Mission 94 - 445BG

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Mission 94

Mission Summaries > June 1944
THURSDAY, 8 JUNE 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):


Mission 400:
1,178 bombers and 1,353 fighter sorties are flown on communications in France to isolate German forward elements, and airfields are bombed to prevent Luftwaffe support. Cloud conditions prevent 400+ bombers from executing attacks.

640 B-17s are dispatched to La Frilliere (66 bomb), Orleans (36 bomb), Rennes Airfield (30 bomb), Orleans / Les Aubrais marshalling yard (60 bomb), Nantes (25 bomb), La Huchetiere (31 bomb), Tours/La Riche (61 bomb) and Cinq Mars bridge (57 bomb); 18 hit Bruz, 2 hit Rennes and 13 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 63 damaged; 11 airmen are KIA and 10 MIA.

538 B-24s are dispatched to Pontaubault (67 bomb), Angers/St Laud (24 bomb), Angers (19 bomb), Le Mans/Arnage Airfield (14 bomb), Pontaubault (13 bomb), Nantes (42 bomb) and Cinq Mars bridge (55 bomb); 5 hit Dinon, 1 hits Precey, 1 hits Cinq Mars bridge, 30 hit Grandville Harbor, 19 hit a bridge at Rennes, 9 hit Precey and 26 hit targets of opportunity (Bourg); an attack on the Melun bridge by an Azon unit is foiled by clouds; 2 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 73 damaged; 17 airmen are KIA, 4 WIA and 20 MIA.

Escort for the bombers is provided by 116 P-51s; they claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost and 1 is damaged beyond repair.
Target:  Primary - Rennes, France - Rennes railroad bridge west of town
            Target of Opportunity - Bourges, France - German occupied airfield
8th Air Force Mission No:
400
Aircraft Taking Off:
35
Aircraft Dispatched:
32
Aircraft Aborts:
12
Aircraft Over Primary:
17
Aircraft Over Secondary:
0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:
6
Aircraft Bomb Load:
4 x 1,000 lb. AN-M44 General Purpose bombs (PFF aircraft)
4 x 2,000  lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:
8 x 1,000 lb. AN-M44 General Purpose bombs (PFF aircraft)
68 x 2,000 lb. AN-M34 General Purpose bombs
Results:
Primary - Unobserved
T/O - Unobserved
Tactical Mission Report:
445th Bomb Group Mission Report

    1.             A/C Scheduled -----------------------  35
                    A/C Airborne -------------------------  35
                    A/C Dispatched ----------------------  32
                    A/C Returned Early -----------------    0
                    A/C Over Target ---------------------  16
                   A/C Over T/O -------------------------   6
                   A/C Not Bombing --------------------  10
                    A/C Returned ------------------------  32

   2.   Assembly:  Assemblies were accomplished under adverse weather conditions, causing difficulties in all Combat Wings.

    3.   Route In:  Flown substantially as briefed.

    4.   Bomb Run:  All bomb groups were led by GH PFF aircraft; some Groups bombed visually.

    5.   Route Out:  Flown substantially as briefed.

    6.   Enemy Fighters:  None.

    7.   Fighter Support:  Excellent

    8.   Flak:  Minimal and inaccurate.
Losses:
     Two aircraft were lost on this mission.
MACR #
Note:
     None.
Rennes, France - Railroad bridge
Image courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration ©
Bourges, France - German occupied airfield
Image courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration ©
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