351st Bomb Group

1. Roll Call and Assign Aircraft.

   	"A" Group		"B" Group
   Stations	0700		0715
   Engines	0801		0816
   Taxi	0811		0826
   Take-Off	0826		0841
   Leave Base	0954		0954 at 16,000' on course to Splasher 6

2. Target for today:
   Ball Bearing Works, Paris. Secondary - airfield @ Meulan [France]. Last Resort - Any airfield in unpopulated area.
   Loading: 12 x 500# (plus two incendiary fountain pens)
3. S-2 [Intelligence] –
4. Navigator:
   1. Wing Rendezvous:
   2. Altitude and time on Oxygen:
   3. Route in, I.P. [Initial Point of Bomb Run], Return:
   4. C.W. [Combat Wing] dispersal point:
   5. Emergency Fields
5. Weather -
6. Operations -
   1. Wing Formation - Lead - 351st A @ 24,000', High - 401st, Low - 351st B
      92nd C.W.[Combat Wing] - 2nd, Air Commander - Maj. Ledoux
      
      1st CBW [Combat Wing] Leading, 92nd CBW Second [on] route in to target.
      We lead on way out from target.
      Zero Hour = 0945
7. Diversions and other efforts -
   41st CBW on La Rochelle, 40th on St Jean D'Angely [France] at Zero + 3 minutes.
   4 CBW's 3rd BD [Bomb Division] on Bordeaux [France], [leaving England at] Portland Bill at Zero Hour.
   2 CBW's of 2nd BD on Cognac [France], [leaving England at] St Albans Head @ Zero + 1 [minute].
   1st C.W. on another Ball Bearing plant in East Paris.
   
8. Fighter Cover -
   1. Type and No. - 2 Squadrons of P-51's [First mission that P-51's are mentioned covering our planes.] from 5007-0128E [Approx. 13 miles West of Abbeville, France] to 4940-0200 [2 miles East of Grandvilliers, France](Zero + 86 minutes).
      
   2. Type and No. - 2 Groups of P-47's from 4940-0200 [2 miles East of Grandvilliers, France] to 4840-0150E [Rambouillet, France 15 miles SW of Paris] (Zero + 99).
      
   3. Type and No. - 2 Groups of P-47's from 4840-0150 to enemy coast (Zero + 127).
      
9. Special Instructions -
   1. Group Lead Bombardiers will not release bombs on primary unless sychronized on positively identified aiming points.
   2. Interval between C.W.'s will be in close column, 92nd echeloned right of 1st C.W.
   3. I.P. [Initial Point of Bomb Run] will be made approximately at same time 1st C.W. turns on its I.P. Low Box will endeavor to bomb as close and in trail of lead box. High box will uncover to left on turn at I.P. Formation will be flown as closed up and proper as possible. All wing men will hold formation especially while bombing. Bombardiers hit it all together this time. Don't liberate any more Frenchmen.
   4. Abortives put down wheels before leaving formation.
   5. Let down bad weather on splasher #16. 351st Lead - 50° [Compass heading], 351st Low - 20°, 401st at _345°.
   
   
10. C.O's [Commanding Officer's] Comment -
11. Dismissal of all but Pilots and Co-Pilots

12. 	Call Sign	[Tail] Letter		Flares
    1st C.W. [Combat Wing]	Goonchild	A & L		RR [Red Red]
    351st Gp Lead	Ragweed Red	J		RY
    351st Gp Low	Ragweed Blue	J		R
    401st Gp	Ragweed White	S
    92nd C.W. Command Post	Newflick one
    Air Commander	Hotshot
    40th C.W.	Bullpen			YY
    41st C.W.	Fatgal			GG

    
    

    Spits [Spitfires] - ____	Bombers - ____		Ground Sector -____
    P-47's - Denver two	Bombers - Kenton Two One		Ground Sector - Free Gift

    
    

    VHF Channels		Channel		Ships Monitor
    92nd C.W.		A		All [Ships] Except following
    Air Commander		B		#2 & #3 on Group Lead
    Spits		C		#5 & #6 in 2nd element
    P-47's		D		#5 & #6 in 2nd element

13. Colors of the day:

    Time	Color	Ident.	Challenge
    0700 - 1300	GY [Green Yellow]	L	P
    1300 - 1900	GG	X	V
    1900 - 0000	R-RR	I	Q

14. Flying Control - A. Taxi Plan, B. Runways and Taxi Strips, C. Spares
15. Conclusion -
    Get your crew & ship ready as soon as possible. Remember to check all your switches and remember that there are no spares.
    In case of separate assembly it will be at Splasher #16. Lead Group at 16,000' circling to Right.
    Low Group at 15,000 circling to the Left.
    Complete radio silence until reaching enemy coast.
    Use Code words - so many "angels" = so many thousands of feet above any briefed altitude, Devils below.
    Can-it means get off the air, check interphone for outside transmission.
    "Stinkfinger" = can't taxi. Wuxtra Wuxtra = Need a Spare.
    Questions?

1. Seventeen aircraft took off as scheduled for the Mission of 5 December, 1943. The Lead and Low Groups formed over the field. The High Group did not appear at the assembly point, but joined the formation at Dungeness.
2. The briefed route was followed until it was apparent that the target was too obscured to permit bombing. A right turn was made north of Le Bourget to change course back to England.
3. No target of opportunity was sighted on the return trip. All aircraft returned with bombs on board with the exception of one which jettisoned its bombs because three engines were rough, and another because of a gas gauge malfunction.
4. There were no enemy aircraft encountered. Flak was meager and inaccurate.
5. All of our aircraft returned safely. There were no casualties. None of our aircraft returned early.

1. Eighteen aircraft took off as scheduled for the Mission of 5 December, 1943. The Lead and Low Groups formed over the field. The High Group did not appear at the assembly point, but joined the formation at Dungeness.
2. The briefed route was followed until it was apparent that the target was too obscured to permit bombing. A right turn was made north of Le Bourget to change course back to England.
3. No target of opportunity was sighted on the return trip. All aircraft returned with bombs on board with the exception of two which were running low on gas, one which had a No. 2 supercharger out, and another which had a soft tire.
4. There were no enemy aircraft encountered. Flak was meager and inaccurate.
5. All of our aircraft returned safely. There were no casualties. None of our aircraft returned early.

1. This Group took off on time and climbed to 16,000 feet over the field. We departed the field exactly on time in a two Group formation, and when we reached our assembly point the third Group failed to appear. The Group Leader called me and said he would join me at Dungeness, which he did.
2. We fell in echelon behind the 1st Combat Wing. Our course in was slightly north of the briefed course. However, we made a right turn abeam of the I.P. [Initial Point of bomb run] and went over our briefed I.P. We saw that the target was obscured by ten/tenths overcast and took up a heading for Beauvais and Poix.
3. None of the secondary targets or targets of opportunity were open so we brought our bombs back.
4. The fighter rendezvous was on time and we had good cover all the way.
5. Flak was encountered over Amiens.

1. The Group took off on time and formed at 2500 feet. After forming, we climbed to 16,000 feet over the field and followed the Lead Group out on course, leaving base on time. We were in wing formation ten minutes after leaving base and continued to climb with the wing to 22,000 feet.
2. The wing left the Coast on time and continued the climb to 23,000 feet over the channel. We followed the briefed course in to the I.P. [Initial Point of bomb run] and made our turn.
3. Due to the target being obscured by cloud, we turned short of the target and proceeded toward England.
4. No targets of opportunity were observed due to cloud cover. The only enemy opposition encountered was two light flak concentrations in the vicinity of Montdidier. Our fighter support was on time and gave very good cover all the way.

1. The target for 5 December, 1943 was a ball bearing factory in Western Paris. 10/10th’s clouds over enemy territory prohibited any bombing for the lead and low boxes and prevented photographic coverage.
2. Thirty-five (35) A/C took off, seventeen (17) in the lead box and eighteen (18) in the low box. There were no abortives and no losses. All but six (6) A/C brought bombs back. Two (2) in the lead group, because of fuel gauge and engine trouble, and four (4) in the low group, because of gas shortage, engine and soft tire trouble, jettisoned their bombs in the channel.
3. Eight (8) E/A were seen by the lead box, but, because of excellent fighter support, none attacked. The low box reported seeing none. Neither box suffered personnel casualties.
4. Meager, black flak, generally poor for height and fair for deflection, was reported by both boxes at the coast on the way in, at Amiens, Beauvais, Montdidier and the coast on the way out.
5. There were no crew observations of note.

Lead Box Intelligence Report Annex:
None of our A/C bombed, but two jettisoned bombs in the Channel: A/C 9848 because 3 engines were rough, A/C 9749 because the gas gauge was malfunctioning.

1. The target for 5 December, 1943 was a ball bearing factory in Western Paris. 10/10th’s clouds over enemy territory prohibited any bombing for the lead and low boxes and prevented photographic coverage.
2. Thirty-five (35) A/C took off, seventeen (17) in the lead box and eighteen (18) in the low box. There were no abortives and no losses. All but six (6) A/C brought bombs back. Two (2) in the lead group, because of fuel gauge and engine trouble, and four (4) in the low group, because of gas shortage, engine and soft tire trouble, jettisoned their bombs in the channel.
3. Eight (8) E/A were seen by the lead box, but, because of excellent fighter support, none attacked. The low box reported seeing none. Neither box suffered personnel casualties.
4. Meager, black flak, generally poor for height and fair for deflection, was reported by both boxes at the coast on the way in, at Amiens, Beauvais, Montdidier and the coast on the way out.
5. There were no crew observations of note.

Low Box Intelligence Report Annex:
None of our A/C bombed, but four jettisoned bombs in the Channel: A/C 857-H [42-39857-H] jettisoned when the No. 2 supercharger went out; A/C 9831 [42-29831] jettisoned because it had a soft tire and did not wish to land with a full load; A/C 824-S [42-5824-S] dumped its bombs in the channel due to a gas shortage; and A/C 7714 [42-37714] jettisoned when it ran low on gas. No leaflets were dropped on this mission.

1. Due to the fact that no bombs were dropped, the following data is not submitted:
   1. Combat Bombing Flight Record.
   2. Group Bombing Plot Report.
   3. Bombardier’s Narrative.

1. Due to the fact that no bombs were dropped, the following data is not submitted:
   1. Combat Bombing Flight Record.
   2. Group Bombing Plot Report.
   3. Bombardier’s Narrative.

1. Due to the fact that no bombs were dropped and, consequently, no photos taken, the following are not submitted:
   1. Mission Camera Report.
   2. Photo and Bomb Plotting Report.
   3. Photographs of Bombing.

1. Due to the fact that no bombs were dropped and, consequently, no photos taken, the following are not submitted:
   1. Mission Camera Report.
   2. Photo and Bomb Plotting Report.
   3. Photographs of Bombing

1. In compliance with Co-ordination Memorandum No. 3, 19 July, 1943, the following data on the Mission of 17 August is submitted.
   1. No. of Aircraft Assigned:  18
      No. Failed to Take-off:  1
      No. of Abortives:  0
      No. Missing:  0
   1. The 351st Bomb Group flew the Lead Combat Box of the 1st Combat Wing Formation.
   2. No bombs were dropped, due to a ten/tenths overcast in the area.

