Mission No. 77
30 May 1944
Station: 166
Target: Bridge at Mantes-Gassicourt
The Mantes-Gassicourt Highway Bridge over the Seine came under attack of the 391st at 1147 Hours on May 30. The mission was directed by Field Order 78-338, 99th Bomb Wing, and thirty-eight planes were dispatched at 0930 hours, each carrying two 2000-pound General Purpose Bombs.
Bombing was done by flights of sixes, with the following results interpreted from the strike photos:
Box 1:
1st Six: Poor. Bombs fell approximately 1200 feet West of the desired M.P.I
2nd Six: Excellent. In a tight concentration, bursts occurred on and beside the M.P.I, with hits on the bridge.
3rd Six: Excellent. A scattered pattern of bombs landed on and next to the desired M.P.I, with hits on the bridge.
Box 2:
1st Six: Excellent. Also falling in scattered concentration bombs fell on and beside the desired M.P.I, scoring hits on the bridge.
2nd Six: No photo coverage. Oil on the lenses. (Group Bombardier reported excellent results, on the basis of visual observation)
3rd Six: Unknown. Smoke in area prevented adequate coverage.
There were no losses, damage or casualties, and the planes returned to base at 1323 hours.

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
Miller
572
803-K
7
Hall
572
810-C
9
Holliday
572
978-Q
18
Dickinson
572
834-B
8
Reynolds
572
801-G
19
Walker
572
819-H
13
Box #1 - High Flight
Schleicher
572
811-G
6
Smith
572
820-S
22
Blute
572
748-Q
6
Barker
572
809-O
16
Dewitt
572
982-O
23
Mccarty
572
836-N
16
Box #1 - Low Flight
Jobe
572
673-A
8
Crim
572
823-N
21
Jacobs
572
719-F
13
Whitson
572
799-T
15
Fry
572
828-L
24
Koehl
572
842-D
28
Ruble
575
810-W
26

Box #2 - Lead Flight
Bush
574
873-U
31
Evans
574
595-V
17
Metelsky
574
839-G
37
Alexander
574
815-W
36
Lowder
574
855-R
45
Carson
574
811-V
47
Box #2 - High Flight
Bird
574
832-H
36
Garwick
574
678-M
41
Stanfield
574
268-K
44
Salmon
574
812-D
9
Newman
574
671-L
40
Lowe
574
615-A
41
Box #2 - Low Flight
Barger
574
836-B
35
Watson
574
806-M
14
Wolfe
574
739-O
31
Majka
574
865-D1
34
Callison
574
818-L
30
Sullivan
574
800-C
35
Tucker
575
833-U
47
Box #2 - Spare Flight
Spare Lead
574
931-F
34
Spare Ship
574
927-N
32
Spare Ship
573
634-S
17