Mission No. 53
10 May 1944
Station: 166
Target: Marshaling Yard at Mons, Belgium
Another railway marshalling yard, this one at Mons in Nazi-held Belgium, was the target for the Group's attack on the morning of May 10. As directed by 99th Combat Bomb Wing's Field Order 48-306, the Group dispatched thirty-eight B-26's at 0907 hours on a course to North Foreland to Furnes to Waregem to Nivelles to an Initial Point at 50 degrees, 30 minutes North, 04 degrees, 20 minutes East of the target, which was reached at 1036 hours. Royal Air Force Spitfires picked up the formation at North Foreland and escorted the bombers to the target. Thirty-seven of the Group's planes dropped two hundred ninety 500-pound General Purpose bombs on the target, only one failing to attack due to bomb rack malfunction. Results of the attack as quoted from first phase interpretation of the strike photo's were as follows:
Box1:
1st Six: Excellent results. The concentration fell beside the Aiming Point, all within the target area.
2nd Six: Good Results. The bombs fell about 150 yards left of the Aiming Point within the target area.
3rd Six: Good Results. The main concentration, falling approximately 300 yards to the left of the Aiming Point, hit within the target area. A minority of the bombs landed 1000 yards to the left of the Aiming Point, extending into a canal.
Box 2:
1st Six: Excellent results. The entire pattern fell within the target area, landing on the Aiming Point.
2nd Six: Good Results.
3rd Six: Excellent Results.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THIS MISSION FROM THE GROUP MISSION RECORDS IS AVAILABLE IN THE "CREW LOADLING LIST" SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE here


Box #1 - Lead Flight
Brandon
574
873-U
32
Garwick
574
841-S
29
Stanfield
574
840-R
29
Barger
574
950-A
48
Newman
574
835-T
31
Watson
574
865-D1
34
Box #1 - High Flight
Hollis
574
927-N
33
Callison
574
268-K
37
Wolfe
574
597-P
29
Shaffner
574
800-C
35
Evans
574
805-V
49
Dauteuil
574
843-J
35
Box #1 - Low Flight
Salmon-Sullens
574
248-V
30
Horridge
574
798-K
25
Watkinson
574
818-L
25
Bush
574
846-P
39
Alexander
574
853-F
39
Metelsky
574
839-G
26
Box #1 - Spare Flight
Spare Lead
573
943-F
16
Spare Ship
575
671-L
40

Box #2 - Lead Flight
Schleicher-Simpson
572
803-K
7
Blute
572
819-H
6
Barker
572
809-O
3
Jobe
572
811-G
6
Smith
572
008-L
8
Dewitt
572
813-J
7
Box #2 - High Flight
Roeper
572
806-M
1
Mccarty
572
836-N
1
Alexander
572
797-P
3
Dickinson
572
834-B
8
Reynolds
572
972-S
5
Walker
572
890-K
17
Box #2 - Low Flight
Earll
572
820-S
24
Baehr
572
810-C
9
Hanlon
572
823-N
21
Whitson
572
825-B
16
Crim
572
828-L
24
Jacobs
572
831-H
19
Holliday
572
850-R
24
Box #2 - Spare Flight
Spare
573
634-J
17