Time Of Take-Off: 07:41 / Time Over Target: 09:14 / Time Landed: 10:35
36 B-26 aircraft plus 2 spare aircraft were dispatched to attack an enemy Railroad Junction at Valonges, France. Aircraft were loaded with 8x500LB General Purpose bombs except the 3rd flights of each box which were loaded with 14x250LB General Purpose bombs. Bombing was to be done by boxes of 18 aircraft at 11,500 feet or below the cloud layer. Allied fighters will again be providing area cover for all groups participating. Barker in aircraft 028 turned back at 08:33 due his tachometer and manifold pressure instruments failing.
There was 7/10 to nil cloud cover enroute to the target, and 7/10 to 9/10 patchy clouds at 9,000 feet forcing the formation to drop to around 8,000 feet in order to see the target. Heavy, Intense, Accurate FLAK was experienced over the target damaging 30 of the formation's aircraft, 10 of these seriously.
S/Sgt. Roy J. McKinney of Baehr's crew in a/c 634 received a slight wound when his fingers were cut by flak. Baehr reported that his aircraft was "shot all to hell". Baehr made an emergency landing at Friston airfield near the English coast.
Walker's bombardier in aircraft 747, 2/Lt. Gustav D. Kjosness, bravely closed the bomb bay doors after FLAK severed an artery in his right leg; sadly, he died of his wounds shortly afterwards. Also in Walker's aircraft, S/Sgt. Eldon A. Lukes (EG) was slightly wounded when pieces of an exploding cartridge hit him in the face, and 2/Lt. John N. Nitto (CP) was slightly wounded in the face by shattered plexiglass. Walker's aircraft had 38 flak holes, rad out, hydraulic system shot out, and the right engine caught fire on the ground due to a gas line being cut. Walker made an emergency landing at an unspecified airfield, but probably Friston.
Lowe's navigator in aircraft 808, 2/Lt. J. Callahan was slightly wounded on his face by shattered plexiglass. Lowe reports that the damage will put this ship out of operations for 2 or 3 days.
Bird's Radio Operator/Gunner in aircraft 803, T/Sgt. Robert E. Hammond (Waist Gunner) was also slightly wounded by a plexiglass splinter in his eye. Bird reported that the damage to this ship will keep it out of operations for 1 day.
The 3 flights of the 1st box made 2 runs on the target and dropped as a box with the bombs hitting a road intersection and residential area as a loose concentration 650 feet southwest of the aiming point. Results were rated as FAIR. The bombs of the 2nd flight of the 2nd box were dropped in a tight concentration hitting a road and residential area 650 feet north of the aiming point. Results were also rated as FAIR. After making 3 runs on the target, the bombs of the 1st and 3rd flights of the 2nd box hit a residential area 400 feet east of the aiming point in a loose concentration. Results were rated as GOOD. A total of 184 (500LB) and 176 (250LB) bombs were dropped on the target with the results rated as GOOD overall.
Complaints from the crews concerning the food in both Officer's and Enlisted Men's messes continue. Danforth states that the hot cakes for breakfast were poor to fly on.