Time Of Take-Off: 17:45 / Time Over Target: 19:10 / Time Landed: 20:25
36 B-26 plus 3 window ships flying in front of the main formation were dispatched to attack enemy Installations at Bonnieres, France. Aircraft in the 1st box were loaded with 4x1000LB General Purpose bombs, with 8x500LB General Purpose bombs in the 2nd box. As per the last mission, bombing will be by flights of sixes on converging axes of attack with RAF Spitfires providing umbrella fighter cover over the target area.
Two aircraft in the lead flight did not take off due to mechanical problems. As one of these was the flight leader, deputy lead Armstrong in ship 012 assumed lead of the first flight. Hazy weather conditions were experienced enroute and over the target area. Lt. Harlow in a/c 848 left the formation mid-channel with his right engine smoking. He returned to England and landed at another airfield.
There was steady and heavy FLAK for 4 to 6 minutes from the initial point of the bomb run to after turning off target. The formation also encountered moderate to intense, Accurate FLAK, the first burst was an intense barrage right in the formation. Over the target, Captain Frank Adams in ship 829 received a direct FLAK hit in his left engine. After bombs were salvoed, the aircraft descended under control until 3 parachutes were seen leaving from rear of aircraft, and 2 from the bomb bay. It was later learnt that all crew had survived and became POWs.
Although the 1st flight of the 1st box made 2 runs on the target, the target was not attacked as parachutes were observed over the target, and the flight leader (Armstrong) decided to bomb a casual target near the primary target. The 2nd flight of the 1st box made 3 runs on the target, but could not identify it and did not drop, although the 3rd flight bombed with results rated as good. The 2nd box flights also made 2 runs on the target, with the results of the 1st flight undetermined, and the 2nd and 3rd flights rated poor. 40 bombs were dropped by the first box and 144 bombs were dropped by the second, with overall results judged as unobserved.
Although window was scattered in front of the formation to confuse the enemy FLAK radar, 24 aircraft suffered battle damage with 2 of these suffering severe damage (Category B). Some crews thought that window was not effective as it should have been scattered at a lower altitude than the formation was flying, others assumed that window was ineffective because the FLAK batteries were aiming visually.
41-35012 (Armstrong and crew) Hydraulic system shot out, landing gear inoperative, belly landing washed ship out.
41-31972 (Martin and crew) Hydraulic system shot out, emergency bottle used, a/c ran off end of runway, landing gear collapsed, ground tore into fuselage, a/c washed out. 2/Lt. Bombardier Wayne R. Palmer was slightly wounded by flying glass caused by flak.
moderate to intense accurate FLAK, first burst was an intense barrage right in the formation.
F(ii)(B) Flak Elsewhere:
For 4 to 6 minutes steady HFF from IP to after turning off target.
G. info,Observations, Hot News:
no.1, 3rd flight, lead box hit in left engine by HFF just as bombs dropped on PT. Peeled out of formation to left and glided down well under control. 5 chutes definitely seen, possible 6.
H(i) Weather Affecting Bombing:
hazy.
H(ii) Weather En Route:
hazy.
I. Bombs On: (primary-secondary-other-jettisoned-returned):