Target: Enemy Gun Positions at Foret De Cattenom, France
Time Of Take-Off: 08:41 / Time Over Target: 10:43 / Time Landed: 12:35
36 B-26 aircraft loaded with 4x1000LB General Purpose bombs were dispatched to attack enemy Gun Positions at Foret De Cattenom, France. General Patton has asked the Air Forces to reduce strong points which threaten to hold up completely any further advances. These strong points are a combination of troops, concrete gun emplacements, and field defenses which are being continually reinforced. No Allied troops will be within 1500 yards of any of the assigned targets. P-51s of 19th TAC will be furnishing area cover from 4937n0500e to target and will withdraw with the last group.
Weather enroute was 5/10 clouds at the English coast with tops at 7,000 feet changing to nil clouds 5 miles visibility up sun over the target area.
No FLAK was encountered enroute or over the target area.
Interpretation of the bombing photographs showed that the bombs of the 1st flight of the 1st box fell in a tight pattern bracketing the Designated Mean Point of Impact and falling 100 feet W of Designated Mean Point of Impact, with several probable hits on center gun position and hits along N edge of fort. After making a second bomb run, the 2nd flight's bombs fell in a tight pattern 600 feet ESE of selected MPI across a roadway and in open fields. A dispersed pattern of bursts from the 3rd flight was seen 1 mile NE of the Designated Mean Point of Impact in open fields. Results were assessed as EXCELLENT, FAIR, and GROSS respectively.
A tight pattern of bombs from the 1st flight of the 2nd box fell 500 feet NNW of the Designated Mean Point of Impact along N edge of fort and in open areas. The bombs from the 2nd flight fell in a tight pattern 200 W of the Designated Mean Point of Impact bracketing the N gun position and the W side of the fort. The 3rd flight's fell in a tight pattern of bursts visible 1,000 feet NE of the Designated Mean Point of Impact with hits on the NE side of fort and in open fields. Results were judged to be FAIR, EXCELLENT, and FAIR respectively.