HEADQUARTERS 5 August 1944 SUBJECT: Lead Navigator's Narrative Report, Mission of 4 August 1944. TO: Commanding Officer, 486th Bomb Group (H), AAF. 486A Group 1. Took off at 0900 hours and climbed through the overcast with top at 600 ft, continued the climb to 5,000 feet, which was assembly altitude, reaching it at 0919 hours. Began assembly at 0923 hours and completed it at 0940 hours, at which time we began climbing to wing assembly altitude of 12,000 feet, reaching it at 1014 hours, with an average rate of climb of 190 feet per minute. Buncher #22 was inoperative, so we devised a new assembly plan and departed Buncher #12 at 1028 hours to make a horse shoe assembly, returning to Buncher #22, which had suddenly become operative, at 1047 1/2 hours, 2 1/2 minutes early. Since the 487th Group which was to precede us was late, we began a series of "S"ing movements and were abeam Buncher #12 at 1052 hours, and over Buncher #9 at 1059 hours. 2. The 487th Group managed to get in position before we left the coast at Lowestoft at 1113 hours, one (1) minute late. We began our climb and remained on the briefed course to the enemy coast over which we passed at the briefed spot at 1251 hours, seven (7) minutes late. At 1245 hours our fighter escort tacked on to our formation and remained with us all the way to the target and escorted us back to England. Very good support was given. We had encountered light and accurate flak from the defenses of Bremen at 5340N 0800E, which caused little or no damage. We proceeded on course to our turning point at 5309N 0912E, where we encountered moderate accurate flak from the defenses of Bremen and its suburbs. At this point, at 1304 hours, we lost a ship due to flak. It was turning over and spinning and one parachute was seen. At 1308 hours, at 5308N 0910E two ships collided and left formation. We had to feather #2 engine, but maintained our position and continued on course to the pre IP, where we corrected to the right to pass over the IP at 1329 hours. 3. Within a few minutes intense accurate flak rocked the ship and we had difficulty in maintaining position and due to a 6/10 cloud coverage we managed to drop our bombs in the target area on docks and a bridge instead of briefed MPI at 1337 hours on a mag heading of 323° and at an altitude of 24,400 feet. 4. We continued on course losing altitude to the enemy coast and crossed over it at 1353 hours at an altitude of 22,00 feet at the briefed point and continued on course until we arrived at 5427N 0715E, where we deviated slightly to the right, however at 1439 hours, 5410N 0450E, we decided to leave the formation and return to base individually, because it was impossible to maintain lead of the group, and we found that #1 engine would fail. Deputy lead then took over continuing on course we were flying -1-
--------------------------------------------------------- Lead Navigator's Narrative Report (cont'd) 5.We began to descend to minimum altitude and crossed the English coast at Lowestoft at 1529 hour at an altitude of 8,300 feet and then feathered #1 engine, which was leaking oil very badly. The formation crossed the English Coast at 1525 hours, four (4) minutes ahead of us and at an altitude of 7,000 feet. 6. The formation was over the field at 1544 hours and landed at 1626 hours. We returned to the base at 1542 hours at an altitude of 5,000 feet and made a right hand pattern and landed with one tire flat, at 1605 hours. A rough mission, believe me. 7. Track chart, flight plan and log are attached hereto.
JOSEPH F. GALLAGHER
486B GROUP 1. We took off at 0920 hours, and made the standard instrument assembly, reaching assembly altitude of 6,000 feet at 0953 hours. We completed "B" Group assembly at 1015 hours, while climbing to 13,00 feet. Wing assembly altitude was reach at 1032 hours. 2. The "A" Group was in sight and we merely tacked onto them staying with them until we reached the target area. The primary target was obscured by a four to six-tenths undercast of swelling cumulus clouds. We made our way to the secondary target at Bremerhaven, Germany, and bombed visually the Einswarden Factory and Seaplane Base. Our heading over the target was 275° and we were at an altitude of 26,000 feet. Bombs were away at 1353 hours. 3. We proceeded home along the briefed course, leaving the enemy coast at 1357 hours and arriving at the English Coast at 1523 1/2 hours. Our Group came over the base at 1543 hours and our ship landed at 1550 hours. 4. Track chart is attached hereto.
RUSSELL (nmi) KNOPP
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Declassified 06/19/03 |
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