351st Bomb Group

1. Airplane and Crew Assignment Check.
   
   
2. Time Schedule:

   ___ Box
   Stations   –	1420
   Start Engines –	1430
   Taxi     –	1440
   Take Off   –	1455
   Last Take Off –	____

   
   
3. Targets:
   Primary: Reims [France]
   Secondary: ____
   Last Resort: ____
   
   
4. Loading:
   351 “A”: 6 x 1,000 [Lb.] 1/10 x 1/40 [Fuse]
   351 “B”:
   Composite: ____
   Nickels [Propaganda Leaflets] in Ship # - ____
   Chaff: ____
   
5. Gasoline Loading: 2100 [Gallons]
   Remarks: ____
   
   

6. Wing Formation	94th (A) CBW	94th (B) CBW	Comp. Group	Comp. CBW
   Lead
   Low	351st
   High

   
   
7. Division Formation:

   Position	CBW [Combat Wing]	Target	Departure Time at Coast
   Lead	1st
   2nd	40th
   3rd
   4th
   5th
   6th
   7th
   8th
   2nd Division
   3rd Division
   Marauders
   RAF [Royal Air Force]

   
   Remarks: ____
   
   
8. Fighter Cover:

   • [Force]	[Latitude & Longitude]	[Call Sign]
     _________	________	_______

     
     
9. Group Assembly:

   Box	Altitude	Place
   ____	______	______
   ____	______	______
   ____	______	______

   
   
10. Navigator - _____
    
11. S-2 - _____
    
12. Weather - _____
    
13. Special Instructions to Navigators, Bombardiers and Radio Operators:
    
    
14. Squadron Leaders and Group Deputy report to Target Room. All but Pilots Dismissed.
    
15. (A) Code Words –

    PFF Bombing –	____
    Visual Bombing -	_____
    Authenticator –	Top Hat [Red Lion]
    Recall -	Mike Love Queen Baker
    Weather Code -	Nular – W - ITVAB
    Release "CHAFF"	____

    
    (B) Call Signs:

    	Call Sign	Flares	Remarks
    351st A	Smokestack Red	R G [Red Green]
    351st B
    401st A
    401st B
    457th A
    457th B
    Composite
    1st C.B.W.
    40th C.B.W.	Smokestack [Leader]	YY - Y [Yellow Yellow - Yellow]
    41st C.B.W.
    Composite C.B.W.

    
    (C)

    U.S. Fighters
    R.A.F. Fighters
    Bombers
    U.S. Grnd. Control
    R.A.F. Grnd. Control

    
    

    Control Points:	Fighter Reference Points:
    _____	______
    _____	______

    
    Remarks: ____
    
    (D)

    Colors of the Day
    Time	Color	Letter	Challenge
    1400 – 2000	RR-R	X	P
    2000 – 0200	GG	B	Z

    
    (E) Ships To Monitor [Radio Channels A, B, C & D]
    1. - ____
    2. - 542-V  499-Q
    3. - 857-J  613-C
    4. - ____
       
       
    
    
16. Let-Down on Deenethorpe, if overcast.
    351st A   20° Mag. [Magnetic Compass Heading]
    351st B   __° Mag. [Magnetic Compass Heading]
    401st A   __° Mag.
    457th A   __° Mag.
    
    
17. Flying Control. –
    1. Taxi Plan.
    2. Emergency Fields - Bradwell Bay [Bradwell-on-Sea]
    3. Landing Aids.
       
       
18. Special Instructions: ____
    

1. General Narrative. Twenty aircraft, including two spares, took off at 1454 – 1507 hours. The group assembly was made over Deenethorpe at 10,000 feet. All twenty aircraft were in position, as indicated in the formation diagram before the scheduled departure time from the buncher. The 351st Group was scheduled to fly as the Low Combat Box of the 40th Composite Combat Wing.
    The combat wing assembly was made without difficulty. The 351st Group was over the Podington buncher three minutes before the departure time, and fell in behind the Lead Group and proceeded on course. The briefed course was flown over England and while crossing the channel. Departure from the English coast was made one minute late and arrival at the French coast was two minutes behind schedule.
    The route over the continent was flown with little variance from the flight plan. Such variances are indicated on the Track Chart. The formation while bombing was observed to be quite good. A straight run of seven minutes was made and all the ships in the lead and low squadrons were reported to be in perfect formation. The high squadron was flying slightly wide. Bombs were dropped while the aircraft were flying the formation as indicated in the diagram of Formation over the Target.
    The rally after bombing was made as briefed and without difficulty.
    Enemy opposition was meager. No enemy fighters were seen and little flak was encountered. Meager inaccurate flak was encountered at the coast on the route in to the target; moderate inaccurate flak and two rockets were seen in the target area.
    The return route was flown as briefed with little variation. The wing formation broke up at the English coast and the group returned to base intact.
    The Group Leader reported that the mission was flown with as few difficulties as was possible, considering the lack of preparation which was necessitated by lack of time. The composite wing assembly was made easily, bombing was good, and enemy opposition was negligible.
   
2. Aircraft Not Attacking. The two aircraft scheduled as flying spares returned as planned. The remaining eighteen aircraft continued as indicated in the General Narrative to attack the primary target.
   
3. Aircraft Lost. No aircraft were lost on the Mission of 1 May, 1944.
   
4. Group Leader. Major Paul L. Fishburne, flying in aircraft 42-107005, led the Low Combat Box.
   
   

1. Flight Plan and Log attached.
2. Track Chart attached.
3. Narrative.
   1. T/O at 1454 hours.
   2. Group formed at 1553 hours at 10,000 feet.
   3. Formed CBW [Combat Wing] at 1600 hours at 10,000 feet.
   4. Began climb at 1607 hours.
   5. Reached altitude at 1733 hours.
   6. Weather encountered over England:
      1. Clouds 8/10ths. Tops 6,000 feet.
      2. Visibility 20 miles.
      3. Wind at altitude 330 degrees. 33 knots per hour.
   7. Means of navigation over England. DR [Dead Reckoning], Radio Compass and GEE
   8. Means of checking Metro Winds. DRIFT ON TWO HEADINGS
   9. Joined task force at 1600 hours at Podington.
   10. Departed English Coast at 1644 hours.
   11. Arrived Enemy Coast at 1704 hours.
   12. Fighter Rendezvous:
       1. Going in: ____ hours.
       2. Coming back: ____ hours.
   13. Wind used for bombing:
       1. 330 degrees.
       2. 33 knots per hour.
       3. How determined: Drift on two headings.
   14. Description of Bomb Run and Method of target Identification:
       1. Reached IP [Initial Point of bomb run] at 1806 hours.
       2. Mag [Magnetic Compass] heading over target 348 degrees.
       3. Altitude over Target 19,020 feet.
       4. Time bombs away 1814½ hours.
       5. Method of target identification and weather over target: Visual and clear with haze
   15. Difficulties encountered with Radio, compass, and special equipment: Burnt-out fuse in fluxgate compass.
   16. Gee:
       1. Coordinates of furtherest fix 51°08'N-02°39'E [Koksijde-Bad, Netherlands]
       2. Time 1704 hours.
   17. Comments:

Group: 351st (Low)
Target: Reims, France
Method of Bombing: Visual
Altitude: 19,206’
Direction of Attack: 348° Mag. Heading
Wind Direction: 330°
Wind Velocity: 38 MPH
Bombardier’s Narrative: The 351st Bombardment Gp. (H) flew the Low Box and bombed the Marshalling Yard at Reims, France. The I.P. [Initial Point of Bomb Run] was reached as briefed and no trouble was encountered on the bombing run. Bombs were away at 1814 hours on a magnetic heading of 348°. Hits were observed in the target area.

