SECRET

HEADQUARTERS

486TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)

APO #559

8 January 1945

SUBJECT :

Lead Navigator's Narrative Report — Mission of 8 January 1945.

Target:   Marshalling Yards at Frankfurt, Germany.

 

TO : Commanding Officer, 486th Bomb Group (H), AAF.

 

486TH "A" SQUADRON

 

1.  We took off at 0616 hours and proceeded to Splasher #11, arriving there at 0656 hours at 17,000'.  We circled the Splasher, climbing to our assembly altitude of 22,000'.  We reached this altitude at 0716 hours.  The lead squadron was formaed at 0913 hours, completing the Group formation as we crossed Splasher #11, the first point on the Wing assembly line, on time.  We proceeded to 5110N-0038W, arriving there at 0918 hours, on time, but on the leg to Splasher #9 interference from an unidentified Group forced us to deviate from course, and we cut inside Splasher #9, heading to Beachy Head.  This maneuver caused us to arrive at C.P. #1 at 0934 hours, four (4) minutes late.

2.  The Air Leader decided to start climb at C.P. #1 and we crossed the French coast at 0952 hours, five (5) miles northeast of C.P. #2 at 24,600'; we reached 25,000' at 0955 hours.  We proceeded to C.P.#3 staying from three (3) to five (5) miles south of course.  We arrived four (4) miles north of C.P. #3 at 1046 hours, and continued on course to the pre-IP, arriving at 1057 ½ hours where we took Squadron interval. We turned to the IP, reaching it at 1102 hours and started a PFF bombing run.  Bombs were away on the secondary target (Frankfurt M/Y) at 1115 ½ hours from an altitude of 26,100' on a true heading of 040°.

3.  We turned to a selected rally point at 4948N-0853E, losing 1000', and returned to the original course at 0717N-4943E.  We crossed C.P. #4 at 1200 hours and proceeded on course, "S"ing at 1315 hours to avoid clouds.  We left the French coast, 4958N-0112E, at 1328 hours at 13,600'.

4.  We crossed the English coast at 5102N-0102E at 1358 hours at 1300' and proceeded to base, reaching it at 1436 hours.  We landed at 1446 hours.

5.  Track Chart and Log are attached hereto.

 

GEORGE C. TOLSON,

1st Lt., Air Corps.

Lead Navigator

 

486TH "B" SQUADRON

1.  We took off at 0620 hours and reached our assembly altitude of 22,500' at 0720 hours.  The Squadron was assembled and in position on the lead at 0924 hours.

2.  We followed the lead up to the IP and dropped our bombs from an altitude of 26,700' on a true heading of 062° at 1117 hours.  We bombed the secondary target using PFF techniques.

3.  We turned wide of the rally point (see Track Chart), and followed the lead on out, reaching the base at 1438 hours, landing at 1457 hours.

 

RICHARD C. HUGINS

2nd Lt., Air Corps,

Lead Navigator

486TH "C" SQUADRON

1.  We took off at 0619 hours and proceeded to Splasher #11 which we reached at 0654 ½ hours at an altitude of 13,000'.  We climbed circling the Splasher, reaching our assembly altitude of 21,000' at 0726 hours.  Our Squadron was formed and in position on the lead at 0905 hours.

2.  We followed the lead to the pre-IP where we took Squadron interval.  We turned on the briefed IP and made a PFF run on the target bombing the secondary at 1117 hours from 25,400' on a true heading of 050°.

3.  We rejoined thelead as we turned to the rally point but were forced to "S" to the south shortly thereafter because of ice on the windshield.  We closed again on the lead at 1122 hours at 4953N-0851E.

4.  We followed the lead to the base, arriving at 1436 hours and landing at 1455 hours.

 

CARL S. SHERMAN,

1st LT., Air Corps,

Lead Navigator

 

 

HEADQUARTERS

486TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)

APO #559

 

8 January 1945

 

SUBJECT :

Lead Navigator's Narrative Report � Mission of 8 January 1945

Target:  Marshallying yards at Bishopshien near Mainz, Germany.

 

TO : Commanding Officer, 486th Bomb Group (H), AAF.

 

385TH GROUP

Low Section � Low Squadron

 

1.  We took off at 0703 hours and reachd assembly altitude of 20,000' at 0805 hours.  We picked up the 385th immediately but our complete section was not in position until 0850 hours.

 

2.  We followed the lead up to the IP (see Track Chart for route of A) and dropped our bombs at 1120 hours on a true heading of 035� from an altitude of 24,500'.  We dropped on the primary, relaeasing our bombs on the smoke bombs of the elad ship of the Squadrons.

 

3.  We followed the lead back to England and left the lead at Dover, heading directly for the base, which we reached at 1421 hours, landing at 1427 hours.  The rest of our section left us right after bombs away, and we did not see them all the way back.

 

WALTER J. EARLY,

2nd Lt., Air Corps

Lead Navigator

 

S E C R E T

Flimsy

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