Mission Details for Coubronne (#137)

Briefing

Details

Number: 137
Date: 8/30/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Lt. Col. B.K. Voorhees
Crews Briefed: 36
Details: "Crossbow"--German rocket launching sites on the Pas de Calais.

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0735 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 0750
Take Off: 0805
E.T.R.: 1205
Notes: Briefing took place at 0530 hours. After the briefing the takeoff runway was changed from No.23 to No.5. All 36 aircraft were off by 0836, but the airfield was closed within minutes of the last takeoff and diversion fields were arranged. However, by 1332 hours all aircraft had landed safely, one having aborted and returned to Deenethorpe and the other having set down at Bradwell Bay.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 36
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The effort on this mission was to bomb German V-1 rocket sites. Since bad weather was expected, the Group was prepared to bomb using Gee-H and H2X methods. However, the weather in the target area was so bad up to and above the briefed bombing altitude that the formation found it virtually impossible to stay together. The High Box Leader dropped his bombs using the Gee-H technique, but only three other aircraft of his Box were close enough to be able to drop with him. All other members of the Group were forced to return to base with their bombs.
No enemy fighters or flak were encountered, and of the 941 American bombers and 310 fighters operating over the Continent, not a single loss was reported.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants