HEADQUARTERS
AAF STATION No. 106
Office of the Intelligence Officer
SUBJECT: Deputy Group Leader's Narrative of Mission Flown on 8 May, 1944
TO: Commanding Officer, AAF Station 106, A.P.O. 557
The following is Narrative by 1st. Lt. GEORGE B. WEST, Deputy Group Leader in place of Group Leader who was lost on Mission flown 8 May, 1944.
1. Eighteen (18) aircraft (No Spares) of the 384th Bombardment Group (H) took off between 1600 and 1614 hours to attack "NOBALL" target at Sottevast, France. We were the High Group in the 41st. Combat Bombardment Wing.
| a. | Number of A/C taking off (No Spares): |
18
|
| Number of A/C attacking (any target): |
16
|
| Number of A/C not attacking: |
2
|
| Number of A/C returned to Bases (IN England): |
15
|
| Number of A/C unaccounted for: |
3
|
| Number of A/C known missing: |
3
|
b. A/C 510 (Lt. Jackson, pilot) landed away at FORD with #4 engine out presumed to be due to flak. Lt. Jackson has a leg injury, with no further word received, as yet. Bomb load of 3 X 1000 AP's were dropped on the target.
2. Three of our aircraft are missing.
a. A/C 211 (Lt. Allison, pilot and Capt. Jacobs, co-pilot and Group Leader) was lost approximately forty (40) seconds before the bomb release point as a result of continuously tracking flak. This aircraft received a direct burst beneath the pilot's compartment and ship started into a steep spiral. Two (2) men observed emerging and one (1) chute seen.
b. A/C 495 (Lt. Foster, pilot) was lost approximately one (1) minute before the bomb release point as a result of continuously tracking flak. This aircraft was #4 position in the Lead Squadron. A/C received a direct burst between tail and waist doors and went into a very steep uncontrollable dive, and was seen to hit the ground still burning. The tail gunner seemed to be blown out with no chutes observed.
c. A/C 081 (Lt. J.W. Brown, pilot) is missing. This A/C was hit by flak at the target and later ditched at approximately 50o00'N.-01o00'W. No further information has been received. (SEE BELOW).
3. Group assembled over the base as briefed without difficulty and rendezvoused with the Combat Wing was accomplished normally at Molesworth at 1702 hours, 9,000 feet. There was no division assembly. We departed the English Coast at 1803 hours over Portland Bill, 21,000 feet.
4. The route out was flown as briefed and both our Group and the Combat Wing were in good formation. we entered the enemy coast over Couville at 1852 hours, 20,800 feet.
5. The target was easily identified with C.A.V.U. weather prevailing. We went into the bomb run and approximately forty (40) seconds before bomb release point, our Lead Ship received a direct burst of flak and peeled off. Approximately twenty (20) seconds before we released our bombs, having taken over the Lead, we noticed another ship directly above us dropping his bombs so we made a slight turn to evade the bombs and then immediately went back on the bombing run. Our bombardier stated that the course had already been killed by the Lead Bombardier when bombs were released.
Word has just been received that 2nd Lt. C.W. Kuba (Bombardier), S/Sgt. G.H. Yeager (Tail Gunner) and another unidentified crew member who was still alive, were picked up by Air/Sea Rescue 15 miles north of Cherbourg, France and taken to Shoreham Hospital. Those men were from A/C 081 (Lt. J.W. Brown, pilot).
Throughout the entire bomb run, flak was intense and very accurate. Bombs were away at 1902 hours from 26,000 feet on a magnetic heading of 350 degrees. We immediately made a sharp turn losing 1,000 feet, gained another 500 feet and started descent. Bombing results were unobserved. No enemy aircraft were observed throughout the entire mission.
6. After leaving the target there were quite a few stragglers from our Group but finally reassembled at mid-Channel after slowing down. We departed the enemy coast as briefed at 1905 hours, 24,500 feet and recrossed the English coast over Selsey Bill at 1932 hours, 15,300 feet.
7. Fighter escort was generally as briefed.
8. It appears that the Lead and Low Groups of the Combat Wing were flying at our altitude (High Group) of 26,000 feet over the target. We would have climbed to 27,000 feet but the Lead Ship called in saying he was having engine trouble and could just make 26,000 feet. If all Groups of the Wing were at the same altitude, it would present a more vulnerable target for the ground defences.
| W.E. DOLAN Major, Air Corps, Station S-2 Officer. |
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