Here are the mission 'dailies' published by each Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group
covering the missions to Rouen on March 12 and 28th, 1943
(
http://www.91stbombgroup.com) NOT the A2A 91st BG simulation!
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NOTE: The 323rd squadron flew a different mission on this date.
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322nd Bomb Squadron
March 12, 1943 - Target for today was marshalling yards at Rouen, France.
18 A/C of 91st Group took off at 1017 and all attacked target at 1242 with
5 x 1000 bombs with excellent results.
Flack was slight and only 5 E/A were seen, 2 attacks on group.
Spitfires covered perfectly. All our ships returned safely.
322nd sent 4 ships: Capt. Robert Campbell #545, Lt. James D. Baird #481,
Capt. Kenneth K. Wallick #178, Lt. John Tyson Harden #453 (?).
Major Paul L. Fishburne led group.
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324th Bomb Squadron
(25) Rouen 12 March 1943
A/C PILOT CLAIMS CASUALTIES BATTLE DAMAGE REMARKS
537 Lt. Coen None None None None
970 Lt. Verinis None None None Excellent fighter support
515 Lt. Jackson None None None Huge explosion at target
485 Capt. Morgan None None None None
<^^^^^^^^ Memphis Belle Group ID (DF-A)and tail number (124485} Call Sign 'Dimple'
480 Lt. Cliburn None None None Direct hits on engine shed
Target: Engine sheds and Marshaling yards.
Sq. Losses: None
Gp. Losses: None
Remarks: Bombing results excellent. Large orange fires seen in center of target abortives.
Excellent Spitfire cover with weak E/A and flak opposition.
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401st BombSquadron
12 March 1943
FLYING: MISSION TO ROUEN , FRANCE .
Squadron supplied five aircraft for this mission.
A/C # TOT ALT AT TARGET BOMBS ON TARGET
070 1242 21,200 ft 5x1,000
574 1243 21,000 ft 5x1,000
132 1242 21,000 ft 5x1,000
459 1243 21,000 ft 5x1,000
337 1241 20,900 ft 5x1,000
BOMBING RESULTS: Good heavy bomb pattern right in target area.
FLAK: Slight inaccurate heavy flak at target area and at coast on way out.
E/A: No heavy attacks on this group.
CLAIMS: None.
CASUALTIES: None.
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28 March 1943 Mission to Rouen
From the 91st BG 'dailies' for the 322, 323, 324 and 401 BS
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322nd BG
Did not fly this mission.
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323rd BS
28 March 1943
Five ships from this squadron piloted by Capt's. Dwyer, Clancy and Bishop,
Lt's. Evins, Reynolds and Walker took part in mission to the
locomotive works in the marshalling yards at Rouen, France.
One hole through the clouds permitted good bombing, although
the approach was not as briefed.
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324th BS
(29) Rouen 28 March 1943
A/C PILOT CLAIMS CASUALTIES BATTLE DAMAGE REMARKS
487 Capt. Gaitley None None None Huge explosion at target
970 Lt. Verinis None None Minor Hit engine shops.
515 Lt. Anderson None None None Smoke up to 20,000 ft
480 Lt. Cliburn 0-1-0 None None Many guns out.
485 Capt. Morgan 1-0-0 0-1-0 Slight All 3 groups hit 91st aiming point (Memphis Belle)
537 Lt. Coen None 10 missing Missing A/C 5 chutes seen.
Target: Locomotive repair shops, Rouen
Sq. Losses: - 1 A/C ( 10 missing, 1 wounded)
Gp. Losses: - 1 A/C (10 missing, 3 wounded)
Remarks: - Good hits on target and in target area. Engine repair shops hit.
Several large explosions observed by our crews. Marshaling yards and
gasoline tank hit. Yards appeared to be jammed with freight.
Tried a diversion feint by maneuvering in channel and were attacked by E/A on first leg of diversion.
Our A/C 537 seen to hit water and explode about one mile north of Fecamp 5 parachutes seen to open over land. Destroyed by fighters.
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401st BS
28 March 1943 .
MISSION TO ROUEN , FRANCE .
Squadron supplied six aircraft for mission - three went over the target.
One aircraft # 763 aborted due to technical failures.
Two aircraft # 379 and # 132 were forced to return to base after first leg of diversion
as E/A were encountered and both A/C were damaged.
These last two A/C were credited with sorties.
A/C # TOT ALT AT TARGET BOMBS ON TARGET
484 1250 25,000 ft 6x1,000
437 1250 24,500 ft 5x1,000
574 1255 26,000 ft 6x1,000
379 Attacked and forced to return – Credited with sortie.
132 Attacked and forced to return – Credited with sortie.
763 Aborted.
BOMBING RESULTS: Pin Point target was hit and several large explosions were seen.
Marshalling yard and oil tank were hit.
FLAK: Slight inaccurate along route and at target area.
E/A: Were particularly vicious in two sustained attacks – the first attack on return
leg of diversionary run when they attacked formation from the rear until driven off by Spits.
E/A again attacked from coast of France into target area and half way back over the English Channel .
CASUALTIES: S/Sgt. J. D. Cagle and S/Sgt. W. R. Carroll both of aircraft 132 were slightly
wounded.
CLAIMS: A/C 132: S/Sgt. J. L. Branch - FW190 Destroyed.
Memphis Belle flew her 25th mission over Occupied Europe on 17 May 1943
(I turned 2 years old that day)
She left for the USA on 9 June 1943
-=GB=-