20 Jun. 1944 Target: Watton, France

Group Mission #154

Credited Mission #148

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DATE: 20 Jun. 1944

Target: [No Ball] Watton, France
Bombed Aerodrome near Ypres, Belgium

Briefing Outline:

Airplane and Crew Assignment Check.

Time Schedule:

[High] Box
Stations –	1720
Start Engines –	1730
Taxi –	1740
Take Off –	1755
Last Take Off –	1855

Targets:
Primary: Watten, [France]
Secondary: Any military objective not adjacent to built up area.
Last Resort:
Loading:
351 “A”: 2 x 2,000 [lb.] 1/10 – 1/40 [Fuses]
351 “B”:
Composite:
Nickels [Propaganda Leaflets] in Ship # - ____
Chaff: 240 units – 2 min. before IP [Initial Point of Bomb Run] for 4 min. – Stop – 3 min. before target for 6 min.
Gasoline Loading: 1700 gallons
Remarks: ____

Wing Formation	94th (A) CBW	94th (B) CBW	Comp. Group	Comp. CBW
Lead	401st
Low	457th
High	351st

Division Formation:

Position	CBW [Combat Wing]	Target	Departure Time at Coast
Lead	94th		0 [Zero Hour - 2015] -10 [minutes - Hastings, England]
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
2nd Division		No Ball	0 [Zero Hour] to 0 + 30
3rd Division			0 [Zero Hour] + 30 to 0 + 60
Marauders
RAF [Royal Air Force]

Remarks: ____

Fighter Cover:
- [Force] [Latitude & Longitude] [Call Sign]
  
  _________ General Area Support Balance
Group Assembly:

Box Altitude Place

Lead 13,000' Glatton

High [351st] 13,600'
Navigator - _____
S-2 - _____
Weather - _____
Special Instructions to Gunners, Bombardiers, and Radio Operators:
Boxes take bombing interval at English Coast.
Squadron Leaders and Group Deputy report to Target Room. All but Pilots Dismissed.

[Force]	[Latitude & Longitude]	[Call Sign]
_________	General Area Support	Balance

Box	Altitude	Place
Lead	13,000'	Glatton
High [351st]	13,600'

(A) Code Words –

PFF Bombing –	____
Visual Bombing -	____
Authenticator –	Snake Bite
Recall -	_____
Weather Code -	TABVI
Release "CHAFF" -	Tin Hat

(B) Call Signs:

	Call Sign	Flares
351st High	Woodcraft Red	G [Green]
351st B
401st Lead	Woodcraft White	RY [Red Yellow]
401st B
457th Low	Woodcraft Blue	R [Red]
457th B
Composite
1st C.B.W.
40th C.B.W.
41st C.B.W.
Composite C.B.W.

(C)

U.S. Fighters	Balance
R.A.F. Fighters
Bombers	Vinegrove Two
U.S. Grnd. Control	Colgate
R.A.F. Grnd. Control

Control Points:		Fighter Reference Points:
_____		______
_____		______

Remarks: ____

(D)

Colors of the Day
Time	Color	Letter	Challenge
1400 – 2000	RG	L	C
2000 – 0200	Y-YR	B	X

(E) Ships To Monitor [Radio Channels A, B, C & D]

- All Except:
- 711-F
- 714-R
- ____

Let-Down on Glatton, if overcast.
351st A 20° Mag. [Magnetic Compass Heading]
351st B ° Mag. [Magnetic Compass Heading]
401st A ° Mag.
457th A ° Mag.
Flying Control. –
1. Taxi Plan.
2. Emergency Fields.
3. Landing Aids.
Special Instructions:
When requesting Fighter Support give: location, heading, etc.
Camera ships break off at mid-channel.

Operational Narrative – High Combat Box:

General Narrative. Twelve aircraft, not including spares, took off at 1750 – 1805 hours. The assembly was made as briefed at 14,000 feet.
After assembling, the Lead Group cut off Point A, because it was seven (7) minutes late in leaving the assembly point. The Wing reached Point B four (4) minutes late. At Point C it was but one (1) minute late. Enroute to Point D, the High Group encountered a large stratus cloud and decided to ess to the right to lose speed and also avoid the cloud. This maneuver brought the High Group to the right of the briefed route at Point D. The High Group turned at 50°35’N-01°10’E [19 miles WNW of Le Touquet, France] toward Point Z and was in trail of the Lead and Low Groups. The High Group arrived at Point Z one (1) minute late at the briefed altitude minus four hundred (400) [feet]. The briefed altitude could have been reached had it not been for the cloud just after the last turn.
The High Group arrived at the IP [Initial Point of Bomb Run] on the enemy coast one (1) minute late and in trail of the Lead and Low Groups. There an overcast was observed that appeared to extend over the target area.
The Combat Wing Leader called and said that they were attempting a run on the Primary Target. He later called and said that the target was covered by cloud and that the Lead Group would bomb a Target of Opportunity. At the same time the Combat Wing Leader requested that the High and Low Groups pick other Targets of Opportunity.
The High Group was on a heading of approximately 0° when an airfield not adjacent to a built up area was observed at 50°50’N-02°50’E [2.25 miles SW of Ypres, Belgium]. It made a 270° turn to the left and bombed on a heading of 73° at 2050 hours.
After bombs away, the Combat Wing Leader called that he could not make any more 360° turns on the coast South of Dunkirk because of bomber formations in the vicinity. He told the High Box to proceed to base alone.
The High Group crossed the English Coast, homing on the assembly buncher, over the overcast.
At the buncher it circled to lose altitude and after a little difficulty with the buncher that caused the radio compass to work improperly, it made an instrument let-down. The cloud base was at 500’ and it was impossible to reform the group. Most of the aircraft came back to base individually.
Light flak was observed at the actual IP. Enemy aircraft opposition was nil.
Aircraft Not Attacking. None of the aircraft scheduled for the second mission of 20 June, 1944 failed to attack the target.
Aircraft Lost. No aircraft were lost on the Mission of 20 June, 1944.
Group Leader. Lt. Richard H. Brooks, flying in aircraft 42-107005, led the High Group of the 94th Combat Wing.

Statistical Summary:

	High
	Regular Formation
No. of A/C Scheduled	12
No. of A/C Failed to Take Off	0
No. of A/C Taking Off	12
No. of A/C Taking Off Less Unused Spares	12
No. of A/C Attacking	12
No. of A/C Not Attacking	0
Name of Primary Target	Watten, France
No. of A/C Attacking Primary	0
No., Size & Type Of Bombs	0
Name of Last Resort Target	A/D [Aerodrome] Ypres, Belgium
No. of A/C Attacking Last Resort Target	12
No., Size & Type Of Bombs	24
Disposition of Bombs:
Bombs Brought Back or Jettisoned	0
A/C [Aircraft] Lost	0

Lead Navigator’s Narrative:

1. No difficulties were encountered on the bombing run. Flak was meager and inaccurate.
2. C-1 Pilot [Autopilot] was used between the Initial Point and the beginning of the straight and level run. It was not overpowered or disengaged by the pilot.
3. Due to 10/10 cloud, the Primary Target could not be bombed.
4. An airfield near Ypres, Belgium was bombed as a Target of Opportunity. The Dispersal area was used as the aiming point.
5. A 360° turn was made to come in on the target.

[Signed:] Joseph Loiacono, 2nd Lt., Air Corps, Lead Bombardier

Combat Bombing Flight Record:

Bombardier - 2nd Lt. Loiacono, Joseph Pilot - 1st Lt. Brooks, Richard H. Navigator - 1st Lt. Simmons, Max G.
Aircraft B-17G 005-Q Take-off - 1750 Landed - 2240
Objective - Target of Opportunity – Airfield near Ypres, Belgium.
Aiming Point (MPI) [Mean Point of Impact] - Dispersal Area
Initial Point - 50°50’N-02°40’E [3/4 mile North of Abele, Belgium]
Method of Attack - Group
No. of Attacking A/C in Group: - 12 Composite Group - ____
Number A/C Dropping Bombs by own Sighting Operation: One
Deflection and Range Sighting, Group: ____ Composite Group - ____
Range Sighting only, Group - ____ Composite Group - ____
Bombs, Types and Sizes - 2,000 LB. G.P. [General Purpose] AN-M43
Number of Bombs Loaded - 2 Released - 2
Fusing, Nose - 1/10 Tail - 1/40
Synchronization - On
Information at Release Point: 10/10th Cloud over Primary Target

Altitude of Target - 65		Magnetic Heading Ordered 71° Actual 80°
True Altitude Above Target - 27,660’		True Heading 70°
Indicated Altitude - 27,000’		Drift, Estimated 3° Left - Actual 3° Right
Pressure Altitude of Target -90		True Track 73°
Altimeter Setting 29.92		Actual Range 12,170'
Calculated Indicated Air Speed - 150 M.P.H.		B.S. Type - M-9
True Air Speed - 234 M.P.H.		Time of Release 2050
Ground Speed Est. 212 Actual 226		Length of Bombing Run - 2 min.
Wind Direction Metro - 90° Actual - 05°		Intervalometer Setting - Minimum
Wind Velocity Metro 29 Actual 20		C-1 Pilot [Autopilot] X [Used]
D.S. - 121.9 Trail - .44 ATF - .46		A-5 Pilot _____
Tan. D.A, Est. .44 Actual .46		Manual Pilot - ____

