Mission

ON THIS DAY...JUNE 6, 1944

Second Mission:

As the ships on the first mission were getting ready to take-off at 0300, a second briefing was taking place where the twelve crews in attendance were: Emberson, McKeague, Kemp, Eichen, Delaney, Zapf, Giles, Cummings, Rogers, Ferbrache, Neu and Rowland.

Briefed to attack the Primary target of Falaise, France, twenty-two miles southeast of Caen. Their Secondary target would be any railroad, bridge, crossroad or communications target along their withdrawal route.

The 100BG would be part of a composite group formation with the 95BG in the Lead squadron, the 100BG flying as its High squadron and the 390th as its Low. Each ship was loaded with twelve 500 lb bombs.

With the same directives and orders passed on to the crews as in the first day’s briefing, the next wave of bombers, loaded with twelve 500 lb GP bombs were ready for take-off, which they did at 0600 hours. At 1000 feet after take-off, McKeague’s #2 engine died and he brought his bombs back.

However, the 10/10 undercast continued. NAV J.J. Devine reported that the weather spoiled the mission completely due to “a solid undercast - target area and all enemy territory unseen,” causing the formation to hold their bombs and return to base fully loaded. Passing the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, a three gun battery fired near the Group but was low and inaccurate.

The 100th’s B17s returned back to base at 1030 hours.