Mission

Thirty-nine crews had been seated for the 0200 briefing when the S-2 Officer of the day, Mackesey pulled the curtain back from the map. The 100th would be attacking Le Culot Airfield as their Primary target, located 30 miles east of Brussels, Belgium.

The 4th CBW would lead the Division line with the 13th flying between it and the 45 CBW, with a three minute interval to be flown between the wings. Each Group within the Wing would fly 3 groups of twelve ships and the 100th would lead its wing, flying as the 13A Group. The 13B would be flown by the 390th and the 95th would fly as the 13C.

Reeder and Elhorn would lead the 100th’s formation with Scott and Zeller leading its High squadron while Giles and Howard would lead its Low. Mackesey told the men that any spares flying were to return at mid channel if unneeded, the Primary target was to be bombed in Group formation and that second runs had been authorized. As the route and known flak positions were reviewed with the men, warnings were given about the eight heavy guns at Le Culot and to avoid the Gilze, Rijen, Eindhoven, Liege, Ostend and Dunkirk defenses.

By the time the crews were trucked out to their Fortresses, thirty-nine B17s had been loaded with two thousand gallons of fuel and thirty-eight 100 lb bombs. Taking-off without incident, four of the bombers starting returning early: J.D. Williams at 0540, Gibbons at 0638, Delaney at 0733 and finally Slatinsky at 1100 hours.

The weather that day proved again to be a challenge for the pilots. By the time the formation reached the IP, “a front was built up above 23000’ and as turning there would have meant turning into the clouds, the wing climbed to 26000 which took them 20 miles east of IP. On returning to IP, it and the target area was covered so a wide rough 360 degree to the right was made for a second run. Finding the target area still covered a run was then made toward the secondary target which could not be located and so the wing turned for home without bombing.”

Safely avoiding all flak areas, the formations arrived back to their respective bases with their bombs. CP Bertram Lodell, flying in Howard’s ship remembered, “Hydraulic pressure gave out on runway but we stopped it alright.”

However, the lack of bombing performance did not sit well with the 13th’s Executive Officers. According to ‘Red’ Bowman’s journal entry, "For the second time in a week the Hundredth really fouled up. Target was the airfield at Le Culot. Thirty-six planes went all over Belgium looking for it, never did find it, and came home with the bombs, Seems to be a 10/10 fault of weather, 1/10 that of navigators. Powers that be no end peed off."

100th A Group:

Lead SQ: Redder/Ehorn, Woodall, Harding, Rake, Gallagher, Kemp

Low: Ryan, Rice, Houghton

High: Eichen, Gustafson, Williams

Anderson subbed in for Williams who aborted early

100th B Group

Lead; Zeller/Scott, Dille, Zapf, Wolf, Woldt, Cumming

Low: Major, Fory, Jones

High: Schomp, Kohler, Delaney

Bennett subbed in for aborting Delaney who aborted early

100 'C' Group

Lead: Howard/Giles, Kassebaum, Smith, Dunlap, Elbel, Rogers

Low: Gibbons, Steussy, Brewer

High: Evans, Roth, Slatinsky

Jones subbed in returning Slatinsky