Mission

MEMO
1. THIS MEMO INCLUDES THE OPS OFFICERS REPORT FOR A AND B GROUP
2. THE GROUP COMMANDERS REPORT FOR 8TH AIR FORCE.




Operational Narrative of 24 May 1944 Mission

SUBJECT: Report of the Operations Officer, Mission of 24 May 1944
(Officer is not identified in avialable file)
100TH "A" GROUP

1. General Narrative: Eighteen aircraft departed this base in formation at 0655-0724 hours. By 0800 hours the group had formed over Splasher #6 at 10,000 feet. the 100th "A" Group flew as low grup in the 13th "B" Combat Wing.
We were on time at Manningtree, Buncher #14, Splasher #6, and Splasher #5, which was the point of departure. Enemy coast at 1035 hours, on time at 57 17 N - 09 17 E. Formation was straggled due to dense haze. At this time enemy fighters went through our group knocking down four aircraft in our low squadron and also dispersing our formation. At this point the deputy leader took over and led the group as the group leader had disappeared in the clouds. Bombs were away at 1109 hours.
After bombs away, we took a heading of 180 degrees and circled the outskirts until we were north of the city. Three fighters attacked at this point. At 1130 hours we were at DR 52 47 N - 10 51 E, setting course back to the enemy coast. At 1252 hours we were at DR 53 46 N - 10 51 E. Meanwhile, formations were widely scsattered due to adverse weather conditions. At 1236 hours we hit the Estuary and departed the enemy coast. At 1252 hours, DR 54 12 N - 08 21 E; at 1305 hours DR 54 12 N - 07 29 E; at 1318 hours, DR 54 37 N - 07 00 E; at 1330 hours, set course to Cromer, DR 53045 N - 03 46 E; at 1506 hours, we hit Great Yarmouthon course; at 1525 hours, we were over the base, landing at 1530 hours.

2. Aircraft not Attacking: Eighteen aircraft departed this base in formation as shown on the attached chart marked "AFTER ASSEMBLY." Thus eighteen aircraft were dispatched.
Aircraft #42-97621 returned early, leaving formation at 0859 hours over 53 02 N - 02 40 E, altitude 12,000 feet.
Aircraft #42-32009 returned early, leaving formation at 0912 hours over 53 17 N - 02 40 E, altitude 12,000 feet.
Aircraft #42-31220 returned early, leaving formation at 1032 hours over 53 55 N - 09 42 E, altitude 20,000 feet. This aircraft jettisoned it's bombs at 54 06 N - 09 04 E.
Aircraft #42-102621 returned early, leaving formation over 53 42 N - 10 29 E. this aircraft jettisoned it's bombs at 54 15 N - 09 15 E.
This aircraft #42-30152 returned early, leaving formation over 53 50 N - 10 30 E. this aircraft jettisoned it's bombs at 53 54 N - 10 32 E.
Four aircraft listed as missing in the low squadron are known not to have attacked the target, Aircraft #42-102635, #42-402648, #42-102624 and #42-528.
Thus nine aircraft attacked the target.
3. Lost Aircraft
Aircraft #42-102635 Due to enemy aircraft before target.
" #42-102624 Same as above
" #42-102648 Same as above
" #42-102528 Same as above
" #42-97845 No information avialable.
" #42-31941 Same as above
#42-97095 Same as above
" #42-31534 Same as above




Operational Narrative of 24 May 1944 Mission

UBJECT: Report of the Operations Officer, Mission of 24 May 1944.

100TH "B" GROUP

General Narrative: Seventeen aircraft including one P.F.F.
ircraft, departed this base in formation at 0640-0654 hours. By
750 hours the group had assembled over Splasher #6 at 12,000 feet.
ndividual accent was employed due to 9/10 undercast. The 100th
B" Group led the 13th "B" Combat Wing which was the second wing in
he Third Division.
After assembly the group proceeded to Manningtree where they
rrived one minute late. From this point proceeded directly to
plasher #6, thus leaving two points in order to make division
ssembly good. High and low groups joined us and the wing was in
ood formation at division assembly line. Departed English coast
t the briefed point one half minute late. We were north of course
p to the Heligoland Island and from there on in we stayed on
ourse up to the target. Wing formation was straggled due to
xtremely dense and persistent contrails. Flak was the only enemy
esistance encountered on the bomb run. Bombs away at 1112 hours
n target area. From the target we turned north and headed to R.P.
rom the R.P. we proceeded on course to 53 07 N, 12 30 E, at 1140
to our left at 1221 hours. We turned left to join this wing putting
us south of course. From landfall out we flew south of course.
We reached the English coast at 1452 hours. Over base at 1507 hour
and landing at 1510 - 1525 hours.
2. Aircraft not Attacking: Seventeen aircraft including one
P.F.F. aircraft departed this base in formation as shown on
attached chart marked "AFTER ASSEMBLY". Thus sixteen 100th
aircraft were dispatched.
Aircraft #42-38175 returned early leaving formation at 0915
hours over, 53 27 N and 03 25 E, altitude 19,000 feet.
Aircraft #42-3239 returned early leaving formation at 54 20 N
and 08 03 E.
Aircraft #42-31767 returned early leaving formation at 1030
hours over, 54 05 N and 09 05 E, altitude 23,000 feet. This
aircraft jettisoned it's bombs at 53 55 N and 08 55 E.
Thirteen aircraft attacked the target.

