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.