Time Of Take-Off: 18:10 / Time Over Target: 20:10 / Time Landed: 22:00
36 B-26 aircraft were dispatched to attack an enemy Fuel Dump at Foret De Andaine, France. The bomb loading was varied: 2 aircraft per box 20x100LB GP bombs with 6 hour delay fuzes, 1 aircraft per box 20x100 GP bombs with 12 hour delay fuzes, 1 flight each group M-47 incendiary bombs, and the rest of the aircraft carrying 30x100 General Purpose bombs with instantaneous nose fuzes only. After rendezvous with their P-51 fighter escort the formation proceeded onward toward the target.
Weather conditions enroute were 6/10 to 9/10 with tops at 9,000 feet over England, nil cloud over the Channel improving to nil cloud, haze to 11,000 feet, visibility 1 to 3 miles over the target area.
The formation encountered Heavy, Weak to Moderate, Accurate to Inaccurate FLAK from Bonnebosq, Lisieux, Pont Audener, and Pont Leveque. However, no FLAK was experienced over the target area.
Photo analysis of the bombing by the 1st flight of the 1st box showed that their bombs fell outside the target area (3,500 feet from nearest edge of the target area) in a dispersed pattern across a main and minor roadway in a wooded area. The incendiary and H.H. bombs of the 2nd flight fell across the south end of the target area in a dispersed pattern across a main roadway in a wooded area. The 3rd flight's bombs fell outside the target area (8,400 feet from nearest edge of the target area) in a dispersed pattern in a wooded area crossing roadway.
Photo analysis showed smoke at the west edge of the target area which probably resulted from the bombs of the 1st flight of the 2nd box. Bombs from the 2nd flight fell across the west end of the target area in a dispersed pattern across a main roadway in wooded area. Bombs from the 3rd flight fell outside the target area (2,800 feet from nearest edge of the target area) in a concentrated pattern in wooded areas and across a major roadway. Results were reported by crews as good.
S/Sgt. Leo W. Fisher, Lowe's tail gunner, was injured by FLAK but luckily only suffered a slight bruise on his back. 4 enemy aircraft were seen at the French coast on the way back, which the P-51s from their escort attacked.
Lowe flying in the 3rd flight of the 1st box commented "This crew asks why not make 180 degree turn and come back over friendly territory, this flight apparently lost." Allied fighters (P-47s) were reported to have came towards the formation in a pursuit curve, which caused some anxiety. However, the Lowder crew remarked that the top turret gunner in Fry's ship in this flight fired 50 to 75 rounds at the P-51 escort !
with fighters at 4850n0137w at 11500 feet at zero hour plus 10 min.
Route Out:
Base to St Catherine's Point to 4942n0117w to F/R to Dol to Vitre to 4831n0045w to target.
Route Back:
turn right to 4848n0016w to 4908n0014e to 4919n0000 to St Catherine's Point.
Altitudes:
below cloud deck but not below 5000 feet.
Initial Point (IP):
4831n0045w
Axis of Attack:
70 degrees
Emergency Airdromes:
NULL
Intervalometer Setting:
75 feet
Bomb Load:
2 a/c per box 20x100gp 6 hour delay, 1 a/c per box 20x100gp 12 hour delay, 1 flight each group M-47 incend bombs, the rest of the a/c 30x100gp inst nose only.
Purpose/Notes/Time Over Target:
Bombing will be done by flights. Drop all remaining ZG-33 leaflet bombs. 50 yards on either side of road on photo I-16 and J-16.