Briefing was at 0630 hours and the target was an installation of heavy guns a mile inland and four miles north of Boulogne, France.  Planes were loaded with 500 pound GP bombs and take off started at 0910 hours.  A bad weather assembly was made and Wing assembly was difficult.  The weather started to clear over London as our bombing altitude of 21,000 feet was reached.  PFF failed to pick up the target until it was too late to make the bomb run.  All of the bombers bombed in the Pas de Calais, most hitting Noball targets.  Landing started at 1314 hours with no losses.

Briefing was at 1430 hours and the targets were railroad bridges in the Paris area.  The aircraft were loaded with 500 pound GP bombs with take off starting at 1700 hours.  The bombing altitude of 21,700 feet was reached as the Group approached the French coast.  The weather was not clear and the assigned target could not be seen so it was decided to strike the secondary target.  This was the air field at Conches 65 miles west of Paris.  Bombs away was at 2109 with "Poor" results.  Landing started at 2300 hours.

Briefing was at 0600 hours and the target was coastal defenses in the Pas de Calais.  The planes were loaded with 500 pound GP bombs and take off started at 0830 hours.  The Grouped climbed to 23,000 feet but found visibility poor, so the altitude was increased by 2,000 feet.  Bomb run was satisfactory with no flak and all aircraft returned safely with landing starting at 1255 hours.

Briefing was at 0930 hours and the target was three 150mm coastal guns near Marquise in the Pas de Calais.  Weapons were 500 pound GP bombs with take off starting at 1140 hours.  Division assembly was at splasher 7 as the Group departed the English coast near Dover at the bombing altitude of 23,500 feet.  All bombers dropped their bombs and then returned to base with no losses.

Briefing was at 1400 hours and the target was a railroad bridge at Versailles.  Weapons were 500 pound GP bombs and take off started at 1633 hours.  At the coast of France the weather cleared and the bombing altitude of 24,500 feet was reached.  Bombs were dropped at 2023 hours with "Excellent" results.  Landing started at 2230 hours.

Briefing was at 0400 hours and the target was a military target in Northwest France.  The planes were loaded with 500 pound GP bombs and take off started at 0620 hours.  When the Group reached the Belgium coast they found clouds at 23,000 feet and were instructed to bomb at any point between N50°-24'E and N50°-34"E.  They bombed at Le Touquet, 10 miles south of Boulogne.  Results were rated as "Good" and all crews returned to base safely with landing starting at 1105 hours.

Briefing was at 0200 hours.  This is the day that the announcement was made that the Invasion had started.  The 447th were assigned to bomb at N49° 18'-00° 15.5'W north of Caen at 0715, but no later than 0720 hours.  They were to bomb as Squadrons with the IP (Intial Point of bomb run) on the English coast.  Weapons were GP and incendiary bombs with take off starting at 0440 hours.  It was cloudy when the Group reached the drop zone, so only the two squadrons with PFF craft dropped their bombs.  Many of the five squadrons brought their bombs home.  Landing started at 1040 hours with no losses.

Take off for this mission started at 0600 hours with the target being in the same region as the main force.

At 1750 hours a third mission took off.  The target was the same as the previous two of the same day.  All planes carried GP bombs, but due to bad weather the crews were not able to release their bombs.

Briefing was at 1430 hours and the target was a tactical target at Tours, France.  The planes were loaded with 500 pound GP bombs with take off starting at 1700 hours.  As the crews flew over the invasion area, they could see shells exploding far inland.  The primary target was hidden by clouds, so the formation set course for Nantes, just inland from St. Nazaire.  A run on a rail bridge was made but bombs were not dropped.  Landing started at 0130 hours Thursday morning.

Briefing was at 0330 hours and the target was the rail yards at Nantes.  The planes were loaded with 500 and 2,000 pound GP bombs and take off started at 0545 hours.  The Group mad a bomb run on a 240° heading at an altitude of 20,500 feet.  A last minute correction by main group Bombardier threw the bombs off by 800 feet.  On the return trip the crews ran into bad weather over England.  Lt Bowers had battle damage and made his way to Morton Vallance with a feathered engine.  Landing started at 1145 hours.

Briefing was at 0200 hours and the target was the airfield at La Touquet, France 12 miles south along the coast of Boulogne.  Weapons were 100 pound GP bombs and take off started at 0445 hours.  Bombs were dropped at 23,000 feet, 2,000 feet below the briefed altitude.  The Group returned to base with landing starting at 0850 hours.

Briefing was at 0300 hours and the targets were railroads in NW France.  Weapons were GP bombs an 100 pound incendiary bombs with take off starting at 0530 hours.  The Wing missed its IP and set course for the secondary, but was unable to locate it.  The Wing then lined up to bomb a target of opportunity, and airfield at Conches, west of Paris.  Bombing results were rated as "Fair" and landing started at 0840 hours with no losses.

Briefing was at 0130 hours and the target was and airfield at Florennes, Belgium, 42 miles south of Brussels near the French border.  The planes were loaded with 250 and 500 pound bombs, take off stated at 0410 hours.  The weather turned foul resulting in a lower bombing altitude but the weather cleared over the target.  Bombing results were rated as "Excellent with landing starting at 0950 hours.

