Sec., 3 B.D. 486th Group 20/5/44 1600S-2 OPERATIONAL NARRATIVE, 486TH GROUP, LIEGE MISSION, 20 May 1944 l. None 2. No bombs dropped on target 3. None 4. Ostend-meagre, inaccurate, continuously pointed. Target area-moderate, accurate, continuously pointed. Chaff 5. Undercast in target area made it impossible to complete mission. Pilotage on routes in and out very difficult. 6. Mons-large white construction area observed near canal and highway paralleling it. ******* A-2 Reporting Section, 3rd. Bomb. Division 486th Gp. 20/5/44 1700 S-2
INTELLIGENCE REPORT, 486TH BOMB. GROUP, LIEGE MISSION, 20 May 1944 A. Enemy Air Opposition None B. Observations of Crews 1. Mons—Large white construction area observed near canal and highway paralleling it. C. Crew reports of friendly A/C in distress 1. At 0926 hours, 5152 N. - 0143 E., and A/C believed to be a B-17 was seen to go down in flames toward the water. Several crew members reported seeing 3 chutes. 2. At a point N.E. of Marche (5013 N. - 0521 E.), a B-24 from the 487th Group was seen to turn back with No. 1 engine smoking. D. Crew comments and suggestions 1. Take-off should not be attempted in very heavy fog. 2. Bomb load (12 x 500 Ib.) too heavy. 3. Pilots and co-pilots should be given instrument practice. 4. P-47 escort excellent, but for safety recommend they do not come in head on toward formation. *********** HEADQUARTERS 486TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) APO 559 21 May 1944 SUBJECT: Report of Operations Officer - Mission of 20 May 1944, Liege, Belgium. 1. General Narrative: The 486th Group was scheduled as the lead group of the 92nd Combat Wing for the day's operation. Thirty-nine aircraft were scheduled to take-off, with three spares standing by on the ground. Spare A/C #631 was ordered to take off when A/C #726 crashed off the end of the take-off runway. The remaining spares were not used, therefore forty A/C were dispatched. Another A/C (691) crashed shortly after take-off, but was not confirmed until too late to have a spare take its place. One A/C aborted before joining formation, making a total of 37 leaving the field. Instrument take-offs were accomplished 0657 - 0754, 27 minutes late due to heavy fog which reduced visibility to about 80 yards. Due to the late take-off the squadrons were only partially assembled at 6000 feet above the fog layer, and the assembly was completed in the climb to altitude at 0822 at 18,000 feet. Bombing altitude of 21,000 feet was reached at 0838, and the wing and division assemblies met as scheduled. After the English coast was crossed, on time, it was definitely seen that it was going to be difficult of stay behind B-17 Wings. Consequently a 360 degree turn was made while still over the channel, and later course was swung left for the same purpose. The enemy coast was crossed at 0955, at proper point, but on a south-easterly heading necessitated by the last alteration of course to stay behind the B-17’s. Some flak was observed from the left near Ostend, but was light and inaccurate. From this point to the target the course flown was as briefed. Fighter escort was picked up at 1005 and covered our formation for the remainder of the trip while over enemy territory. No enemy fighters were sighted. On reaching the IP at 1038, it was evident that the target would be overcast. Overcast conditions from the IP to the target were about 8/10 to 9/10 cloud coverage. The secondary target was also abandoned when solid cloud coverage was encountered. Some flak was encountered at the primary target. From the target to the enemy coast the course was swung right of briefed course because the B-17's were getting some flak ahead and to our left. Rather than attempt to return to course left of flak area, it was decided to maintain course to the right and come out north of briefed course. The enemy coast was crossed at 1126 and course was set for Great Yarmouth, the briefed entry point. Course was constantly altered to enable the formation to let down through the clouds. As Great Yarmouth was approached, bad weather was encountered and the formation was swung south. The English coast was crossed at 1216 at Ofordness. The formation was over the base at 1228 in a slightly strung out manner due to visibility not being too good during the fast let-down through breaks in the clouds. The first plane was on the ground at 1239 with the last landing at 1315. Two aircraft landed away from the base because of shortage of gas after becoming separated from the main formation. They both returned to home base after refueling. 2. Aircraft Not Attacking: Thirty-six A/C went over the target, but no bombs were dropped because of weather conditions. Forty A/C were dispatched, two crashed on take-off, and two aborted before target. A/C #400, aborted before assembly because of electrical failure of AC current causing superchargers to run up to 60-65 inches at intervals. A/C #630 aborted after reaching the enemy coast due to the electrical system being shot out by flak, and a loss in oil pressure on #1 engine. See Aircraft Not Attacking Report for Complete coverage. 3. Summary of Lost Aircraft: There were no aircraft lost in the day's operations because of enemy action. A/C #'s 726 and 691 crashed after take-off. Cause of the crash of 726 has not been definitely determined, but it is assumed he failed to gain enough altitude to clear obstructions after instrument take-off. The plane hit a tree top about 3/4 miles off the end of the runway, crashed, and burned. A/C #691 could not gain sufficient air speed to maintain altitude after take-off and, after dragging rudders through tree tops, crash landed in open field, and burned. RICHARD B. UHLE, Capt., Air Corps, Operations Officer. A-2 Reporting Section, 3rd Bomb. Division 486th Group |
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