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A. TARGET: AMIENS MARSHALLING YARDS, FRANCE.  Amiens is strategically located between Paris and the low countries---and between Germany and the Channel ports. It is a major supply area for the defense against the expected cross-channel invasion from England. Aiming Point: Center of the target. We expect to hit engine & wagon repair sheds, loading sidings and any traffic found on the tracks running through the yard.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Moderate flak. Up to 40 fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 4 - 10001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Lead Bombardier for one box of 18 planes. (strike photo)

E. RESULTS:  No release due to heavy overcast in the target area.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #32    15 FEBRUARY 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 103-107)

A. TARGET: SOTTEVAST V --J ROCKET LAUNCH SITE, NEAR CHERBOURG, FRANCE.  This installation is being readied for the vertical launching of large rocket-type projectiles at London. This is a TOP-PRIORITY TARGET.  Aiming Point; Center of the target.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Intense and accurate flak has been our experience just about anywhere within 20 miles of the Port of Cherbourg. We KNOW we are in for a rough time.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK: 18 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by one box of 18 planes. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Lead Bombardier of the 18 planes. (strike photo)

E. RESULTS:  Excellent. The bomb pattern covered the target like a blanket.

F. LOSSES:  None. Several planes were damaged by flak. It could have been much worse except for the skillful maneuvering of the formation after bomb release by Pete Bingham, our Navigator.

MISSION #33    15 FEBRUARY 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 103-107)

A. TARGET:  CHATEAU DE BOSEMELET BUZZ-BOMB SITE, NEAR ROUEN, FRANCE.  Aiming Point: Center of the target.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  None.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  18 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by one box of 18 planes. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Lead Bombardier of the 18 planes. (strike photo)

E. RESULTS:  Excellent. The bomb pattern landed on the target almost exactly as planned.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #34    20 FEBRUARY 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 108)

A. TARGET: GILZEY RIJEN AIRFIELD, HOLLAND. The Luftwaffe considers this completely outfitted and well-located combination fighter & bomber base as a key link in their defense against British and American bombers raiding Germany. All types of planes operate out of this base, both day & night. Aiming Point: Center of the target. Bombing is by Pathfinder aircraft due to the overcast.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Moderate flak. Up to 80 fighters could attack us over Holland or the North Sea.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  36 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS:  Not sure. No visibility. No report.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #35    22 FEBRUARY 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 110)

A. TARGET: GILZY RIJEN AIRFIELD, HOLLAND.  Same target as two days ago. Aiming Points: 1st. box: The before-take-off fighter assembly area. 2nd. box: The western dispersal, headquarters & hangar area. 3rd. box: The western and southwestern dispersal areas.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Heavy flak. 70 to 80 fighters.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  54 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 30 - 1001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Lead Bombardier of the second box.

E. RESULTS: An accidental release by one Togglier in my box caused part of the pattern to hit on the southwestern side of the target. My part, which consisted of about two-thirds of the box hit slightly to the left of the aiming point. All but 6 bombs from my box landed within the vulnerable part of the target. Good results. Others: The Lead Bombardier got excellent results on his pattern, as did the third box. Net Result: A very good strike against a very important target.

F. LOSSES: Our Group Lead Plane was shot down. Several planes were damaged.

MISSION #36    24 FEBRUARY 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 111)

A. TARGET: ARNHEM AIRFIELD, HOLLAND.  About the same size and importance as Gilzy Rijen Airfield (Mission # 35 two days back).  Aiming Points: Each of the three boxes had a separate large hangar in the center of an aircraft dispersal area as its aiming point. All located on the south and west side of the airfield.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Moderate flak. 60 fighters available.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  54 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS: The fighter dispersal areas were well covered with high-explosives. None of the hangars received a direct hit but could have been damaged by some near-misses. Good Results.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #37    25 FEBRUARY 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 113)

A. TARGET: ST. TROND AIRFIELD, FRANCE.  Located deep in northern France near the German border, this airfield serves both fighters and bombers of the German Air Force. Large repair facilities, dispersal areas & excellent runways make this-target an important link in the chain of Rhur Valley defenses. Aiming Point: 1st. box: Hangar & dispersal areas on the west side. 2nd. box: The large hangar & headquarters building on the north.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  Of necessity our flight path winds through a heavily populated area believed to contain flak batteries. The target is well-defended by 88mm guns.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  36 a/c from the 386th. Total of 72 planes. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 1st. box: 18 - 2501b. G.P. per a/c. 2nd. box: 8 -- 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS:  1st. box: All bombs landed beyond the target, probably due to human error. 2nd. box: (Smitty's) All bombs landed in the target area. One freight train was destroyed along with one hangar and some buildings.

F. LOSSES:  No planes were shot down. My own plane, Dinah Might, had the hydraulic line shot out before reaching the target. We had to fly all the way back to base with the bomb-bay doors open. Hydraulic fluid soaked the inside of the plane. After much difficulty we were able to manually crank our landing gear down and avoid a belly landing. Major David Dewhurst, our Pilot, encouraged all non-essential crew members to bail out in case of fire upon landing. None did. Thankfully, we landed safely. Several other planes were damaged by flak.

MISSION #38    25 FEBRUARY 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 114)

A. TARGET:  A LARGE CONSTRUCTION SITE EAST OF DESVRES, FRANCE. Suspected to be involved in a nearby V-1 Rocket Launch construction project. Aiming Point: Center of the target.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  None at the target. Our flight is dangerously close to the Boulogne defense area (bad news).

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  36 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 4 - 10001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS:  Completely missed the target. Appeared to be poor Lead Crew performance.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #39    28 FEBRUARY 1944    (GROUP MISSION #'115,116 or 117)

A. TARGET: HEAVY CONSTRUCTION SITE EAST OF BOULOGNE, FRANCE. Believed to be a V-2 launch site for heavy rockets to be used against London. Aiming Point: Center of the target.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  None if the navigation is good.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  36 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by boxes of 18 planes each. Bomb Load: 8 - 5001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS:  A somewhat scattered pattern hit the western side of the target area. About 75% of the total number of bombs hit with good effect. A good mission.

F. LOSSES:  None.

MISSION #40    29 FEBRUARY 1944    (GROUP MISSION # 118,119 or 120)

A. TARGET: BERCK SUR MER AIRFIELD, FRANCE. The usefulness of this target to the Germans is limited to that of an emergency landing field. This is due to its location just across the Channel from Dover, England. It is within range of our coast artillery firing across the Channel. This is a secondary target. Aiming Point: Small camouflaged buildings on the western side of the field. Filled craters from a previous bombing indicates the enemy intends to keep this landing area in operating condition.

B. EXPECTED OPPOSITION:  None.

C. WEIGHT OF OUR ATTACK:  18 a/c from the 386th. Bombing by one box of 18 planes. Bomb Load: 4 - 10001b. G.P. per a/c.

D. MY JOB:  Togglier.

E. RESULTS:  Unknown. Smitty dropped this pattern through a partial cloud cover. Not visible. Not reported.

F. LOSSES:  None