3. Lost Aircraft: One
Aircraft #42-313006. No information available on this
aircraft
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GROUP COMMANDERS REPORT: BERLIN 24 MAY 1944

100TH BG "A" AND "B" OPERATIONAL NARRATIVE: BERLIN 24 MAY 1944
1. LEAFLETS: NONE

2. BOMBING RESULTS: PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW OUR BOMBS BURST IN THE
BUILT UP AREA JUST NORTH OF TEMPLEHOFF A/D.

3. E/A (enemy aircraft): 40 TO 50 FW 190'S WERE ENCOUNTERED AT
1030 HOURS. 5417 N 0917e. ONE FORMATION OF 24 E/A CIRCLED
FROM 2 O'CLOCK TO THE REAR OF OUR WING FORMATION THEN CAME
UP TO ELEVEN O'CLOCK SLIGHTLY HIGH AND MADE A MASS ATTACK ON
THE LOW SQUADRON OF THE LOW GROUP. FOUR B-17S WERE KNOCKED
DOWN IN THIS ATTACK. E/A THEN SPLIT UP AND ATTACKED IN
SMALL UNITS FROM VARIOUS CLOCK POSITIONS. ONLY ONE ATTACK WAS
MADE ON OUR LEAD (100TH) GROUP. THIS WAS A SNEAK ATTACK IN
LOW TRAILS FROM 6 O'CLOCK THAT WAS MADE BY TWO FW 190S. THEY
CLOSED IN TO 50 YARDS, FIRING 4 20mm EACH. ONE OF OUR A/C WAS
DAMAGED IN THIS ATTACK. AFTER THE INITIAL ATTACK THE LOW
GROUP
WAS SPLIT UP AND E/A ATTACKED STRAGGLERS UNTIL WE WERE NEAR
THE TARGET. E/A WERE ALSO SEEN ATTACKING STRAGGLERS FOR ABOUT
45 MINUTES AFTER TARGET, BUT NO ATTACKS WERE MADE ON ANY OF
OUR (100TH) AIRCRAFT. OTHER AIRCRAFT LOST BY THIS GROUP
(100TH) ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN BY E/A.

4. FLAK:
HELOGOLAND: MEAGER TO MODERATE BARRAGE ON ROUTE IN
AND OUT.

BERLIN: INTENSE, SOME ACCURATE. MOST FIRE WAS
BARRAGE (PREDICTED) THAT SHOWN IN
CLUSTERS OVER A VERY LARGE AREA. THESE
CONCENTRATIONS VARIED IN ALTITUDE FROM
15,000 TO 27,0000 FEET. THERE WAS AN
UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF GROUND
ROCKET IN THE TARGET AREA.


NEUREUPPIN: MEAGER, TRACKING FAIRLY ACCURATE.

MURITZ LAKE: MODERATE BARRAGE OUT OF RANGE TO
RIGHT.

HAMBURG: MODERATE TRACKING FAIRLY ACCURATE.

5. WEATHER: DENSE AND PERSISTENT CONTRAILS BETWEEN 20,000
AND 25,000 FEET. MADE FORMATION FLYING EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT. 10/10 LOW CLOUDS OVER MOST OF
THE ROUTE, BUT 7/10 TO 8/10 IN TARGET AREA.

6. OBSERVATIONS: NONE.
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7. OTHER INFORMATION:
1. AT 1100 HOURS 5318 N 1130 E, A P-51 WAS SEEN TO
DESTROY A E/A. THE E/A EXPLODED AND FELL IN MANY
PIECES. NO CHUTE WAS SEEN.

2. FIGHTER SUPPORT WAS CONSIDERED INADEQUATE BY MOST
CREWS.


COL JEFFREY
COMMANDING

NOTE: THE COMMANDING OFFICERS NAME WAS CENSORED ON THE ORGINAL REPORT, AND WAS ADDED TO THE DATABASE. (pw)
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