351st Bomb Group

1. Type of Bombing (Visual, PFF or Combined)? PFF
2. Did Squadron perform own sighting operation, bomb on smoke marker, or was bombing done in Group Formation? The Lead Squadron made a PFF sighting and the Low Squadron dropped on the smoke markers of the Lead Squadron., (08° Mag. Heading).
3. Was turn made at briefed I.P.? 50°23’N-06°45’E. [2 miles WNW of Dorsel, Germany.]
4. Cloud coverage and visibility. 9/10 to 10/10 cloud cover.
5. If Visual, when was MPI identified? If not actually seen, how was it located? PFF.
6. Any Interference on Bomb Run? No.
7. Did C-1 [Autopilot] function satisfactory? Yes.
8. Any other factors affecting accuracy? No.

Bombardier - 1st Lt. Steitz, Warren C.
Pilot - Major Carraway, John B. & Captain Eickhoff, J.T.
Navigator - 1st Lt. Gulnac, John R.

Aircraft B-17G   Z-687  Take-off - 0835 Landed - 1455
Objective - Cologne, Germany
Aiming Point (MPI) [Mean Point of Impact] - PFF
Initial Point - 50°23’N-06°45’E [NW of Ueldelhoven, Germany.]
Method of Attack - Squadron
No. of Attacking A/C in Group: - 24   Composite Group - ____
Number A/C Dropping Bombs by own Sighting Operation: ONE
Deflection and Range Sighting, Group: Lead A/C   Composite Group - ____
Range Sighting only, Group - __   Composite Group - ____
Bombs, Types and Sizes - 14 x 250-LB., G.P. & 4 x 500-LB., I.B. M-17
Number of Bombs Loaded - As above   Released - Same
Fusing, Nose - 1/10   Tail - 1/40
Synchronization - On

Information at Release Point:   Low Sqdn. bombed on Lead Sqdn.

Type of Release - Train - 150'
Point of Impact If Seen - Unobserved (10/10 cloud)
Mean Temp. Metro -13.5 Actual -12
Winds - Altitude - 26,000 Ft.  Direction - Metro 225°  Actual 238°  Velocity - Metro 23  Actual 68
Temp C. - Metro -41° C. Actual -32° C.

1. Type of Bombing (Visual, PFF or Combined)? PFF
2. Did Squadron perform own sighting operation, bomb on smoke marker, or was bombing done in Group Formation? Squadron made own PFF sighting operation.
3. Was turn made at briefed I.P.? Yes
4. Cloud coverage and visibility. 10/10 cloud cover.
5. If Visual, when was MPI identified? If not actually seen, how was it located? PFF.
6. Any Interference on Bomb Run? No.
7. Did C-1 [Autopilot] function satisfactory? Yes.
8. Any other factors affecting accuracy? None.

Bombardier - 2nd Lt. Traczewitz, Gerald E.
Pilot - 1st Lt. Anderson, D.S.
Navigator - 2nd Lt. Morrisette, M.J.

Aircraft B-17G   V-079  Take-off - 0832 Landed - 1406
Objective - Cologne, Germany
Aiming Point (MPI) [Mean Point of Impact] - PFF
Initial Point - As briefed
Method of Attack - Squadron
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: Lead A/C   Composite Group - ____
Range Sighting only, Group - __   Composite Group - ____
Bombs, Types and Sizes - 4 x M-17’s, 13 x 250-LB. G.P.’s & 1 Sky Marker
Number of Bombs Loaded - As above   Released - Same
Fusing, Nose - 1/10   Tail - 1/40
Synchronization - On (PFF)

Information at Release Point:

Type of Release - Train - 150'
Point of Impact If Seen - Unobserved (PFF)
Mean Temp. Metro -13.5 Actual -13.5
Winds - Altitude - 28,000 Ft.  Direction - Metro 225°  Actual 250°  Velocity - Metro 73  Actual 80
Temp C. - Metro -40° C. Actual -42° C.

