Mission No. 145
14 Aug 1944
Station: 166
Target: Triangular Railroad Junction at Epone Meziers, France
Time Of Take-Off: 08:44 / Time Over Target: 10:25 / Time Landed: 12:10
36 B-26 aircraft loaded with 4x1000LB General Purpose bombs were dispatched to attack a Triangular Railroad Junction at Epone Meziers, France. After rendezvous with their RAF 11 Group Spitfire escort the formation proceeded onward toward the target. Rice in a/c 148 had to return to base 7 minutes from the coast when his aircraft experienced mechanical trouble.
Weather conditions enroute were hazy over the Channel, changing to CAVU over the target area.
No FLAK was encountered enroute or over the target area.
Photographic evidence showed a dispersed pattern of bombs from the 1st flight of the 1st box fell about 800 feet NE of the Designated Mean Point of Impact with hits on railroad track and in open fields. A pattern of bombs from the 2nd flight fell into smoke about 400 feet N of the Designated Mean Point of Impact with one probable hit on railroad bridge. Results were rated as FAIR and GOOD respectively. No photo coverage was available for the 3rd flight; although sortie 907 from 1st 6 Box 2 shows smoke S of tracks, it was impossible to locate their bursts.
No photo coverage was available for the 1st and 3rd flights of the 2nd box. The 2nd flight's bombs bracketed the Designated Mean Point of Impact with hits on bridge and railroad tracks. Results were rated as EXCELLENT.
The Harlow crew commented that a B-26 was observed sitting in a farm yard 2 to 4 miles S of Coches? A/D that looked as if it had crash landed.
Lt. May (a/c 823) landed at RAF Dunsfold, returning to base later that afternoon. Bjork in a/c 806 reported that his Bombardier, Robert F. Elder, was slightly wounded when he was hit on his leg by "Brass Flak" (empty 50 cal cartridges from other aircraft in the formation). He suggested that gunners should watch their cartridges after clearing their guns.
Some crews have commented that they want to be grounded after they have completed their tour of 65 missions.

SECTION VALUE
Field Order:223
Reel:B0437
Page Start:481
Mission:145
Date Order Sent:14 Aug 1944
Zero Hour (Day number + Time):140900b
Target(s) (Primary, Secondary, Alternate):4801E/C/5
Fighter Escort:[RAF] 11 Group Spitfires will furnish area cover for the 344th group and escort for the 391st and 386th group.
Rendezvous:with fighters at 4919n0002w at 11500 feet at zero hour plus 60 min.
Route Out:base to Selsey Bill to F/R to 4855n0045e to 4856n0126e to 4843n0151e to target.
Route Back:turn left to 4856n0126e to 4855n0045e to 4919n0002w to Selsey Bill.
Altitudes:
Initial Point (IP):4843n0151e
Axis of Attack:350 degrees
Emergency Airdromes:NULL
Intervalometer Setting:30 feet
Bomb Load:4x1000gp 1/10 x 1/40
Purpose/Notes/Time Over Target:bombing will be done by flights.
OPFLASH
SECTION VALUE
Reel: B0437
Page: 489
Field Order: 0
A(i) Target Ordered: Epone Meziers Triangular RR Junction
A(ii) Target Attacked: Epone Meziers Triangular RR Junction
B(i) Group: 391
B(ii) No. Of A/C Off By Type: 36 B-26
B(iii) No. A/C Failing To Bomb: (weather-personnel-mechanical-other): 0-0-1-0 (returned from channel due to engine failure. Lacking information on one a/c which landed away from base)
B(iv) No. A/C Bombing: (primary-secondary-other): 34-0-0
C(i) Time Up: 08:44
C(ii) Time Over Target: 10:25
C(iii) Time Down: 12:10
D(i) No A/C: (missing-destroyed-damaged(cat. B-A/C)-Damaged(Cat. A)): 0-0-0-0
D(ii) Enemy A/C: (destroyed-prob. Destroyed-Damaged): 0-0-0
D(iii) No. Crew: (killed-wounded-missing): 0-0-0
E. Results Of Bombing: good to excellent
F(i)(A) Enemy Opposition Over Target: nil
F(i)(B) Enemy Opposition Elsewhere: nil
F(ii)(A) Flak Over Target: nil
F(ii)(B) Flak Elsewhere: nil
G. info,Observations, Hot News: B-26 seen sitting in a farmyard at R0459, looked as if it had crashed landed.
H(i) Weather Affecting Bombing: CAVU
H(ii) Weather En Route: hazy over channel.
I. Bombs On: (primary-secondary-other-jettisoned-returned): 135-0-0-1-4 (1000gp), 4 bombs unaccounted for.
J. Altitude Of Attack: 12500 and 11500
View Crew Loading Lists for Mission No. 145
DIAGRAM NOTES:

Pilot and crew are not shown on crew loading lists where Squadron field of aircraft is blank.

All aircraft not participating in this mission (e.g. Spares, Abortive) are shown in yellow.

All aircraft damaged by FLAK are shown in orange.


Box #1 - Lead Flight
Shaffner
573
825-B
25
Boylan
575
295-O
46
Youse
573
102-X
23
Bollinger
573
595-V
17
May
573
823-N
23
Rice
573
148-D
24
Box #1 - High Flight
Armstrong
573
822-O
24
Rutledge
573
802-P
21
Dillard
573
806-C
22
Bjork
572
806-M
14
Clapham
572
810-C
8
Dunn
572
313-Z
8
Box #1 - Low Flight
Boone
572
748-Q
6
Cassiday
573
841-A
28
Sloss
572
808-X
6
Holliday
573
252-Z
22
Love
572
813-J
7
Dewitt
572
815-R
16
Crim
572
812-D
9

Box #2 - Lead Flight
Kelley
575
847-H
41
Kirschke
575
743-W
40
Harlow
575
964-G
42
Ruble
575
853-F
39
Goodwin
575
678-M
40
Webster
575
837-N
39
Box #2 - High Flight
Harkins
574
931-F
34
Cude
575
843-J
45
Wilkinson
575
855-R
45
Jannsen
575
620-B
44
Saunders
574
807-J
36
Willis
574
838-B
35
Box #2 - Low Flight
Tucker
575
844-D
38
Jacobi
865-D
34
Kiedinger
574
818-L
29
Rutledge
574
597-P
32
Schreiber
574
248-V
30
Hall
574
144-K
42
Barker
314-H
29
Box #2 - Extra Flight/Spares
Spare Lead
911-G
6
Spare
008-L
1
Spare
841-S
3
Spare
295-O
46