Mission No. 79
1 Jun 1944
Station: 166
Target: Coastal Defences at Hermanville, France
Time Of Take-Off: 16:25 / Time Over Target: 18:37 / Time Landed: 19:35
32 of the group's aircraft plus 2 Pathfinder aircraft were dispatched to attack enemy Coastal Defences at Hermanville, France. Each aircraft was loaded with 2x2000LB General Purpose bombs with bombing to be done by boxes of 16 aircraft. After take-off, the formation proceeded to Beachy Head to rendezvous with their P-47 fighter escort before proceeding towards the French coast. However, according to reports, the escort were late in arriving at the rendezvous. Lt. Sloss in 42-95947 returned to base as his aircraft could not keep up with the formation.
The Pathfinder pilot leading the 1st box stated that they were 12.5 minutes late leaving Beachy Head, and 9.5 minutes late arriving at the Initial Point of the bomb run. Consequently, they could not use the special radio-navigation equipment fitted to Pathfinder aircraft in order to bomb. Bomber Command told the box leader to take over just before French coast. The Pathfinder stayed "in the slot" (No. 4 position) and followed on the 1st run but pulled out before 2nd run.
Weather over the target was 8 to 10 tenths cloud cover. The formation encountered 12 bursts of Inaccurate FLAK as they passed close to Caen, but no aircraft were damaged.
On their first run on the target, 9 tenths cloud cover obscured the target. On their 2nd run, they were able to drop 30 bombs through a brief gap in the clouds although the results were unobserved. The 2nd box did not drop because they were unable to locate the target through the cloud cover.
Complaints concerning lack of passes, transportation to and from hardstands, and food continue.

SECTION VALUE
Field Order:81
Reel:B0434
Page Start:299
Mission:79
Date Order Sent:1 Jun 1944
Zero Hour (Day number + Time):011730b
Target(s) (Primary, Secondary, Alternate):4901W/J/62.
Fighter Escort:p-47s will furnish escort for 391st group and area cover for 322nd.
Rendezvous:With fighters at Beachy Head at 11000 feet and at 11500 feet at zero hour minus 21 min and zero hour minus 20 min.
Route Out:Base to Beachy Head to 49d50n/00d33e to 49d16n/00d39e to target.
Route Back:target turn right to Beachy Head to base.
Altitudes:1st box, 11000 feet; 2nd box, 11500 feet.
Initial Point (IP):
Axis of Attack:270 Degrees.
Emergency Airdromes:
Intervalometer Setting:70 feet
Bomb Load:2x2000gp fused 1/10 sec nose and 1/40 sec tail.
Purpose/Notes/Time Over Target:
OPFLASH
SECTION VALUE
Reel: B0434
Page: 293
Field Order: 81
A(i) Target Ordered: Hermanville C/D
A(ii) Target Attacked: Hermanville C/D
B(i) Group: 391
B(ii) No. Of A/C Off By Type: 32 B-26 plus 2 PFF ships.
B(iii) No. A/C Failing To Bomb: (weather-personnel-mechanical-other): 0-0-0-0-2-16 (2 PFF did not drop, 16 clouds obscured target, 1 unable to join formation due to clouds RTB)
B(iv) No. A/C Bombing: (primary-secondary-other): 15-0-0
C(i) Time Up: 16:25
C(ii) Time Over Target: 18:37
C(iii) Time Down: 19:35
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: unobserved, 1st box made 2 runs on targetbefore dropping bombs.
F(i)(A) Enemy Opposition Over Target: nil
F(i)(B) Enemy Opposition Elsewhere: nil
F(ii)(A) Flak Over Target: 12 bursts inaccurate from Caen area.
F(ii)(B) Flak Elsewhere: HFF barrage over Le Havre at another formation.
G. info,Observations, Hot News:
H(i) Weather Affecting Bombing: 8 to 10 tenths (clouds).
H(ii) Weather En Route: clear over channel, 6 to 8 tenths, tops 10000, base 2000 over M.N.
I. Bombs On: (primary-secondary-other-jettisoned-returned): 30-0-0-2-32 (2000gp). 0-0-0-0-8 (600gp)
J. Altitude Of Attack: 11000
View Crew Loading Lists for Mission No. 79
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
Smith
1PFS
878-X
Sellers
573
801-
Boylan
573
634-J
Bjork
573
828-
Box #1 - High Flight
Shaffner
572
834-B
Baxter
572
748-Q
Clark
573
810-W
Logan
572
809-
Cassiday
572
008-L
Youse
572
811-
Box #1 - Low Flight
Armstrong
573
820-S
Dillard
573
806-
Dearing
572
812-D
Snyder
573
823-
Bollinger
573
595-
Colsch
573
978-
Sloss
572
947-U

Box #2 - Lead Flight
Hipp
1PFS
706-C
Stalnaker
574
873-
Wilkinson
575
268-K
Tucker
575
671-
Box #2 - High Flight
Kelley
574
931-F
Schreiber
575
615-A
Sullivan
575
848-N
Wolfe
574
800-C
Harlow
572
673-
Kiedinger
574
839-G
Box #2 - Low Flight
Olfson
574
927-N
Martin
574
818-L
Rutledge
574
739-
Petrich
575
808-C
Jacobi
575
932-
Lakin
574
832-H
Ruble
575
855-R