1. No leaflets were carried by this Group.
2. Due to the 9/10ths cloud coverage, photos do not show bomb strikes. PFF operators estimate bombs fell in briefed MPI [Mean Point of Impact] area.
3. No enemy aircraft opposition was encountered, and no claims [of enemy a/c being shot down] are being submitted.
4. Flak at the target was moderate and inaccurate. On the way out, meager to moderate flak was observed at Koblenz, Limburg, and the Moselle River at 50°05’N-07°10’E [Ediger Laach, Germany].
5. There was 8-9/10ths undercast [sic] over the continent.
6. A great amount of rail activity was seen at Hachenburg, Betzdorf, and Siegen.
7. PFF units were employed with good results. Fighter support was very good. Two B-17’s were seen going down in the target area and one chute was seen. One P-51 was hit by flak in the target area and exploded. No marks of identification were picked up on any of the aircraft. Scouting Force was used and it was effective. None of our aircraft is missing.

    509th Squadron:
A/C 595-O: Kings Cliffe buncher erratic today. – Lt. Tebbel.
A/C 566-F: Change in assembly altitude was not announced soon enough – assembly was slow. – Lt. Claggett.
    P-51 escort should not point nose at planes. – F/O Rothschild.
A/C 964-M: Change of altitude should have been announced more often on assembly. – Lt. Whitaker.
A/C 914-S: Plane was not loaded with bombs by the time we were ready to leave. Never did get full load. – Lt. Knight.
A/C 591-U: When a pilot is having trouble pre-flighting his ship and is going to be late on taxi, he should signal in some way. –
    Lt. Crews.

    510th Squadron:
A/C 862-G: Landed at 1300 hours; it was 1600 hours before truck picked us up. – Lt. Belmeyer.
A/C 252-K: We had only 6 candy bars, 2 packs of gum for 9 men. This is the third successive time rations have been short. –
    Lt. McGee.
A/C 461-T: Chaff not thrown out properly from Group ahead. Came out in large balls. – Lt. Hickel.
A/C 082-B: Couldn’t see flares at assembly. – Lt. Tabb

    511th Squadron:
A/C 435-H: Ball turret oxygen hose too short. Tail gunner passed out from frozen oxygen mask; also waist gunner. Ball turret and
    radio operator put them in radio room and took care of them. – Lt. Ouder.
A/C 428-A: Assembly wasn’t too good. – Lt. Robinson.

1. Abortives and Flying Spares:
   1. Airplane No. 42-97258, 508th Squadron returned early. The Pilot stated that he was unable to locate the formation. [Handwritten in: Personnel]
   2. Airplane No. 42-102576, returned early as planned. This aircraft was in the 510th squadron.
2. Battle Damage:
   1. No Battle Damage was received.

1. The following armament malfunctions were reported on the Mission of 14 October, 1944.
   1. A/C 42-107124 – No bombs could be dropped by the intervalometer, but were salvoed in pattern. However, the intervalometer checked OK.
   2. A/C 44-6156 – The right racks failed to release on Salvo. Reason: Faulty RS-2 box. The RS-2 box has been replaced.

Aircraft No. 7258 Squadron - 508   Pilot - Captain Glazier
Time of Abortive - 1045  Location when Aborted - Control Point #1
Reason For Abortive - Joined formation which we thought our own after circling Kings Cliffe Buncher from 09:50 to 10:07. Realizing our error, we headed for Control Point #1 checking formations enroute [sic]. None of these was Polebrook. We arrived at Control Point #1 at 10:34 and watched formations pass but none was ours. Finally after circling until 10:45 and seeing B-24’s going out, we left.
Disposition of Bombs: Returned to this base.
Altitude At Time of Aborting: 22,000’
Enemy Opposition Encountered - None
Remarks: ____
[Signed] F.R. Glazier, Captain, Air Corps