Briefing was at 0230 hours and the target was an oil refinery in Misburg near Hannover.  Weapons for the mission were 500 pound GP bombs and take off started at 0405 hours.  The bombing altitude of 25,000 feet was attained as the formation reached the Dutch coast.  The target was reached after crossing the Zider Zee into Germany and the flak was heavy.  Results were unobserved since the Group was using PFF equipment and landing started at 1135 hours.

Briefing was at 0230 hours and the target was an oil refinery at Misberg.  The aircraft were loaded with 500 pound GP bombs and take off started at 0450 hours.  A bad weather assembly was made over the field at 8,000 feet, and the formation reached 19,000 feet as they crossed the Dutch coast.  Due to weather conditions the PFF bombing altitude was dropped by 2,000 feet, flak was heavy.  Lts. Golden and Schriener were hit and went down in the target area.  Nine to ten chutes were seen leaving each aircraft.  Landing at Rattlesden started at 1135 hours.

Briefing was at 0300 hours and the target was an airfield at St. Jean D'Angely, France, 30 miles north-northwest of Cognac.  Take off started at 0521 hours.  The target area was cloud covered and two runs were made trying to hit the target, but there was no clear shot so no bombs were dropped.  The Group started landing at 1300 hours.

Briefing was at 1200 hours and two groups were formed with targets being industrial plants.  The "A" group were loaded with 500 pound bombs and the "B" group was loaded with 100 pound bombs.  Take off started at 0445 hours.  The bombing altitude of 24,500 feet was attained as the groups reached the Dutch coast.  The missions were uneventful and landing started at 1200 hours with no losses.

Briefing was at 0300 hours and the target was Berlin.  The planes were loaded with 68 incendiary and 372 GP bombs with take off starting at 0525 hours.  The target was clear and bombing results were rated as "Good".  There was heavy flak and Lt. G.L. Clark's plane was seen to go down under control.  4 to 5 chutes were seen coming out of the aircraft, but one chute got tangled on the aircraft.  Landing started at 1400 hours.

Briefing was at 1230 hours and the target was a V-1 site at Nucourt, France.  Weapons were 100 pound GP bombs and take of started at 1510 hours.  The formation departed the south coast at 21,000 feet and the flak was accurate in the target area.  Lt. Flagg was hit and made a crash landing on the beach head in France.  The Group landed at 2115 hours.

Briefing was at 1300 hours and the planes were loaded with GP bombs with take off starting at 1616 hours.  The assigned bombing altitude was 20,000 feet but both the primary and secondary targets were cloud covered.  The planes returned with their bombs and landing started at 2200 hours.

No.98    06/24/44   WESERMUNDE

The 447th put up two groups for this mission.  The first was led by Captain D.E. Richards and the second was led by Captain R.G. Widstrom.  Captain Widstrom started his take off at 0850 hours followed by Captain Richards at 0920 hours.  Upon reaching the target Captain Widtrom could no see the target so he did not release the bombs and returned to base at 1230 hours.  Captain Richards flying at 26,000 feet had a failure with his PFF equipment so he also did not release any bombs and returned to base at 1630 hours.

Briefing was at 0200 hours and the target was the plateau of Vercors, west of Grenoble.  Instead of bombs, the payload for this mission were 420 canisters containing small arms, ammunition, and other supplies to support the Marquis, French Underground.  Also onboard were several OSS agents (the forerunner to the CIA) that were to bail out with the canisters and instruct the partisans in the use of the equipment.  Take off started at 0420 hours.  The drop zone was a clearing in a wooded area and there was no opposition.  Results were rated as "Good" and landing started at 1235 hours with no losses.

Briefing was at 0230 hours and the mission was a tactical target in France.  The planes were loaded with 250 pound GP bombs and take off started at 0400 hours.  During take off Lt. Brown's plane caught fire and the crew bailed out safely avoiding the explosion when the plane crashed.  There were no injuries.  Following a bad weather assembly the formation achieved its bombing altitude of 23,000 feet as they reached enemy territory.  The primary target was not clear so a target of opportunity was bombed instead, an airfield at Denian/Prouvy, France.  Results were rated as "Good" and landing started at 1030 hours.

Briefing was at 0230 hours and the target was an oil refinery at Bohlen, Germany, ten miles south of Leipzig.  Weapons were 100 pound GP bombs and take off started at 0450 hours.  After take off Lt. Skalitzky aborted and on return to the base he made a pancake landing with a full bomb load causing the landing gear to collapse.  The bombing altitude of 24,000 feet was attained as the formation reached the Belgium coast at the mouth of the Rhine.  Flak was heavy at the target and bombing results were rated as "Good".  Two planes were lost Lt. W.C. Hoyer was hit by flak after bombs away, caught fire and exploded.  Two chutes were seen but two other crewman made delayed opening of their chutes.  Lt. D.G. Leach was also hit in the target area.  Fighter escorted him part of the way down as he left the formation under control.  The rest of the formation started landing at 1250 hours.