Time Of Take-Off: 17:57 / Time Over Target: 19:35 / Time Landed: 21:10
37 B-26 aircraft loaded with 4x1000LB General Purpose bombs were dispatched to attack an enemy Bridge at Cherisy, France. After rendezvous with their Spitfire escort the formation proceeded onward toward the target. Aircraft 314 blew an oil line shortly after take-off and Lt. Tucker landed the ship at Chipping Ongar. Bjork in a/c 823 turned back 10 minutes after High Wycombe due to a fuel leak in his No.4 tank. Lt. Boylan in a/c 148 returned 10 minutes off the French coast when one of his engines experienced detonation and loss of power.
Weather conditions enroute were 6/10 medium cloud with 10 miles visibility, changing to nil cloud with 10 to 15 miles visibility over the target area.
No FLAK was encountered enroute, but Heavy, Moderate to Intense, Accurate FLAK was encountered over the target area. Two aircraft were lost from the low flight of the 1st box. According to witness statements, Colsch (#4 a/c 800) got a direct hit and collided with Boyd (#5 a/c 834) and at the same time Boyd got a direct hit. Both aircraft broke apart and went into a spin. Although no chutes were observed, Boyd was later found to have survived and evaded capture. Sadly the other 11 crew members were killed. Metelsky's EG, S/Sgt. George B. Mercer, was slightly wounded by FLAK. 2 aircraft and crews were lost and 11 aircraft sustained battle damage.
Photographic evidence showed a tight pattern of bursts from the 1st flight of the 1st box bracketed the embankment 400 feet ESE of the Designated Mean Point of Impact. with 3 probable bursts on embankment N of the bridge. A tight pattern of bursts from the 2nd flight was seen in open area 2 miles S of the Designated Mean Point of Impact. A scattered concentration of bombs from the 3rd flight fell 5,200 feet WSW of the Designated Mean Point of Impact and bracketed 2 railroad lines and a major roadway. Other bursts are in open areas. Results were rated as GOOD, GROSS, and GROSS respectively.
Photographic evidence showed a tight pattern of bombs from the 1st flight of the 2nd box falling 400 feet NNW of the Designated Mean Point of Impact with a probable hit on the embankment of the bridge and bursts in the river and open fields. A tight concentration of bombs from the 2nd flight bracketed the embankment 600 feet WSW of the Designated Mean Point of Impact. Results were rated as GOOD and FAIR respectively. the Primary Target was not attacked by the 3rd flight because smoke obscured the Primary Target therefore embankment W of the Primary Target attacked. The highway bridge and the intersection of the 2 railroad lines approximately 5,280 feet WSW of the Designated Mean Point of Impact were bracketed.
Logan in a/c 810 landed at airfield A-9 in Normandy, returning to base the following afternoon. Harlow commented that the left engine of his aircraft (268) lost power on the bomb run; then his right engine quit over the Channel on the way home. Thankfully, he made a successful single engine landing.