Mission No. 52
9 May 1944
Station: 166
Target: Coastal Defences at Etaples, France
Time Of Take-Off: 18:30 / Time Over Target: 19:30 / Time Landed: 20:00
On the second mission of the day, 37 B-26 were dispatched to attack enemy Coastal Defences at Etaples, France. All aircraft were loaded with 4x1000LB General Purpose bombs. The Field Order specified that bombing will be by flights of sixes on converging axes of attack with RAF Spitfires providing umbrella fighter cover over the target area.
Weather conditions enroute were hazy and the formation only experienced Weak, Inaccurate FLAK from 4 gun positions south of the target.
The results of the first box were rated as fair to good overall, with concentration on road and target area. The 3rd flight made 3 bomb runs on the target and their results were rated as good with concentration on the Aiming Point and target area.
The first flight of the second box dropped on their bomb run about 5 to 6 miles short of target. The bombs in the lead aircraft were accidentally salvoed when the selector handle in the bombardier's compartment was accidentally pushed into the salvo position instead of select. The rest of the flight took this for the signal to drop their bombs too.
The 2nd flight of the second box dropped short and left of the target, with the 3rd flight achieving a good concentration between the road and railway in the target area. 143 bombs were dropped in total.
Requests for sun glasses and gloves continue, as well as complaints about cold food in the mess.

SECTION VALUE
Field Order:47
Reel:B0432
Page Start:886
Mission:52
Date Order Sent:9 May 1944
Zero Hour (Day number + Time):091830b
Target(s) (Primary, Secondary, Alternate):5001E/J/236
Fighter Escort:RAF Spitfires will provide umbrella support in target area.
Rendezvous:
Route Out:Base to Hastings to 50d20n/01d15e to Target.
Route Back:turn left to Hastings to base.
Altitudes:
Initial Point (IP):50d20n/01d15e
Axis of Attack:55 Degrees.
Emergency Airdromes:West Malling.
Intervalometer Setting:50 feet
Bomb Load:4x1000gp fused 1/10 sec nose and 1/40 sec tail.
Purpose/Notes/Time Over Target:the 391st will leave Hastings at zero hour plus 35 min and zero hour plus 50 min. bombing will be by flights of sixes on converging axes of attack.
OPFLASH
SECTION VALUE
Reel: B0432
Page: 885
Field Order: 47
A(i) Target Ordered: 5001E/J/236
A(ii) Target Attacked: 5001E/J/236
B(i) Group: 391
B(ii) No. Of A/C Off By Type: 37 B-26
B(iii) No. A/C Failing To Bomb: (weather-personnel-mechanical-other): 0-0-1-0 (bomb rack malfunction)
B(iv) No. A/C Bombing: (primary-secondary-other): 36-0-0
C(i) Time Up: 18:30
C(ii) Time Over Target: 19:30
C(iii) Time Down: 20:00
D(i) No A/C: (missing-destroyed-damaged(cat. B-A/C)-Damaged(Cat. A)): 0-0-0-1
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: fair to good (box1)
F(i)(A) Enemy Opposition Over Target: 0
F(i)(B) Enemy Opposition Elsewhere: 0
F(ii)(A) Flak Over Target: HF W INACC, 12/15 bursts from 4 gun positions south of target.
F(ii)(B) Flak Elsewhere: 0
G. info,Observations, Hot News:
H(i) Weather Affecting Bombing: hazy.
H(ii) Weather En Route: hazy.
I. Bombs On: (primary-secondary-other-jettisoned-returned): 143-0-0-0-5 (1000gp)
J. Altitude Of Attack: 12000
View Crew Loading Lists for Mission No. 52
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
Sellers
572
803-
Sloss
572
673-
Clark
572
809-O
Samuel
573
943-F
Bollinger
573
820-
Dearing
573
825-B
Box #1 - High Flight
Thorn
573
822-O
Baxter
573
890-K
Hartman
572
810-C
Boone
573
850-R
Porter
573
828-
Dillard
572
811-G
Box #1 - Low Flight
La Framboise
574
248-F
Youse
572
813-
Colsch
572
008-
Snyder
572
819-
Goodson
572
836-M
Bjork
572
972-

Box #2 - Lead Flight
Olfson
572
806-
Fleck
575
843-J
Tucker
575
671-
Mitchell
575
268-K
Jacobi
575
932-J
Lakin
575
827-
Box #2 - High Flight
Stalnaker
575
950-
Martin
575
846-P
Harlow
575
853-F
Hanish
574
798-K
Sullivan
574
800-C1
Schreiber
574
838-B
Smith
574
839-
Box #2 - Low Flight
O'Hare
575
808-C
Petrich
575
805-
Wilkinson
574
841-S
Jannsen
574
852-A
Kiedinger
574
818-
Dewitt
574
597-P