[Signed:] Wallace J. Rufeisen, 2nd Lt., Air Corps, Lead Bombardier

Bombardier - 2nd Lt. Rufeisen, Wallace J.  Pilot - Capt. Nesmith, Joseph F. Navigator - 1st Lt. Simmons, Max C.
Aircraft B-17G   005  Take-off - 1454 Landed - 2026
Objective - Reims, France
Aiming Point (MPI) [Mean Point of Impact] - [Railroad] Marshalling Yards
Initial Point - As briefed
Method of Attack - Group
No. of Attacking A/C in Group: - 18   Composite Group -
Number A/C Dropping Bombs by own Sighting Operation: 1
Deflection and Range Sighting, Group: 1    Composite Group -
Range Sighting only, Group - 1    Composite Group -
Bombs, Types and Sizes - AN-M44 1,000 LB. G.P. [General Purpose]
Number of Bombs Loaded - 6   Released - 6
Fusing, Nose - 1/10   Tail - 1/40
Synchronization - On
Information at Release Point:

Type of Release - Salvo
Point of Impact If Seen - In target area
Mean Temp. Metro -1 Actual -1
Winds - Altitude - 20,000 Ft.  Direction - Metro 348°  Actual 330°  Velocity - Metro 51  Actual 38
Temp C. - Metro -20° C. Actual -20° C.

1. The target was the Railway Marshalling Yards and Locomotive Workshops at Reims, France. Photo coverage was good for each squadron and prints were of good quality.
2. The MPI for this group, which flew as low group in a composite wing, was the main locomotive shed and repair shop in the NE area. It was the same as the MPI [Mean Point of Impact] for the lead group which bombed just ahead of this group.
3. It is impossible to determine the pattern for this group as bombs fell into the heavy smoke left by bombing of the lead group. On the North and East sides of the original pattern, fifteen (15) bursts can be counted and some probably are bombs which fell a little late from the high squadron. Within the smoke itself eight (8) bursts can be spotted which appear to be caused by bombs of this group. These are in the main, short and to the East of the MPI. In view of the fact so few bursts can be found no attempt has been made to measure the existing pattern.

1. No leaflets were carried.
2. Photo evidence shows that bombing was excellent, bombs hitting the MPI [Mean Point of Impact].
3. No enemy aircraft were encountered.
4. Twelve bursts were fired from Dunkirk [Dunquerque] as this group was going in; they were good for altitude but poor for deflection. At the target flak was meager and not accurate; the right turn made after bombs away evidently took our formation away from the flak which burst closely to the left. At Ostend on the way back flak was meager and good for height but poor for deflection.
5. Ground haze of 1/10 to 2/10 over target did not affect bombing.
6. No observations of military importance were noted.
7. No PFF units were employed. Fighter support was excellent throughout the mission.

1. Target: Assigned - Reims, France Bombed - Reims, France
2. Route as Flown. - As briefed
3. Weather Conditions - A. at Target. - Clear  B. En route - No cloud – dense haze
4. Were our A/C "Seen" or "Unseen" targets? (a) At Target - Seen (b) Enroute - Not known
 Any Condensation Trails? - No
5. Description of Flak, including type of Fire Control: Meager, inaccurate continuous following. Bursts appeared to be more accurate for the group ahead of us; after the right turn at bombs away, bursts appeared to be tracking to the left of our formation, and somewhat low. There were an estimated 7 guns, located near Reims A/F [Airfield].
6. Flak encountered or observed en route. (In the order experienced) -
 Ostend, 1703, 18,000’ – 12 bursts, height good, deflection poor.
 Ostend, 1915, 15,500’ – Meager, inaccurate.
7. Was Chaff carried? - Yes How discharged? In target area.
8. Position of Group - Low
9. Group – 351 A/C over enemy terr. – 18 A/C damaged – 1 A/C lost to flak – 0 Time over Target – 1814 
Time of bombs away – 1814 Height – 19,000’ Axis of attack – 348° Mag. Bomb run – 120 sec.
10. Comments - Phenomena: Two rockets, leaving grayish–black smoke trails, were observed ahead of our formation in the target area. No bursts were observed.

