Mission Date: August 24, 1943
BORDEAUX-MERIGNAC -REGENSBURG CREWS
100th BG Mission #: 19
Mission Summary
ON THIS DAY AUGUST 24,1943
Africa to Bordeaux to Thorpe Abbotts
Using the base in Algeria as an effective shuttle base after the Regensburg mission did not go as originally planned. Colonel Curtis LeMay tells us, “We hit the African coast about 15 miles east of where we intended, but as soon as we pinpointed ourselves, we made a turn over the field at Bone so those planes short of gas could land. Forty-four ships landed, with four landing in wheat fields and dry lake beds. The reminder of the planes went down to Telergma and Berteaux and landed at the fields they were supposed to…we planned on using Telergma because it was a B-17 parts depot and should have had all the parts necessary plus 500 mechanics. We found no parts and no mechanics. It took four days to gas 40 planes with 200 gallons each. It took the same amount of time to get the others ready as it did those at Telergma…Each group had an engineering officer and staff set up composed of combat crews that were to function while in Africa. This would have worked out fine if we had not run out of gas. Some of the Group Commanders were at one field and a part of their outfit at another.”
In addition, the original plan did not call for a mission to be executed on the return to England. However, at a “hastily convened” conference meeting the day after the arrival to Africa, Colonel LeMay stated that General Eaker had received a request from General Arnold to “run a problem on the way back.” Operational records tell us, “The air crews had experienced a host of difficulties in trying to refit on African soil, and neither planes nor men were in anything like first-class condition…Facilities of all kinds were strictly limited. Target material had to be flown in from VIII Bomber Command headquarters while A-2 personnel of the N.W.A.A.F. were detailed to assist in the briefing. Gasoline, bombs, ammunition and additional maintenance personnel all had to be supplied from a distance.”
Finally on August 24, the B-17s were ready and all aircraft to fly were at the Telergma base and parked in order of take off. The crews were briefed for the mission to be run on the way back to England - targeting the Bordeaux-Merignac airdrome with no secondary or last resort target.
Only six of the 100th Bomb Group’s B-17s would be flying the return mission, led by Jack Kidd flying with Ev Blakely. The Hundredth would fly attached to the 96BG in the lead wing (403 CBW), and lead formation. The 388BG would fly as its low group.
Flying two miles behind it, would be the 401CBW, with the 94BG leading and the 385BG in the low position. The 95BG and 390BG would have their remaining aircraft attached to this wing.
A delay in getting into formation occurred due to heavy dust being kicked up by the revved engines, causing long intervals between take-offs. Unbeknownst to HQ, there were two stowaway passengers in two B-17s from the lead group. Two donkeys, which were reportedly found all around the field in Telergma, had been spirited aboard by two crews. Each donkey had been fitted with a makeshift oxygen mask; one riding with the 96BG and the other in the 100BG’s B-17 flown by Owen Roane.
The weather was clear as the formations flew over the Mediterranean Sea, but as they neared the French coast clouds had developed. The formations flew through AA gun fire at Perpignan, Narbonne, Carcassone and Toulouse but it was reported as meager and inaccurate.
No friendly escorts had been planned for and as the B-17s followed the Garonne River north, enemy fighter attacks began south of Marmande and remained with the formations to the target. Twenty enemy fighters, made up of twelve ME 109s and eight FE 190s and looking for stragglers pressed attacks, reportedly staying with the formations for over one hour, until after the target.
Over the Merignac airdrome, the AA fire was also considered meager and inaccurate. Although the enemy fighters did not interfere with the bombing run, the increased 5/10 to 7/10 cloud coverage caused poor visibility in the target area. The 96BG and 100BG in the lead formation, had a very short 50-second bomb run with nineteen of the Fortresses dropping on the leader at 1158.
Records tell us that all of the formations “were forced to disperse on the withdrawal over the sea due to excessively bad weather conditions.” One quarter of the way across the English Channel, the ceiling had dropped to less than 1000 feet. Passing through a frontal area, the heavy bombers experienced moderate to severe turbulance with light icing.
Lt Colonel Beirne Lay was again flying with the 100th’s Thomas Murphy. Horace Barnum, their BTG remembered “as we approached England Lt Col Bierne Lay Jr. called a RAF base asking for permission to land and get gas. The answer came back that they had no gas because they used petrol. They tried to divert us to another base forty miles away but Col. Lay said, "Forty miles, hell! We're coming in". Our batteries were so dry of electrolyte that we had to fly on to Thorpe Abbotts with the landing gear down to conserve electrical power"
As the aircraft circled the field at Thorpe Abotts, pilot Owen Roane, shot off red-red flares indicating a crisis aboard, then radioed the Tower: “Standby, Standby. I'm coming in with a frozen ass." Ambulances rushed out to meet his aircraft and soon “Moe,” the little donkey who had been covered in blankets was escorted out of the B-17.
It had been seven days since crews had departed Thorpe Abbotts for the Regensburg raid on August 17,1943. Although they would be forever changed due to their experience on that raid, the crews that returned had been the lucky ones. General Anderson, of VIII Bomber Command, sent the following message "Your return today marks the completion of the greatest operation flight made in this war by the army air forces. Your complete destruction of the Messerschmitt plant at Regensburg, your successful following out the prescribed plan, your attack on an objective enroute back to the United Kingdom, is a remarkable achievement. I commend you, your gallant combat crews, and all of the staff and maintenance personnel of your command. The VIII Bomber Command is especially proud of the 4th Wing.”
Crews: Roane, Justice, Murphy, Brady, Blakely, ?
