351st Bomb Group

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

   "C" Box
   Stations   –	1005
   Start Engines –	1020
   Taxi     –	1030
   Take Off   –	1040
   Last Take Off –	1152

   
   
3. Targets:
   Primary: [NoBall] 1318
   Secondary: ____
   Last Resort: ____
   
   
4. Loading:
   351: 18 x 250 GP [General Purpose] 1/10 – 1/40 [Fuses]
   351 “B”: Delay action bombs – F-674 Lt. Hibbard.
   Composite: ____
   Nickels [Propaganda Leaflets] in Ship # - None
   Chaff: 288 units.
   
5. Gasoline Loading: 1700 gallons
   Remarks: ____
   
   

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

   
   
7. Division Formation:

   Position	CBW [Combat Wing]	Target	Departure Time at Coast
   Lead	1st	NoBall
   2nd	94th	NoBall	Zero [Hour] + 4 [Minutes]
   3rd
   4th
   5th
   6th
   7th
   8th
   2nd Division
   3rd Division
   Marauders
   RAF [Royal Air Force]

   
   Remarks: One minute interval between forces.
   
   
8. Fighter Cover:

   • [Force]	[Latitude & Longitude]	[Call Sign]
     Area Cover	_______	______

     
     
9. Group Assembly:

   Box	Altitude	Place
   351st "C"	15,000' Lead	Buncher W (Kings Cliffe)
   457th "A"	16,000’ Lead	Buncher X (Glatton)
   457th "B"	15,000’ Lead	Buncher X (Glatton)

   
   
10. Navigator - _____
    
11. S-2 - _____
    
12. Weather - _____
    
13. Special Instructions to Gunners, Bombardiers, and Radio Operators:
    A. Type of Bombing Formation - 12 ship force.
      Radio silence will be maintained.
      Begin release [Of Chaff] from 3 mins. after crossing enemy coast for 12 mins.
      Delay action bombs will not be returned – drop them.
      Lead & Deputy will take off as early as possible.
    
    
14. Squadron Leaders and Group Deputy report to Target Room. All but Pilots Dismissed.
    
    
15. (A) Code Words –

    PFF Bombing –	____
    Visual Bombing -	____
    Authenticator –	Pea Soup
    Recall -	Tea and Coffee
    Weather Code -	TIBVA
    Release "CHAFF" -	Tin Hat
    Wx ship -	Bluebell “G”.

    
    (B) Call Signs:

    	Call Sign	Flares	Remarks
    351st	Woodcraft Charlie	R [Red]
    351st B
    401st A
    401st B
    457th A	Woodcraft Able	RY
    457th B	Woodcraft Baker	G
    Composite
    1st C.B.W.
    40th C.B.W.
    41st C.B.W.
    Composite C.B.W.

    
    (C)

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

    
    

    Control Points:		Fighter Reference Points:
    _____		______
    _____		______

    
    Remarks: When requesting support – give heading, altitude, location in clear – number of enemy A/C and their heading.
     Base reference altitude – 21,000’
    
    (D)

    Colors of the Day
    Time	Color	Letter	Challenge
    0800 – 1400	YY	O	Z
    1400 – 2000	RY	X	Q

    
    (E) Ships To Monitor [Radio Channels A, B, C & D]
    1. - All
    2. - 843-C
    3. - 696-Z
    4. - ____
    
    
16. Let-Down on Splasher # 6, if overcast.
    351st A   “C” Kings Cliffe 360° Mag. [Magnetic Compass Heading]
    351st B   ___° Mag. [Magnetic Compass Heading]
    401st A   ___° Mag.
    457th A   Glatton Buncher 030° Mag.
    457th B   Glatton Buncher 015° Mag.
    
    
17. Flying Control. –
    1. Taxi Plan.
    2. Emergency Fields. TANGMERE
    3. Landing Aids.
    
    
18. Special Instructions:
    Flying spare – R-156 Lt. Whitaker.
    Spares return at mid-channel.
    Group leader will transmit bomber strike messages by W/T.
    