1. The following comments were made at interrogation after the afternoon mission of this date:

    508th Sqdn.
A/C 192-R Lt. Carson, pilot, tucked plane in beautifully on bomb run and flew very smooth mission. – Lt. Carbone.
A/C 146-D No flare gun in airplane. – Lt. Blaisdell

    509th Sqdn.
A/C 845-F Lead navigator did good job. – Lt. Zenor

    510th Sqdn.
A/C 899-B Would like all maps on same scale, as this would make pilotage easier. – Lt. Hough, navigator.
A/C 853-P Would rather have briefings. – EM. [Enlisted Men]

    511th Sqdn.
A/C 499-Q Not enough time between briefings and stations. – Lt. Rude.
 EM [Enlisted Men] want to attend briefings.
 Radio man wasn’t picked up at ship. – Sgt. Otis.
 In past our rations have been stolen from ship. – Lt. Heller

[Signed] Robert P. Ramsey, Captain, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. Abortives:
   1. Airplane No. 42-97349, 508th Squadron, returned early as planned.
   2. Airplane No. 42-30994, 508th Squadron, returned early as planned.
2. Battle Damage:
   1. Airplane No. 42-97202, 509th Squadron. Three flak holes bottom of LH inboard wing panel, necessitating fuel tank change.

   TOTAL A/C DAMAGED		MINOR DAMAGE		BY FLAK
   1		1		1

1. The following bombing malfunction was reported on the Mission of 1 May, 1944.
   1. A/C 42-97216 – The last station did not release when bombs were salvoed. The bombardier threw the salvo switch several times, and the bombs dropped twenty seconds late. The A-2 release has been replaced.
2. A total of five (5) all electrical ships participated in the Mission, including the one reporting the malfunction.

1. The Station Ordnance Officer has reported the expenditure of 1,485 rounds of Caliber .50 ammunition on the second Mission of 1 May, 1944.

1. The following data indicates the disposition of bombs on the Mission of this date:

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

   a. 40th Composite Combat Wing   Low Group
   Sqdn 508th A/C: 2613–C, 7325–H, 8146–D, 1757–G, 1702–A, 1192–R, 7157–N, 0994–T*, 7349–B*
   Sqdn 509th A/C: 8005–G, 3542–V, 30499–Q, 7216–U, 7845–F, 7202–Z
   Sqdn 510th A/C: 0857–J, 1899–B, 9853–P, 9835–N
   Sqdn 511th A/C: 7005–Q
   P.F.F. Sqdn ___ A/C:

   * - Flying Spares
   
2. Target: Z-802
   
3. W/T and R/T Operational Call Sign of each Squadron:

   Squadron	508 [Call Sign]	W/T NKQ R/T CARLTON		Squadron	510 [Call Sign]	W/T SFK R/T TIPSTAFF
   Squadron	509 [Call Sign]	W/T JVK R/T HOTMINT		Squadron	511 [Call Sign]	W/T MMH R/T PARTNERSHIP

4. a. Low Box: Taxi–1440; Take-Off –1455; E.T.D. Field–1455
   

5. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing English Coast: (OUT)
   1643	17,000 Ft	Clacton

6. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing Enemy Coast: (IN)
   1702	20,000 Ft	51°07'N-02°40'E [Koksijde, Netherlands]

7. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing Enemy Coast: (Out)
   1917	20,000 Ft	51°07'N-02°40'E [Koksijde, Netherlands]

8. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing English Coast: (IN)
   1945	10,000 Ft	Clacton

9. E.T.R.(Estimated Time of Return) Base: 2017 Hours
10. MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section: "G"
11. Bomb load of Each A/C: "A" Low Box
    508 Squadron: 6 x 1000# 1/10 Nose x 1/40 Tail [Fuse]
    509 Squadron: 6 x 1000# 1/10 Nose x 1/40 Tail [Fuse]
    510 Squadron: 6 x 1000# 1/10 Nose x 1/40 Tail [Fuse]
    511 Squadron: 6 x 1000# 1/10 Nose x 1/40 Tail [Fuse]
    
    
    
12. Fuel Load of each A/C: 2100 Gallons
    
13. Group Leader:
    a. Low Box: Name: P.L. Fishburne Rank: Maj. A/C: 7005-Q  Sqdn. 510th
    
14. Passengers, if any: (Full Name, Rank, A/C and Squadron Passenger flying with)
    None

Report Compiled By C.A. Blanchard, M/Sgt.