of Recrossing Enemy Coast:
   0841	24,000 Ft	Cap Frchel

7. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast IN:
   0927	13,000 Ft	Bill of Portland [Portland Bill, England]

8. E.T.R.(Estimated Time of Return): 1031 Hours
9. MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section: E
10. Bomb load of Each A/C:
    Squadron: 508 12–500 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 509 12–500 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 510 12–500 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 511 12–500 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
11. Fuel Load of each A/C: 1700 Gallons
12. Actual Times Off and Return by Squadrons and A/C Letters:

    Squadron	A/C Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.	Squadron	A/C Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.
    508	821–F	0518	Landed RAF Exeter	509	120–O	0530	1158
    	882–L	0519	0743		861–X	0523	1146
    	823–C	0520	Landed RAF Exeter		630–S	0525	1149
    	654–B	0521½	Landed RAF Exeter
    	868–K	0524	1206
    510	925–L	0512	1148	511	852–V	0526	1207
    	848–F	0513	1157		824–S	0527	1144
    	948–B	0514	1201		835–Y	0528	1159
    	850–G	0515	0810		849–U	0529	1152 Landed RAF Ramsbury
    	831–H	0516	1154		807–T	0531	1204
    	762–D	0516½	1152

    Report Compiled By Leo Curley, T/Sgt.
    

    Sqdn.	A/C Letter	Designation	Remarks
    510	9850–G	Abortive	#1 Engine Failure.
    508	9882–L	Abortive	Runaway Supercharger - Couldn't feather prop.

Nineteen planes went out again after the supply vessel at Nantes. This time they scored several direct hits on it. They were led by Colonel Burns, Major Blaylock, and Captain Carraway with Captain Menees as navigator and Lt. Bradley as bombardier. About 50 to 70 enemy fighters were encountered of which four were shot down and one damaged. Flak at the target was moderate but very accurate for both height and deflection. The task of the flak gunners was made somewhat easier because the formation was forced down to 18,000 feet over the target by cloud. Two men, Lt. Henry and S/Sgt. Nadeau, were wounded. However, all ships returned to base.