1. General Narrative. Thirteen aircraft, including one flying spare, took off at 1035 – 1050 hours. The Lead and Deputy Lead ships took off five minutes early in order to position themselves over the assembly buncher ahead of the remainder of the formation. Severe icing forced three ships to return early.
    The group assembly altitude was changed from 16,000 feet to 26,000 feet because of high clouds. The group left the assembly point fourteen minutes late and to the left of course because of clouds. Nine aircraft were in formation at the departure from the buncher. Three had aborted due to icing conditions, and one flew with the 457th Group.
    The route to the English coast was flown as briefed. After departing from the English coast eight minutes late, a let-down was made to the bombing altitude of 24,500 feet.
    The route to the target was flown as briefed.
    From the IP [Initial Point of Bomb Run] on, the bombardier had difficulty picking up the target because of low, scattered cumulus clouds. The lack of proper maps because of a late change in the flight plan caused minor trouble.
    The target was picked up just as the group passed over it, and it was too late to bomb. Then the briefed course was followed and an attempt was made to pick up a target of opportunity. Then the bombardier’s interphone went out, and considerable difficulty was encountered by the navigator in helping the bombardier in picking out a target of opportunity. The course to the enemy coast was flown as briefed.
    Once over the channel, a let-down was made (360° turns) to get below the very high and thick clouds.
    During the let-down, instructions were received from the relay ship to divert to Shipdham, and follow the east English coast to avoid bad weather.
    The formation skirted the English coast until approximately due east of Shipdham, then turned inland and landed. There the Group leader called 1st Division and gave the report of the diversion. Shipdham Flying Control called the 351st Bomb Group.
    At approximately 2055 hours, the group took off and assembled over the field at 1,000 feet, and proceeded to the home base. Landings were made at Polebrook at 2140 – 2146 hours.
    Light, accurate flak had been encountered at the target; no enemy aircraft had been seen.
   
2. Aircraft Not Attacking. Aircraft 44-6156, pilot Lt. Whitaker, returned to base from Cottesmore buncher due to extreme icing conditions. This aircraft had been scheduled as a flying spare.
    Aircraft 42-97349, pilot Lt. Leland, returned to base from the Cottesmore buncher. Extreme icing would not permit the aircraft to stay with the formation.
    Aircraft 44-6139, pilot Lt. Bland, returned to base from Cottesmore buncher due to inability to keep up with the formation as a result of icing.
    The remaining ten aircraft continued the mission to the target but failed to drop bombs.
   
3. Aircraft Lost. No aircraft were lost on the Mission of 9 July, 1944.
   
4. Group Leader. Lt. Richard Brooks, flying in aircraft 42-97381, led the “C” Force of the 94th Combat Wing.
   
   

1. No bombs were dropped on Mission of 9 July, 1944 (Field Order #428) by this Group.
2. The following reports will not be submitted:
   1. Combat Bombing Flight Record
   2. Lead Bombardier’s Narrative for Tactical Targets.
   Lead Bombardier’s Narrative for Tactical Targets.

1. Abortives and Flying Spares:
   1. Airplane No. 42-97349, 508th Squadron returned early. The Pilot stated that ice started to collect on the wings and he had to descend to get rid of the ice. Pilot was unable to locate the formation after getting rid of the ice. (Weather)
   2. Airplane No. 44-6156, 509th Squadron returned early. Pilot left formation because of icing conditions and bad weather. (Weather)
   3. Airplane No. 44-6139, 511th Squadron returned early. Pilot stated that he had no airspeed indication in the clouds at altitude and that the Pitot heater was out, plane also picked up a large amount of ice. Investigation revealed that the Pitot heater was shorted out. Ice collected in Pitot stack, but Pilot could have flown without airspeed indication. Pilot returned because of large amount of icing on plane. (Weather)
2. Battle Damage:
   1. Airplane No. 42-97381, 511th Squadron. Very small flak hole through left aileron fabric. Two very small holes underside of left wing between #1 and #2 Engines, skin damage only.
   2. Airplane No. 43-37524, 511th Squadron. Small flak hole underside of left wing outer panel beyond Tokyo tanks, skin damage only. Small flak hole in leading edge of left wing outer panel near landing light lens, skin and corrugation damaged.
   
   

   TOTAL A/C DAMAGED		MINOR DAMAGE		DAMAGED BY FLAK
   2		2		2

1. A negative armament report is submitted for the Mission of 9 July, 1944.

Aircraft No. 44-6156 Squadron - 509   Pilot - Whitaker
Time of Abortive - Approx. 1215  Location when Aborted - Cottesmore Buncher
Reason For Abortive - Ship had too much ice to maintain climb. Would hold altitude at 23,000 ft. with 2,400 RPM and 40” manifold pressure. Ship was at that time in a steep climbing attitude, but would gain no altitude
Disposition of Bombs: Placed on safe and returned to base.
Altitude At Time of Aborting: Between 23,000 & 23,500 ft. still in clouds.
Enemy Opposition Encountered - None
Remarks: Flying Spare
[Signed] George E. Whitaker



