Mission 49

Mission Summaries > April 1944

MONDAY, 10 APRIL 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 295:

729 bombers and 496 fighters are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets and airfields in Belgium and France; 3 bombers and 2 fighters are lost.

238 B-17s are dispatched to bomb aviation industry targets in Belgium; 123 bomb the aviation industry and airfield at Evere, 52 hit Brussels/Melsbroek Airfield, 39 hit aviation industry targets at Brussels, and 20 hit Bergen op Zoom; 1 B-17 is lost and 99 damaged; casualties are 4 WIA and 10 MIA.

248 B-17s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets and airfields in Belgium and France; in Belgium, 62 hit Maldagem Airfield, 60 hit Diest/Schaffen Airfield and 42 hit Florennes/Juzaine Airfield; in France, 21 hit Courcelles and 21 hit Beaumont sur Oise Airfield; they claim 0-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 19 damaged; casualties are 10 MIA.

243 B-24s are dispatched to hit the airfield and aviation industry targets; in France, 151 hit the airfield and aviation industry at Bourges, 28 hit Orleans/Bricy Airfield, 21 hit Romarantin Airfield and 15 hit V-weapon sites at Marquise/Mimoyecques; they claim 6-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-24 is lost and 3 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA.

The 445th Bomb Group got separated from the 2nd Bomb Wing formation due to clouds in the assembly area. Half of their unit formed up with the 20th Bomb Wing (448th BG – Wing Lead, followed by the 93rd and 446th BGs) and bombed the 20th Wing's primary target – Bourges Airfield and Aircraft Factory.

Escort is provided by 51 P-38s, 295 P-47s and 150 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s: P-38s have no claims or losses; P-47s claim 12-0-7 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-47 is lost and 4 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; P-51s claim 40-0-16 aircraft, 1 P-51 is lost and 1 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA.

Mission 296:

Three forces are dispatched on fighter-bomber missions; all include P-38 Droopsnoot aircraft: 39 P-38s are dispatched to attack Florennes/Juzaine Airfield, Belgium; no losses or claims; 51 P-38s and 7 P-47s are dispatched to attack St Dizier, France; the primary is cloud covered and 16 P-38s attack Coulommiers Airfield, France; 2 P-38s are lost and 1 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA; the P-47s claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 28 P-38s and 46 P-47s are dispatched to bomb Gutersloh, Germany; 1 P-38 is lost, the pilot is MIA.

Mission 297:

5 of 5 B-17s drop 2 million leaflets on Lille, Le Mans, Chartres, Reims and Orleans, France at 2212-2258 hours local without loss.

23 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

Target: Primary: Orléans, France - Bricy German Occupied Airfield Secondary: Bourges German Occupied Airdrome and Aircraft Factory
8th Air Force F.O. No:	295
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Tactical Mission Report:	Mission Data: Date: 10 Apr 44 Primary Target: Secondary Target: Last Resort Target: Units Participating: Narrative: Assembly: Climb: Route In: Bomb Run: Route Out: Enemy Fighters: Fighter Support: Flak:
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