Mission No. 54
10 May 1944
Station: 166
Target: Marshaling Yards at Douai and Tourcoing, France
Time Of Take-Off: 16:40 / Time Over Target: 17:57 / Time Landed: 19:05
On the second mission of the day, 38 B-26 were dispatched to attack an enemy Marshaling Yard at Mons, France. All aircraft were loaded with 14x250LB General Purpose bombs. Bombing will be by flights of sixes on converging axes of attack, with instructions to make a second bomb run if necessary. For the first time, 9th Air Force P-38 fighters will be providing escort.
Weather conditions enroute were hazy with rain, sleet, and snow; with 8/10 to 10/10 medium clouds with tops at 6,000 to 8,000 feet. It was worse over the target, with 7/10 to 10/10 cumulus cloud and also with rain and sleet. Visibility was approximately 2-4 miles, with the 2 boxes bombing at the lower altitudes of 10,000 and 9,000 feet respectively instead of the usual 11,500 to 12,000 feet (NB 11,360 feet is 2 miles).
Visibility was poor with reports of various course deviations enroute and that flights were getting in each other's way into the target. The 1st flight of the first box attacked the secondary target of the Tourcoing Marshaling Yard as it did not pick up the primary target in time. Results were unknown due to lack of photographic evidence. The 2nd flight results were reported as excellent with bombs falling on the aiming point with direct hits on tracks and locomotive repair sheds. The 3rd flight did not bomb as they could not identify the target. Overall rating for the box was assessed as fair to good.
The results for the 1st flight of the second box were reported as poor with its bombs falling about 1/2 mile short of the target. Even though the 2nd flight flew at 8,000 feet to get under the cloud, it did not drop due to not being able to identify the target. The 3rd flight results were reported as poor with its bombs landing in a field 3/4 mile northwest of the target. Overall rating for the box was assessed as poor.
Weak, Inaccurate FLAK was encountered near Lille Vendeville airfield, and one flight (NB possibly the 2nd flight of the 2nd box) encountered Moderate, Accurate FLAK when it went near the edge of Ostend. 252 bombs were dropped on the primary target and 95 on the secondary. 185 bombs were returned to base.
There were many complaints from crew that the weather forecasts and the weather briefing were very poor, and that missions should be scrubbed when weather conditions are such as that experienced today.

SECTION VALUE
Field Order:49
Reel:B0432
Page Start:1184
Mission:54
Date Order Sent:10 May 1944
Zero Hour (Day number + Time):101700b
Target(s) (Primary, Secondary, Alternate):z830 (p). MPI: 032060. Z835 (s).
Fighter Escort:9th AF P-38s will furnish escort.
Rendezvous:with fighters at North Foreland at 11500 feet at zero hour plus 30 minutes.
Route Out:Base to North Foreland to Furnes to 50d32n/02d53e to target.
Route Back:turn left to Tournai to Waereghem to Furnes to North Foreland to base.
Altitudes:
Initial Point (IP):50d32n/02d53e
Axis of Attack:160 Degrees
Emergency Airdromes:
Intervalometer Setting:minimum
Bomb Load:14x250gp fused inst nose, 1/100 tail.
Purpose/Notes/Time Over Target:bombing will be by flights of sixes on converging axes of attack. If bombs are not dropped on first run, a second run will be made.
OPFLASH
SECTION VALUE
Reel: B0432
Page: 1182
Field Order: 49
A(i) Target Ordered: Douai M/Y
A(ii) Target Attacked: Douai M/Y and Tourcoing
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): 0-0-1-13 (3 bombs hung up, weather)
B(iv) No. A/C Bombing: (primary-secondary-other): 18-7-0
C(i) Time Up: 16:40
C(ii) Time Over Target: 17:57
C(iii) Time Down: 19:05
D(i) No A/C: (missing-destroyed-damaged(cat. B-A/C)-Damaged(Cat. A)): 0-0-0-6
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: Douai, fair to good; Secondary, poor.
F(i)(A) Enemy Opposition Over Target: nil
F(i)(B) Enemy Opposition Elsewhere: nil
F(ii)(A) Flak Over Target: nil
F(ii)(B) Flak Elsewhere: HF W INACC from Lille Vendeville A/D. HF M ACC encountered by one flight which went near edge of Ostend.
G. info,Observations, Hot News:
H(i) Weather Affecting Bombing: 7/10 to 10/10 cumulus, base 9000 to 11000 feet, rain, sleet. Visibility 2-4 miles.
H(ii) Weather En Route: rain, sleet, snow, 8/10 to 10/10 medium clouds, tops 6000 -8000 feet, high cloud base 10000-12000 feet, very hazy, visibility 2 to 4 miles.
I. Bombs On: (primary-secondary-other-jettisoned-returned): 252-95-0-0-185 (250gp)
J. Altitude Of Attack: 10000 (P), 9000 (S)
View Crew Loading Lists for Mission No. 54
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
Loesch
574
873-U
Dauteuil
575
847-H
Metelsky
574
839-G
Hollis
574
927-
Callison
574
865-
Wolfe
574
597-
Box #1 - High Flight
Barger
575
853-
Horridge
574
798-K
Evans
575
833-U
Alexander
575
843-J
Lowe
575
846-
Watson
575
932-
Box #1 - Low Flight
Salmon
574
248-
Watkinson
574
818-
Newman
575
671-
Shofner
574
800-
Garwick
574
841-S
Stanfield
574
840-R
Talton
575
268-

Box #2 - Lead Flight
Erickson
572
803-
Baehr
572
810-C
Hanlon
572
813-J
Schleicher
572
811-G
Blute
572
819-H
Barker
572
809-O
Box #2 - High Flight
Roeper
573
634-
McCarty
572
836-N
Alexander
572
008-
Dickinson
572
834-B
Reynolds
572
972-
Walker
572
673-A
Box #2 - Low Flight
Jobe
573
822-
Smith
573
823-
Dewitt
573
828-L1
Whitson
573
825-B
Crim
573
831-
Jacobs
573
820-S1
Holliday
573
850-