Aircraft No. 42-97349 Squadron - 508th   Pilot - Leland, Lloyd S.
Time of Abortive - 1145  Location when Aborted - Cottesmore
Reason For Abortive - Icing – could not climb and could not hold altitude – airspeed indicator useless – stalled out – went back up and encountered same conditions – Tried to find hole and go up but was unable to and would be too late to catch formation – Came home and landed at 1236.
Disposition of Bombs: ___
Altitude At Time of Aborting: 19,000'
Enemy Opposition Encountered - None
Remarks:
[Signed] Lloyd S. Leland



Aircraft No. 44-6139 Squadron - 511th   Pilot - Bland, Anderson Jr.
Time of Abortive - 1200  Location when Aborted - Over Cottesmore Buncher.
Reason For Abortive - Pitot heater was inoperative. We hit icing conditions in clouds and no air speed indication shown. Heater switch was on. We then let-down to 12,000 ft. and started climbing again through visible holes. Got to 24,000’ and nothing but solid overcast. As soon as we hit clouds, pitot tube froze again.
Disposition of Bombs: Brought back.
Altitude At Time of Aborting: 24,000’
Enemy Opposition Encountered - None
Remarks: Pitot heater switch was on when we got in plane.
[Signed] Anderson Bland Jr.

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

   94th Combat Wing   "C" Force
   Sqdn 508th A/C: 7349–B, 1702–A, 2949–G, 7843–C
   Sqdn 509th A/C: 7216–U, 7674–F*, 7676–L, (7696–Z Flying Spare)
   Sqdn 510th A/C: None
   Sqdn 511th A/C: 7381–U, 2952–H, 6139–K, 7524–D
   P.F.F. Sqdn ___ A/C: ____

   [* Delayed Action Bombs]
   
2. Target: Z-3254
   
3. W/T and R/T Operational Call Sign of each Squadron:

   Squadron	508 [Call Sign]	W/T SZK R/T CARLTON		Squadron	510 [Call Sign]	W/T ___ R/T TIPSTAFF
   Squadron	509 [Call Sign]	W/T MHD R/T HOTMINT		Squadron	511 [Call Sign]	W/T WJD R/T PARTNERSHIP

4. a. "C" Force: Taxi – 1030; Take-Off – 1040; E.T.D. Field – 1040
   b. ____ Box: Taxi – ____; Take-Off – ____; E.T.D. Field – ____

5. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing English Coast: (OUT)
   1236	24,500 Ft	North Foreland

6. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing Enemy Coast: (IN)
   1244	24,500 Ft	51°00'N-02°03'E [3.5 miles NW of Gravelines, France]

7. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing Enemy Coast: (Out)
   1323	24,500 Ft	50°07'N-01°28'E [5 miles NE of Le Treport, France]

8. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing English Coast: (IN)
   1340	15,000 Ft	Beachy Head

9. E.T.R.(Estimated Time of Return) Base: 1420 Hours
10. MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section:"N"
11. Bomb load of Each A/C: "C" Force
    508 Squadron: 18 x 250# GP [General Purpose] 1/10 x 1/40 [Fuses]
    509 Squadron: 18 x 250# GP [General Purpose] 1/10 x 1/40 [Fuses] F-7674 Delayed as Ordered
    510 Squadron: None
    511 Squadron: 18 x 250# GP [General Purpose] 1/10 x 1/40 [Fuses]
    
12. Fuel Load of each A/C: 1700 Gallons
    
13. Group Leader:
    a. "C" Force: Name: R.H. Brooks Rank: 1st Lt. A/C: 7681-U  Sqdn. 511th
    b. ____ Box: Name: ___ Rank: ___ A/C: ___ Sqdn. ___
14. Passengers, if any: (Full Name, Rank, A/C and Squadron Passenger flying with)
    None
15. Actual Times Off and Return by Squadrons and A/C Letters:
    
    "C" Force

    Squadron	A/C No. & Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.	Squadron	A/C No. & Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.
    508	349–B	____	____	509	216–U	____	____
    	702–A	____	____		674–F	____	____
    	949–G	____	____		676–L	____	____
    	843–C	____	____		696–Z	____	____
    				Flying Spare	156–R	____	____
    510				511	381–U	____	____
    					952–H	____	____
    					139–K	____	____
    					524–D	____	____

    
    
    

    Report Compiled By John Maksimik, S/Sgt.