Time Of Take-Off: 17:38 / Time Over Target: 19:11 / Time Landed: 20:35
38 B-26 aircraft loaded with 18x260LB M-81 Fragmentation bombs were dispatched to attack an enemy Troop River Crossing at Rouen, France. A heavy concentration of enemy transport and tanks in target area are jammed along roads at river side attempting to cross by ferry. Dive bombers have been attacking for several days but cannot cope with so large a concentration. Two groups of 98th Wing have similar target one mile east and one group of the 97th Wing will attack directly south of the 391st's target. Troop line runs west to East Lisieux to Elbeuf. None of our forces north of this line. Spitfires of 11 Group will provide cover in the target area.
Stubbs in a/c 813 made a crash landing after his aircraft experienced an engine failure on take-off. Thankfully, the crew survived and only sustained minor cuts and bruises although the aircraft was declared beyond repair. Willis and crew, flying as a spare in aircraft 295, went to Selsey Bill with the formation but turned back as they were not required. Dickinson in a/c 806 also returned from Selsey Bill because his right engine was cutting out. The remaining 35 aircraft proceeded towards the target.
Weather conditions enroute were 10/10 cloud cover over southern England, with a break in the clouds about 15 miles beyond English coast. This improved to hazy with four to six miles visibility over the target area.
No FLAK was encountered enroute, the formation encountered Heavy, Moderate to Intense, Accurate FLAK over the target area. 22 aircraft sustained battle damage. 2/Lt. Clyde W. Nelson, Kiedinger's co-pilot in a/c 615, was slightly wounded by flak.
A concentration of bombs from the 1st flight of the 1st box fell about 400 feet E of the Designated Mean Point of Impact across warehouses, roads, and railroad tracks starting fires on roads. 2 a/c accidentally released early hitting about 2 1/2 miles SW of the Target Area across road and railroad. A concentration of bombs from the 2nd flight fell about 2,200 feet NE of the Designated Mean Point of Impact across river and and warehouses along river. Results were rated as GOOD and GROSS respectively. The Photo Interpreters were unable to assess the bombing by the 3rd flight as the target was obscured by smoke on the photographs.
No photo coverage for the 1st flight of the 1st box was available due to evasive action. A dispersed concentration of bombs from the 2nd flight fell about 1,000 feet NE of the Designated Mean Point of Impact across roads and warehouses with probable hits on motor vehicles. A concentration of bombs from the 3rd flight fell about 2,800 feet NE of the Designated Mean Point of Impact into smoke of previous flight with probable hits on warehouses along river. Results were rated as FAIR and GROSS respectively.
Whitson in a/c 719 dropped out after the 1st bomb run and headed toward St. Valery. He was later seen going SW along the French coast toward the beach head on a single engine. Whitson later landed at one of the Forward Operating Bases in Normandy. He stated that his right engine was out. Metelsky in a/c 839 landed at A-13 (394th Bomb Group) on account of an oil leak on the return route. One tachometer was out and the right engine cylinder head temperature was too high. Alexander in a/c 819 was seen flying on a single engine over the Channel under control. He later landed at RAF West Malling.
B(iii) No. A/C Failing To Bomb: (weather-personnel-mechanical-other):
0-0-2-1 (2 mechanical: 1 a/c crashed on take off due to engine failure, 1 a/c returned from Selsey Bill due to engine cutting out; 1 other: spare returned from Selsey Bill), 3 a/c landed away from base.
B(iv) No. A/C Bombing: (primary-secondary-other):
35-0-0
C(i) Time Up:
17:38
C(ii) Time Over Target:
19:11
C(iii) Time Down:
20:35
D(i) No A/C: (missing-destroyed-damaged(cat. B-A/C)-Damaged(Cat. A)):
0-1-0-22 (1 destroyed, crashed on take-off; 22 Cat A damaged, flak at target)