Type of Release - Salvo
Point of Impact If Seen - No
Mean Temp. Metro -7 Actual -7
Winds - Altitude - 27,000 Ft. Direction - Metro 90° Actual 05° Velocity - Metro 29 Actual 20
Temp C. - Metro -35° C. Actual -32° C.

Track Chart:
Click on Chart to Enlarge

Mission Summary Report:

Abortives and Flying Spares:
1. Abortives: None.
2. Battle Damage: None received.

[Signed:] Carl A. Ekblad, Captain, Air Corps, Group Engineering Officer

“J” Form:

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

a. 94th Combat Wing High Group
Sqdn 508th A/C: 1702–A, 8146–D, 1711–F, 7843–C
Sqdn 509th A/C: 6077–W, 7926–X, 7144–B, 7595–O
Sqdn 510th A/C: [None]
Sqdn 511th A/C: 7005–Q, 2952–H, 7381–U, 1714–R
P.F.F. Sqdn ___ A/C: __

Target: Z-3001

W/T and R/T Operational Call Sign of each Squadron:

Squadron	508 [Call Sign]	W/T MGU R/T CARLTON		Squadron	510 [Call Sign]	W/T ___ R/T _____
Squadron	509 [Call Sign]	W/T LMK R/T HOTMINT		Squadron	511 [Call Sign]	W/T JYM R/T PARTNERSHIP

a. High Box: Taxi – 1740; Take-Off – 1755; E.T.D. Field – 1755
b. ____ Box: Taxi – ____; Take-Off – ____; E.T.D. Field – ____
Time: Height: Place of Crossing English Coast: (OUT)

2005 26,600 Ft Hastings

Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing English Coast: (OUT)
2005	26,600 Ft	Hastings

Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing Enemy Coast: (IN)
2020	27,000 Ft	50°36'N-01°35'E [Coast line at Dannes, France]

Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing Enemy Coast: (Out)
2034	26,600 Ft	51°00'N-02°03'E [Coast line near Gravelines, France]

Time: Height: Place of Crossing English Coast: (IN)

2050 18,000 Ft Clacton
E.T.R.(Estimated Time of Return) Base: 2112 Hours
MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section: "N"
Bomb load of Each A/C: High Box
508 Squadron: 2 x 2000# G.P. [General Purpose] 1/10 x 1/40 [Nose and Tail Fuses]
509 Squadron: 2 x 2000# G.P. [General Purpose] 1/10 x 1/40 [Nose and Tail Fuses]
510 Squadron: [None]
511 Squadron: 2 x 2000# G.P. [General Purpose] 1/10 x 1/40 [Nose and Tail Fuses]
Fuel Load of each A/C: 1700 Gallons
Group Leader:
a. High Box: Name: R.H. Brooks Rank: 1st Lt. A/C: 7005-Q Sqdn. 511th
b. ___ Box: Name: ___ Rank: ___ A/C: ___ Sqdn. ___
Passengers, if any: (Full Name, Rank, A/C and Squadron Passenger flying with)
None

Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing English Coast: (IN)
2050	18,000 Ft	Clacton

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

Formation Chart:

Group Formation at Take–Off and Over Target
				510th Squadron
				Brooks A/C 42-107005 Q
			Johnston A/C 42-102952 H		Overholt A/C 44-6077 W
				Medick A/C 42-97926 X
	511th Squadron						509th Squadron
	Trombley A/C 42-97381 U						Fowler A/C 42-97144 R
Sutton A/C 42-31714 R		Petersen A/C 43-37595 O				Edwards A/C 42-38146 D		Miller A/C 42-31702 A
	McAfee A/C 42-97843 C						Lord A/C 42-31711 F

Time Schedule:
Zero Hour: 2015 DBST [Double British Standard Time] Briefing: 1500 Stations: 1720 Start Engines: 1730 Taxi: 1740 Take-Off: 1755 Leave Base: 1755

[Wounded - 0]

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The above records were obtained at the National Archives Records Administration and have been declassified by authority NND 745005

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351st Bomb Group

Polebrook, England

Group Mission #154

Credited Mission #148