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Back to Mission 14 Mission 15 Friday, 2 June 44 Berck-sur-Mer Forward to Mission 16
Mission 15
For the third day in a row the weather was bad. But by the afternoon the weather had cleared for a while, giving the 8th Air Force an opportunity for a tactical run into Belgium and France. Since the weather couldn't be counted on, Pathfinders were assigned to lead the missions. The 492nd drew the airfield at Berck-sur-Mer, France.
The Group dispatched 23 of its ships. Three of the crews were new replacement crews that had arrived in North Pickenham during the previous month. There were no aborts. One of the planes wasn't able to release its bombs due to a mechanical failure.
Fighter Protection
The Army Air Force reports we've read failed to mention any escorts. One would have to assume they had some, even if the Luftwaffe had been cleared from the area.
Enemy Resistance
We haven't read anything to suggest what resistance, if any, was encountered. We have read that the 8th Air Force lost two B-17s and five B-24s that afternoon and that another 127 heavy bombers returned damaged. The official 492nd report only says that all of their planes returned intact without any casualties.
Bombsight
According to Herschel Smith, the pilot of Crew 906, the visibilty over the target was good. They had no problem finding and hitting their target.
Returning Home
On the way back the crews took another look at what they had seen earlier. They noticed a lot more ship traffic in the Channel waters below. Certainly something big was brewing down there.
Epilogue
The flyboys began comparing notes of the many ships they had seen in the Channel. Spectulations began as to just when the Big Day was coming. These conversations, of course, were confined to the barracks. The men knew as much about D-Day as the Germans did. They knew it was coming, but didn't know when or where. This was the Group's first indication that D-Day was near.
Certainly the Germans noticed the increased activity in the Channel as well. That's why these deception bombing raids were so important.
Mission Data
Mission: 15
Date: 2 Jun 44
City: Berck-sur-Mer, France
Target: Airfield
Aircraft
DIS:
23
Abort:
0
ATT:
22
RTB:
23
Lost:
0
PFF:
2
Bomb Load
Tons: 66
Type: n/a
Result: n/a
Enemy Action
Flak: n/a
GAF: 0
Counter Action
Kills: 0
492nd Casualties
KIA:
0
WIA:
0
POW:
0
INT:
0
More Info
This mission's impact
on the overall war
Graham/Powers Crew 614
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Page last modified Thursday, May 11, 2017.