Aircraft No. 2576 Squadron - 510   Pilot - Lt. Lawson
Time of Abortive - ____ Location when Aborted - ____
Reason For Abortive - ____
Disposition of Bombs: ____
Altitude At Time of Aborting: ____
Enemy Opposition Encountered - ____
Remarks: Flying Spare
[Signed] [No Signature]

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

   a. 94th "B" Combat Wing   Lead Squadron
   Sqdn 508th A/C:
   Sqdn 509th A/C:
   Sqdn 510th A/C: Y–7651 PFF, K–7252, T–8461, B–6082, R–8038, G–7862, A–8465, N–7665, H–8280, F–7124, L–7515, (C–2576 Flying Spare)
   Sqdn 511th A/C: Z–7687 PFF

   
   

   b. 94th "B" Combat Wing   High Squadron
   Sqdn 508th A/C: P–7258, (K–8130 Flying Spare)
   Sqdn 509th A/C:
   Sqdn 510th A/C: V–8079 PFF, P–2955
   Sqdn 511th A/C: X–7571, A–8428, G–8070, C–8694, H–8435, M–8650, K–8585, U–7381, J–6579

   
   

   c. 94th "B" Combat Wing   Low Squadron
   Sqdn 508th A/C:
   Sqdn 509th A/C: Q–8116, P–8432, O–7595, S–9914, Z–7696, M–7964, V–7854, T–1384, U–8591, N–7169, F–6566, R–6156
   Sqdn 510th A/C:
   Sqdn 511th A/C:

2. Target: GH-610
   
3. W/T and R/T Operational Call Sign of each Squadron:

   Squadron	508 [Call Sign]	W/T NGX R/T CARLTON		Squadron	510 [Call Sign]	W/T TRY R/T TIPSTAFF
   Squadron	509 [Call Sign]	W/T TFW R/T HOTMINT		Squadron	511 [Call Sign]	W/T WRB R/T PARTNERSHIP

4. a. Lead Squadron: Taxi – 0820; Take-Off – 0835; E.T.D. Field – 0835
   b. ____ Squadron: Taxi – ____; Take-Off – ____; E.T.D. Field – ____

5. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing English Coast: (OUT)
   1038	20,000 Ft	Clacton

6. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing Enemy Coast: (IN)
   1100	24,000 Ft	51°12'N-02°55'E [Ostend, Belgium]

7. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing Enemy Coast: (Out)
   1349	10,000 Ft	51°09'N-02°43'E [Nieuwpoort-Bad, Belgium]

8. Time:	Height:	Place of Crossing English Coast: (IN)
   1427	5,000 Ft	Clacton

9. E.T.R.(Estimated Time of Return) Base: 1507 Hours
10. MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section: "G"
11. Bomb load of Each A/C: "B" Lead Box
    508 Squadron:
    509 Squadron: All A/C 14 x 250 G.P. [General Purpose] 1/10 Nose x 1/40 Tail [Fuses] Plus 4 M-17 I.B.'s [Incendiary Bomb]
    510 Squadron:
    511 Squadron:
    
    Bomb load of Each A/C: "B" High Box
    508 Squadron:
    509 Squadron:
    510 Squadron:
    511 Squadron:
    
    Bomb load of Each A/C: "B" Low Box
    508 Squadron:
    509 Squadron:
    510 Squadron:
    511 Squadron:
12. Fuel Load of each A/C: 2400 Gallons
    
13. Group Leader:
    a. Lead Squadron: Name: K.B. Carraway Rank: Major A/C: Z-7687  Sqdn. 511th
    b. High Squadron: Name: D.S. Anderson Rank: 1st Lt. A/C: V-8079 Sqdn. 510th
    c. Low Squadron: Name: C.E. Wolcott Rank: 1st Lt. A/C: Q-8116 Sqdn. 509th
14. Passengers, if any: (Full Name, Rank, A/C and Squadron Passenger flying with)
    None

Report Compiled By I.C. Muesing, S/Sgt.