OPERATIONAL NARRATIVE, 486TH GROUP, LIEGE MISSION
7 May 1944

1. None.

2. Results unobserved. Lead bombardier identified M.P.I. through hole in clouds and dropped his bombs. 18 other A/C dropped on leader, but undercast prevented observation of results.

3. None

4. Meager flak encountered in target area, accurate for altitude but not for course. Two A/C received minor battle damage.

5. 9/l0ths to 10/10ths clouds in target area made the attack difficult. Lead bombardier of lead squadron was able to identify M.P.I., but clouds had closed in by the time the low squadron reached target.

6. None,

7. None,

INTELLIGENCE REPORT, 486TH B. GROUP, LIEGE MISSION
7 May 1944

A. Enemy Air Opposition:

None

B. Observations of crews:

7/10 to 10/10 clouds between enemy coast and target made ground observations almost impossible.

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

None

D. Crew comments and Suggestions:

1. Gunners should have tinted glasses to protect eyes.
2. Flak helmets unsatisfactory.

HEADQUARTERS
486TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
APO 559

8 May 1944

SUBJECT: Report of Operations Officer - Mission of 7 May 1944, Liege, Belgium

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

486th Group Formation

1. General Narrative. The first ship of the 486th Group formation was off the ground at 1500 hours. Take off for the group of 36 aircraft was effected at 1500-1525 hours. All 36 aircraft scheduled to fly got off in formation order, and assembly, over the field for the entire group, was complete at 1541 hours at 2000 ft. as briefed.

The climb to altitude was begun at 1541, in a south westerly direction to get above a thin layer of clouds hanging over the field. As the turn was made, the formation went above the cloud layer and at 1721 bombing altitude of21,000 ft was reached over the field. Course was then set for the rendezvous point (Splasher #7) which was reached at 1742 hours, one minute early. Leaving Splasher 7 for Buncher 19 at 1743, the 487th Group was sighted trailing by approximately 4 miles. Our group started essing, to permit them to catch up, and wing assembly was accomplished at 1801 1/2 hours, just before arriving at Orfordness. Going out, the English coast was crossed at 1802 and the enemy coast at 1827, where the P-51 Fighter escort was picked up.

The course from the enemy coast to the I.P. was flown with little or no variation. The lead squadron was briefed to fly slightly to the left of course onto I.P., so as to permit the high squadron to cross over and make their turn exactly over the I.P. This procedure was followed.

At the target a 7/10 to 9/10 overcast prevented slightly until the formation was about two miles from the target. The leader spotted the target 20 degrees to the right of course, and was able to make a quick turn onto the target with a run of about one minute. Approximately half of the planes were able to get bombs away. Light flak was observed over the target.

After the target was crossed, the entire formation proceeded to the rally point where rally was affected for the group as planned. During this time the formation dropped to 20,000 ft. At this point the P-47 Fighter escort was picked up and escorted the Bombers over England. From the rally point, course back was set as briefed and the enemy coast was crossed on the return trip at 1950 hours. At this point a let-down to minimum altitude was begun, and the English coast was reached at 2018 hours. The whole formation was over the field at 2014 hours and the last ship landed safely at 2123 hours.

The formation, as a whole, was very good. Numbers 4, 5 and 6 ships of the low squadron flew too high and were observed, at odd intervals, to be at an altitude even with the lead formation, Number 3 man of the high squadron flew wide and to the rear of formation, during most of the return trip from the rally point.

2. Aircraft Not Attacking: Thirty-six aircraft left the base in formation, as shown in attached diagram. Due to the fact that the planes went over the target in the same formation in which they left the field, a separate diagram will not be attached. All thirty-six aircraft were dispatched, made sorties, and reached the target. A detailed description for failure to attack will be covered in the Aircraft Not Attacking Report. A general description is given below.

All planes in the lead squadron got their bombs away on the leader with the exception of the deputy leader, which dropped only two bombs because of a rack malfunction.

Seven aircraft of the high squadron dropped their bombs on the deputy lead ship. The lead bombardier failed to release due to a sheared pin in the salvo linkage, and four wing ships in this formation did not drop because the leader did not drop.

The low squadron leader did not observe the target until too late to turn and no bombs were dropped by this squadron.

3. Summary of lost aircraft: There were no aircraft lost in the day's operation.

 
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