36 B-26 aircraft were dispatched to attack an enemy Fuel Dump at Senoches, France. Aircraft were loaded with 16x250LB General Purpose bombs. After take off, 3 aircraft "just went around the pattern" due to various mechanical problems (Thorn, right engine; Sellers, oil leak; Hanlon, left wheel did not retract) and returned to base. The remainder of the formation headed to Worthing on the south coast of England to meet their P-47 escorts from IX Fighter Command.

Weather conditions enroute were 8/10 to 10/10 clouds from base to inside French coast. It is unclear from the reports why the primary or secondary target was not attacked, and so it is assumed that weather conditions resulted in either a navigation error or the primary target was obscured by cloud. The reason is likely to be the former as, at debrief, one crew stated that no plane in the 1st box had GEE and that navigation was poor as a result. In fact, 4 targets of opportunity were attacked including a railroad junction, sidings, and tracks. The weather conditions were reported as 3/10 to 5/10 clouds at 5,000 feet over the target area.

The formation encountered Heavy, Intense, Accurate FLAK in the target area near Foret de Dreux. 2 aircraft (those of Petrich and Hartman) were shot down resulting in 12 crew members being reported as missing in action (Note: Details of these can be found by clicking the links inside the red aircraft below).

2 aircraft received battle damage with 6 crew members receiving wounds. T/Sgt. Thomas T. Lawson, Stalnaker's Radio Operator/Gunner in a/c 821, was seriously wounded. 2/Lt. Richard S. Molner, Jannsen's Co-Pilot in a/c 671, was slightly wounded by flak. Three Bombardiers were slightly wounded: 2/Lt. John A. Garside (with Kiedinger a/c 615), S/Sgt. Thomas J. Milton (with Dearing a/c 802), 2/Lt. Joseph A. Baker (with Armstrong a/c 820).

Crews reported that one FW 190 shot down one P-47 near Lisieux, and observed that troops in woods at Foret de Dreaux had fires burning and extinguished them when the formation went over.

"Hot News" from the reports states "1 P-47 seen shot down over Caen by flak. 2 chutes definitely seen to open from a/c 811. 1 B-26 seen to go down over the target. 1 B-26 caught fire and levelled off near ground. Lone chute drifting down near the target reported by 2 crews, lone chute not from our group. a/c silver burning on ground at R-2446. 1 a/c seen on ground at St Andre (fighter) presumably e/a. 6 JU-88 seen on ground at R-1649. 4 to 6 dinghies seen in the Channel at 50d20n/01d10w at 1125 hours."