OPERATIONAL NARRATIVE, 486TH GROUP
Chaumont Mission
11 May1944

1. Leaflets

None

None

None

(a) At Caen meager to moderate and accurate flak ·was encountered by the lead group (487) but was avoided for the, most part by this group ·by crossing over to the left of the formation.
(b) In the Château dun-Chartres corridor area the wing formation was bracketed by moderate and accurate flak, the lead group being hit so severely that its formation was broken up and forced to turn back to the left. The 486th group made a slight turn to the left and continued on course for several minutes to see if lead group could reform behind it. When lead group did not do so, the 486th group turned to left in formation and returned to base.

Mission not effected by weather.

Airfield N.E. of Caen had several enemy fighters parked in dispersal areas. Some A/C were reported to be silver colored, others black.

Fighter support fairo

INTELLIGENCE REPORT, 486TH GROUP
Chaumont Mission.
11 May1944

A. Enemy air opposition:

None.

B. Observation of crews:

1. Several E/A seen in dispersal areas on fighter field N.E. of Caen. Some A/C were silver-colored, others black.
2. Eight to ten barrage balloons were observed in woods at 4745 N-0235 E.
3. At Montargis airfield, two bombers and one S/E fighter were observed parked on field.

C. Crew reports of friendly A/C in distress:

1. 486th Group

none.

2. 487th Group

At approximately 1424 hours, near Château dun 2 B-24's were severely hit by flak.

one of these A/C was observed to be trailing smoke in its #2 engine. A few seconds later the entire plane was aflame but still in formation. Then the A/C went into a dive and started to spin. On the fist spin it broke in two near the waist window and the engines and wing continued to spin. A short while later the A/C was seen to hit the ground and explode. Several crew members reported seeing two chutes.

The other A/C stayed in formation for approximately 2 minutes longer than the first, then went into a spin burning all the way down, and was seen to explode on hitting the ground. No chutes were seen.

D. Crew comments and suggestions:

1. Mission should have been flown at 20,000 instead of 12,000'.
2. Pilot and copilot should have bullet-proof windows.
3. Navigators should have blister window so they can do pilotage.
4. Each A/C should have a chute to drop chaff.
5. Flare should be fired if and when E/A is sighted.

HEADQUARTERS
486th Bombardment Group (H)

12 May 1944

SUBJECT: Report of Operations Officer - Mission of 11 May 1944, Chaumont, France.

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

1. General Narrative; the 486th Group supplied three squadrons of 12 A/C each as "B" Group, echeloned to the right of the 487th Group in the lead of the 92nd Wing. Take-off was accomplished 1045 - 1113, with one airborne spare. Two of the 37 A/C taking-off aborted before joining formation making a total of 35 leaving the field. Assembly was completed at 1130 at 3000 feet, one thousand feet above assigned altitude due to haze and poor visibility. [At] 1158 while climbing to altitude in the vicinity of the base the 487th Group was sighted, and Wing assembly accomplished at this time.

Course was set for Manningtree while climbing an the formation armed on course from this point at 1218. A tight wing assembly was not held at this time due to the low squadron of the lead group being too far back, and the 486th Group maintained a position about half a mile to the rear and echeloned slightly to the right. The English coast was crossed at 1311 about five miles right of course one minute early, at 12,000 feet.

Estimating the· position to be right of course crossing the channel, the 486th Group· leader maintained an interval of about 500 yards behind the lead group to permit crossing over into left echelon at the coast to avoid the flak over them. This maneuver was accomplished before reaching the coast when the position was seen to be about 5 miles to the right of course, and the enemy coast crossed at 1345 encountered no flak. Meager flak was observed bursting in the vicinity of the lead group. Fighter rendezvous were not accomplished at the scheduled times of 1349 and 1426.

After passing through the flak corridor at 12,000 feet the 486th Group moved over into right echelon again, maintaining a tight group formation but a loose Wing formation since the course continued to be to the right of scheduled course. Just before reaching the town of Brou, about ten miles to the right of course, the 486th Group started to move over into left echelon to avoid the flak area at Château dun, but flak was encountered before the maneuver was completed. The 487th Group meanwhile was encountering very accurate, moderate to heavy flak ahead and sustained heavy damage to the lead and deputy lead were knocked out of formation. At this point the lead squadron of 487th Group scattered badly, while the high and low squadrons started a 1800 turn. As he aborted, the 487th Group leader called his high and low squadron leaders instructing then to continue on course and fall in formation behind the 486th Group, but Wing assembly wasn't regained although the 486th continued on, slightly south of course for about eleven minutes.

The pin point navigator in the 486th Group lead was hit by flak as the 487th aborted, and during the confusion the formation went several miles further south of course before the leader decided that the Wing assembly had definitely been broken up and the mission would have to be abandoned. Excellent group formation at this time (1455) was known to be to the south of scheduled course and free of flak areas, but since the DR navigator was unable to pin point himself accurately course corrections were requested by the Group leader from the high squadron leader. Before the enemy coast was reached the lead was turned over to the high squadron, and the coast crossed at 1535 about 40 miles west of the scheduled departure point without encountering any flak.

The formation started descent to minimum altitude shortly after crossing the enemy coast and the English coast was crossed at 1607. Course was flown as briefed back to base and landing accomplished 1649 - 1734.

2. Aircraft Not Attacking: No A/C reached the target. Thirty-six A/C plus 3 airborne spares were scheduled for take off, but #510, and #726 went out of commission due to mechanical failures before take off. The crew of A/C #510 took the spare lead ship #401 and filled in his proper position, making a total of 37 A/C to take off. A/C #505 aborted because of a gasoline leak in the bomb bay, and #496 because of faulty aileron control, both failing to make the initial assembly. #496 was checked, found to have cables too tight, and they were readjusted immediately, but not soon enough to join the formation. Thirty-five A/C left the field in formation.

3. Summary of Lost Aircraft: No aircraft were lost in the day's operation.

Back

Copyright © 1998-2024, 486th Bomb Group Association.