1. In compliance with Co-ordination Memorandum No. 3, 19 July, 1943, the following data on the Mission of 17 August is submitted.
   1. No. of Aircraft Assigned:  18
      No. Failed to Take-off:  0
      No. of Abortives:  0
      No. Missing:  0
   1. The 351st Bomb Group flew the Low Combat Box of the 1st Combat Wing Formation.
   2. No bombs were dropped, due to a ten/tenths overcast in the area.

Target - Hispano-Suiza Works, Paris.
1. Route followed. - Ault – 5 miles E. of LeTréport – 2 miles NE of Coucy – 2 miles E. of Soissons – 1 mile N. of Louvres – Beaumont-sur-Oise – Cayeux.
2. Visibility at Target. - 10/10ths cloud. Dense, non-persistent contrails.
3. No. of A/C over Target: 17 over enemy territory.
4. General Axis of attack. - Did not attack.
5. How long did formation fly straight and level before bombing? - Did not bomb.
6. Turn after bombing. - None.
7. Position of Group in relation to other Groups: Lead group of 92nd CBW.
8. What evasive action was taken? - None.
9. A short description of Flak en route. - Flak was first encountered by our formation flying at 24,000 feet over Amiens at 1136; 25 to 30 bursts from 12 to 16 guns were reported; bursts were black and accurate for height but poor for deflection, being well to the left of our formation. One crew reported meager inaccurate flak 10 miles North of Soissons at 1145. The only other flak encountered was at Cayeux at 1213; it was meager and inaccurate.
10. Any other comments, phenomena, etc. - None.

Target - Hispano-Suiza Works, Paris
1. Route followed. - Ault, 10 miles North of Poix A/D, 7 miles south of Compiègne, 5 miles NE Le Bourget A/D, St. Clair-sur, 2 miles N of Le Tréport.
2. Visibility at Target. - 10/10 overcast and dense non-persistent contrails.
3. No. of A/C over Target: 18
4. General Axis of attack. - Did not attack.
5. How long did formation fly straight and level before bombing? - No Bombing.
6. Turn after bombing. - No Bombing.
7. Position of Group in relation to other Groups: Low
8. What evasive action was taken? - None.
9. A short description of Flak en route. - Flak was first seen by this group at 1136 at Amiens. It appeared to be a 12 or 14 gun barrage fired through the overcast, black in color, and good for height but poor for deflection. At 1137 a 16 burst barrage was observed well out of range, to the right, and in the Beauvais area. This was black and appeared to have good height. At 1139 a few bursts were reported to the left at Montdidier. This had poor height and deflection. Over the enemy coast on the route out, at 1216, a few scattered bursts were encountered at Le Tréport. This was black in color and poor for both height and deflection. This formation flew at an altitude of 23,400 feet while over enemy territory and the entire route was overcast.
10. Any other comments, phenomena, etc. - None.

1. Following are the comments made by members of the Lead Group at today’s interrogation: A/C 835Y [42-29835]: Guns were very dirty and rusty. - Lt. Kaplan.
A/C 9882 [42-29882]: Need light bulbs in latrines, showers and barracks. - E.M. Radio was jammed and made a steady buzz; picked up music on splasher beacon.
A/C 9853 [42-39853]: Drivers should be instructed as where to go. - Lt. Cannon.
A/C 0857 [42-30857]: Nothing to drink coffee from in ship. - Lt. Shafer.
A/C 9863 [42-29863]: Nose section all iced up. – Major Ledeux, Captain Wallace. Have windows washed. – Captain Danby.
A/C 5823 [42-5823]: Gun heaters are very effective. – Entire Crew.
[Signed:] John L. Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. The following comments were made at interrogation of the Low Group after the mission of this date:
A/C 9948 [42-29948]: Lights in latrines, barracks, and showers, plus cleaning the latrines and showers, badly needed. – Gunners.
A/C 824S [42-5824]: Tail gunner of ship, 2nd element, Low Squadron, Lead Group, No. 3 position, was shooting at P-47’s. – Lt. H. J. Anderson.
A/C 0499 [42-30499]: Can better care be taken of latrine and shower facilities? - Enlisted Men.
A/C 9760 [42-39760]: It would be a good idea for lead ship to drop flares when departing field, to help navigator of other ships. – Lt. Roberts.
A/C 7714 [42-37714]: Dirty windows and turrets should be cleaned. – Lt. Seaman.
[Signed:] John L. Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. Due to the fact that no friendly aircraft were observed to be in distress and no enemy aircraft were encountered, the following reports are not submitted:
   1. Hot News summary.
   2. Combat report Form.

1. Due to the fact that no friendly aircraft were observed to be in distress and no enemy aircraft were encountered, the following reports are not submitted:
   1. Hot News summary.
   2. Combat report Form.

1. Aircraft 42-3542, 508th Squadron, Failed to Take Off, #3 Supercharger Out.
2. There was no battle damage reported.

1. There were no Failures to Take-Off or Abortives.
2. There was no Battle Damage reported.

1. Following are the malfunctions reported at interrogation of the Lead Group:
   1. A/C 1162 [42-31162]: Both ball turret guns stopped firing; started again after being hand-charged.
   2. A/C 9882 [42-29882]: Lost ammunition cover on Ball Turret.
   3. A/C 9860 [42-29860]: Breech block on center nose gun burred.

1. 1. The following were reported at interrogation of Low Group of this date:
   1. A/C 0780 [42-30780]: RWG link chute broken.
   2. A/C 7714 [42-37714]: Dirty windows and turrets should be cleaned. – Lt. Seaman.

1. No armament malfunctions were reported upon the completion of the Mission of 5 December, 1943.
[Signed:] Michael Steele, CWO, AUS, Group Armament Officer

1. No armament malfunctions were reported upon the completion of the Mission of 5 December, 1943.
[Signed:] Michael Steele, CWO, AUS, Group Armament Officer

1. The Station Ordnance Officer has reported the following expenditure of bombs and ammunition on the Mission of 5 December, 1943.
   1. Two A/C jettisoned 24 M-43 bombs in the channel.
   2. 3,765 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition was expended in test firing.

1. The Station Ordnance Officer has reported the following expenditure of bombs and ammunition on the Mission of 5 December, 1943.
   1. Four A/C jettisoned 48 M-43 bombs in the channel.
   2. 3,370 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition was expended in test firing.

1. Following are the deficiencies and disabilities reported at the interrogation of the Lead Group:
A/C 1162 [42-31162]: Tail gunners oxygen failed; the second time this has happened. – Sgt. Crumley. Tail gunner passed out from lack of oxygen and got frost bite under the chin. – Sgt. Crumley.
A/C 9630 [42-29630]: Electric gloves and shoes went out and resulted in a frostbitten toe. – S/Sgt. Brodsky.
A/C 9863 [42-29863]: Ball turret gunner had burned out gloves and boots. – Sgt. Lynch.
A/C 9882 [42-29882]: Heated glove on ball turret out. – Sgt. Day.
[Signed:] John L. Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. The following were reported at interrogation of the Low Group after the mission of this date:
A/C 9849 [42-29849] Frost bite on neck: Sgt. Schmidt.
A/C 0499 [42-30499] Short in heated gloves: Sgt. Riley.
[Signed:] John L. Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. Last Four numbers and Call Letter of A/C in each Squadron:

   a. Lead Box
   Sqdn 508th A/C: 5823–C, 9882–L	(2)
   Sqdn 509th A/C: 9863–Y, 9630–S, 9860–W, 9749–Z	(4)
   Sqdn 510th A/C: 9853–P, 0857–J, 9848–F, 9762–D, 9823–O	(5)
   Sqdn 511th A/C: 9849–U, 9778–A, 3136–P, 9835–Y, 9761–D, 1162–V	(6)
   b. Low Box
   Sqdn 508th A/C: 7827–J, 0994–T, 6151–M, 9849–V	(4)
   Sqdn 509th A/C: 0499–Q, 0780–T, 9760–M, 7845–F	(4)
   Sqdn 510th A/C: 9925–L, 9835–N, 9948–B, 7714–T, 9831–H	(5)
   Sqdn 511th A/C: 3509–Z, 9877–X, 9834–F, 5824–S, 9857–H	(5)

2. Target: Z-179B
   
3. W/T Operational Call Sign of each Squadron:

   Squadron	508 Call Sign	LCV Daisychain		Squadron	510 Call Sign	WBZ Paramount
   Squadron	509 Call Sign	JDS Ridingwhip		Squadron	511 Call Sign	KYH Thickfrost

4. Lead Box: Taxi – 0811;     Take-Off – 0826;     E.T.D. Over Field – 0954
5. Low Box: Taxi – 0826;     Take-Off – 0841;     E.T.D. Over Field – 0954

6. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast OUT:
   1055	14,000 Ft	Dungeness

7. Time:	Height:	Place of Recrossing Enemy Coast:
   1223	24,000 Ft	50°03'N-01°19'E

8. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast IN:
   1237	19,000 Ft	Dungeness

9. E.T.R.(Estimated Time of Return): 1315 Hours
10. MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section: N
11. Bomb load of Each A/C: Lead Box
    508 Squadron: 12 x 500 pound G.P.[General Purpose], Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    509 Squadron: 12 x 500 pound G.P., Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    510 Squadron: 12 x 500 pound G.P., Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    511 Squadron: 12 x 500 pound G.P., Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
12. Bomb load of Each A/C: Box
    508 Squadron: 12 x 500 pound G.P., Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    509 Squadron: 12 x 500 pound G.P., Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    510 Squadron: 12 x 500 pound G.P., Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    511 Squadron: 12 x 500 pound G.P., Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
13. Fuel Load of each A/C: 1700 Gallons
14. Group Leader:
    a. Lead box: Name: Elzia Ledoux Rank: Major A/C: 9863 - Y Sqdn. 509th
15. b. Low box: Name: Douglas Harris Rank: 1st Lt A/C: 9925 - L Sqdn. 510th
16. Passengers, if any: (Full Name, Rank, A/C and Squadron Passenger flying with)
    
17. Actual Times Off and Return by Squadrons and A/C Letters:
18. Lead Box

    Squadron	A/C No. & Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.	Squadron	A/C No. & Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.
    508	5823–C	0833	1339	509	9863–Y	0826	1325
    	9882–L	0835	1334		9630–S	0827	1330
    					3542–V	F.T.O.
    					9860–W	0829	1331
    					9749–Z	0828	1335
    510	9853–P	0901	1349	511	9849–U	0830	1343
    	0857–J	0834	1328		9778–A	0831	1345
    	9848–F	0836	1337		3136–P	0906	1344
    	9762–D	0838	1342		9835–Y	0832½	1348
    	9823–O	0837	1338		9761– D	0832	1346
    					1162–V	0930	1347

    [F.T.O. - Failed Takeoff]
    
19. Low Box

    Squadron	A/C No. & Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.	Squadron	A/C No. & Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.
    508	7827–J	0848	1400	509	0499–Q	0842½	1358
    	0994–T	0850	1401		0780–T	0843	1359
    	6151–M	0847½	1403		9760–M	0845	1406
    	9849–V	0849	1407		7845–F	0839	1404
    510	9925–L	0842	1356	511	3509–Z	0844	1410
    	9835–N	0852	1357		9877–X	0858	1411½
    	9948–B	0853	1402		9834–F	0845½	1411
    	7714–T	0849½	1405		5824–S	0846	1412
    	9831–H	0847	1414		9857–H	0847	1413

    Report Compiled By Rocky Civizzio, T/Sgt.
    

    Sqdn.	A/C Letter	Designation	Box	Remarks
    509	3542–V	Failed Takeoff	Lead	#3 Supercharger out.