Mission No. 30
21 Apr 1944
Station: 166
Target: Gun position at Berck-Sur-Mer, France
Time Of Take-Off: 10:25 / Time Over Target: 11:59 / Time Landed: 12:55
38 B-26 were dispatched to attack an enemy "Noball" (V-1 Launch Site) at St. Pol/Siracourt, France. Each aircraft was loaded with 8x500LB General Purpose bombs with RAF Spitfires providing umbrella cover.
Although no FLAK was encountered over the target; Heavy, Intense, Accurate FLAK was encountered over St. Pol, Hesdin and Crecy forests, Auxiles, Chateau, and Frevent with 26 aircraft suffering battle damage.
Weather was 5/10 to 7/10 undercast over enemy territory, with hazy conditions making it impossible to identify the primary target. Consequently, the formation was forced to attack the target of last resort, which were enemy gun emplacements at Berck-sur-Mer.
2 aircraft (Walker/799 and Barker/809) were hit in the vicinity of the Initial Point after which both were seen with one engine smoking. Both left the formation after it crossed the enemy coast and landed safely at an emergency airfield at Manston, Kent.
277 bombs were dropped with results judged as poor to fair.
Crews reported that a silver B-26 crashed south of St. Omer with 2 parachutes seen, and a B-26 exploded east of Fruges. Both aircraft were from other groups.
Apart from the usual complaints about food, some crews reported that their quarters were too crowded, and that the ban on "Liberty Runs" should be lifted.

SECTION VALUE
Field Order:18
Reel:B0430
Page Start:1779
Mission:30
Date Order Sent:21 Apr 1944
Zero Hour (Day number + Time):211130b
Target(s) (Primary, Secondary, Alternate):Z3069 (p). MPI: 030032.
Fighter Escort:RAF Spitfires will furnish fighter umbrella in Target area.
Rendezvous:
Route Out:Base to Hastings to Berck-sur-mer to 50d30n/02d29e to IP to Target.
Route Back:Turn left to ? to 4 miles south of Berck-sur-mer to Hastings.
Altitudes:
Initial Point (IP):50d18n/02d32e
Axis of Attack:SE to NW.
Emergency Airdromes:
Intervalometer Setting:minimum
Bomb Load:8x500gp fused 1/10 sec nose and 1/40 sec tail.
Purpose/Notes/Time Over Target:Window will be used.
OPFLASH
SECTION VALUE
Reel: B0430
Page: 1778
Field Order: 18
A(i) Target Ordered: siracourt
A(ii) Target Attacked: gun position, berck-sur-mer
B(i) Group: 391
B(ii) No. Of A/C Off By Type: 38 B-26
B(iii) No. A/C Failing To Bomb: (weather-personnel-mechanical-other): 0-0-0-0
B(iv) No. A/C Bombing: (primary-secondary-other): 0-0-36 (Last Resort. 2 ships landed away from base unaccounted for).
C(i) Time Up: 10:25
C(ii) Time Over Target: 11:59
C(iii) Time Down: 12:55
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: poor to fair.
F(i)(A) Enemy Opposition Over Target: 0
F(i)(B) Enemy Opposition Elsewhere: 0
F(ii)(A) Flak Over Target: 0
F(ii)(B) Flak Elsewhere: HF I ACC from St. Pol, Hesdin, and Crecy forests, Auxiles, Chateau, Frevent. 26 a/c suffered battle damage.
G. info,Observations, Hot News: Silver B-26 crashed south of St. Omer, 2 parachutes seen. B-26 exploded East of Fruges. A/C from different formations.
H(i) Weather Affecting Bombing: 5/10 to 7/10 undercast over enemy territory, haze making it impossible to identify primary target.
H(ii) Weather En Route:
I. Bombs On: (primary-secondary-other-jettisoned-returned): 0-0-277-8-0 (500gp) Bombs for 2 a/c landed Manston unaccounted for.
J. Altitude Of Attack: 11500
View Crew Loading Lists for Mission No. 30
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
Earll
572
803-
Blute
572
947-U
Alexander
574
832-
Schleicher
572
811-
Walker
572
799-T
Baehr
574
835-T
Box #1 - High Flight
Roeper
572
806-M
Koehl
572
797-
Barker
572
809-O
Danforth
572
813-J
Crim
572
812-
McCarty
572
836-N
Schreiber
575
932-T
Box #1 - Low Flight
Jobe
572
815-R
Hall
572
012-F
Whitson
574
800-C
Aldridge
575
620-
Martin
575
827-
Lakin
575
844-
Fleck
575
716-O

Box #2 - Lead Flight
McNulty
943-
Dearing
573
802-P
Holliday
850-R
Thorn
573
822-O
Sloss
573
831-H
Snyder
575
845-J
Box #2 - High Flight
Armstrong
573
820-S
Baxter
575
846-
Daffern
573
801-G
Clark
573
842-D
Jacobs
573
850-R
Youse
573
830-
Majka
574
865-D
Box #2 - Low Flight
Adams
573
804-A
Shaffner
573
825-B
Logan
573
829-C
Porter
573
828-
Bollinger
575
853-S
Colsch
574
852-
Rutledge
575
805-