Africa to Bordeaux to Thorpe Abbotts
Using the base in Algeria as an effective shuttle base after the Regensburg mission did not go as originally planned. Colonel Curtis LeMay tells us, “We hit the African coast about 15 miles east of where we intended, but as soon as we pinpointed ourselves, we made a turn over the field at Bone so those planes short of gas could land. Forty-four ships landed, with four landing in wheat fields and dry lake beds. The reminder of the planes went down to Telergma and Berteaux and landed at the fields they were supposed to…we planned on using Telergma because it was a B-17 parts depot and should have had all the parts necessary plus 500 mechanics. We found no parts and no mechanics. It took four days to gas 40 planes with 200 gallons each. It took the same amount of time to get the others ready as it did those at Telergma…Each group had an engineering officer and staff set up composed of combat crews that were to function while in Africa. This would have worked out fine if we had not run out of gas. Some of the Group Commanders were at one field and a part of their outfit at another.”
In addition, the original plan did not call for a mission to be executed on the return to England. However, at a “hastily convened” conference meeting the day after the arrival to Africa, Colonel LeMay stated that General Eaker had received a request from General Arnold to “run a problem on the way back.” Operational records tell us, “The air crews had experienced a host of difficulties in trying to refit on African soil, and neither planes nor men were in anything like first-class condition…Facilities of all kinds were strictly limited. Target material had to be flown in from VIII Bomber Command headquarters while A-2 personnel of the N.W.A.A.F. were detailed to assist in the briefing. Gasoline, bombs, ammunition and additional maintenance personnel all had to be supplied from a distance.”
Finally on August 24, the B-17s were ready and all aircraft to fly were at the Telergma base and parked in order of take off. The crews were briefed for the mission to be run on the way back to England - targeting the Bordeaux-Merignac airdrome with no secondary or last resort target.
Only six of the 100th Bomb Group’s B-17s would be flying the return mission, led by Jack Kidd flying with Ev Blakely. The Hundredth would fly attached to the 96BG in the lead wing (403 CBW), and lead formation. The 388BG would fly as its low group.
Flying two miles behind it, would be the 401CBW, with the 94BG leading and the 385BG in the low position. The 95BG and 390BG would have their remaining aircraft attached to this wing.
A delay in getting into formation occurred due to heavy dust being kicked up by the revved engines, causing long intervals between take-offs. Unbeknownst to HQ, there were two stowaway passengers in two B-17s from the lead group. Two donkeys, which were reportedly found all around the field in Telergma, had been spirited aboard by two crews. Each donkey had been fitted with a makeshift oxygen mask; one riding with the 96BG and the other in the 100BG’s B-17 flown by Owen Roane.
The weather was clear as the formations flew over the Mediterranean Sea, but as they neared the French coast clouds had developed. The formations flew through AA gun fire at Perpignan, Narbonne, Carcassone and Toulouse but it was reported as meager and inaccurate.
No friendly escorts had been planned for and as the B-17s followed the Garonne River north, enemy fighter attacks began south of Marmande and remained with the formations to the target. Twenty enemy fighters, made up of twelve ME 109s and eight FE 190s and looking for stragglers pressed attacks, reportedly staying with the formations for over one hour, until after the target.
Over the Merignac airdrome, the AA fire was also considered meager and inaccurate. Although the enemy fighters did not interfere with the bombing run, the increased 5/10 to 7/10 cloud coverage caused poor visibility in the target area. The 96BG and 100BG in the lead formation, had a very short 50-second bomb run with nineteen of the Fortresses dropping on the leader at 1158.
Records tell us that all of the formations “were forced to disperse on the withdrawal over the sea due to excessively bad weather conditions.” One quarter of the way across the English Channel, the ceiling had dropped to less than 1000 feet. Passing through a frontal area, the heavy bombers experienced moderate to severe turbulance with light icing.
Lt Colonel Beirne Lay was again flying with the 100th’s Thomas Murphy. Horace Barnum, their BTG remembered “as we approached England Lt Col Bierne Lay Jr. called a RAF base asking for permission to land and get gas. The answer came back that they had no gas because they used petrol. They tried to divert us to another base forty miles away but Col. Lay said, "Forty miles, hell! We're coming in". Our batteries were so dry of electrolyte that we had to fly on to Thorpe Abbotts with the landing gear down to conserve electrical power"
As the aircraft circled the field at Thorpe Abotts, pilot Owen Roane, shot off red-red flares indicating a crisis aboard, then radioed the Tower: “Standby, Standby. I'm coming in with a frozen ass." Ambulances rushed out to meet his aircraft and soon “Moe,” the little donkey who had been covered in blankets was escorted out of the B-17.
It had been seven days since crews had departed Thorpe Abbotts for the Regensburg raid on August 17,1943. Although they would be forever changed due to their experience on that raid, the crews that returned had been the lucky ones. General Anderson, of VIII Bomber Command, sent the following message "Your return today marks the completion of the greatest operation flight made in this war by the army air forces. Your complete destruction of the Messerschmitt plant at Regensburg, your successful following out the prescribed plan, your attack on an objective enroute back to the United Kingdom, is a remarkable achievement. I commend you, your gallant combat crews, and all of the staff and maintenance personnel of your command. The VIII Bomber Command is especially proud of the 4th Wing.”
Crews: Roane, Justice, Murphy, Brady, Blakely, ?
Bombing Results
Bombing Results:
Aircraft Lost:
Crew Lost:
Claims of Enemy Losses (CLS):
Aircraft Returned:
