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 |
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Bad weather in Germany had kept the 8th from its executing original plans, so targets in France were the orders of the day. The 14th Wing drew an airfield at Dreux.
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Of the 36 ships the Group put up, none of them aborted. They assembled under the command of Major Turnbull, who flew with the Harding Crew 902.
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Like all of the recent missions to France, the fighter protection was overwhelming.
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We haven't found any documents of what the 492nd encountered that day. Their sister group, the 392nd, flew with them and they had 17 of their ships damaged from heavy and accurate flak. They also reported seeing six German bombers flying around.
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Again, we have nothing that indicates the Group's experience over the target, except that all 36 of their planes were able to attack and returned safely.
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Hitler began launching his buzz bombs on English citizens on the night of June 12th. His V-1 rocket program wasn't fully functional, but he did have some operational bases. If it hadn't been for the earlier "noball" attacks, Hitler could've started sending over 1000 rockets a day. The handful he was able to launch was devastating. During the summer, over 2000 rockets would hit London, killing about 600 people and wounding another 40,000.
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Those who had been jealous of men in the 858th who were being transferred to the London metro, began reversing their feelings. No one wanted to be living in an area targeted by the buzz bombs.
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| |
| Mission Data |
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25
|
|
Date:
|
12 Jun 44
|
|
Dreux, France
|
|
Airfield
|
|
Aircraft
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bomb Load
|
|
Tons:
|
100
|
|
Type:
|
n/a
|
|
Result:
|
n/a
|
|
Enemy Action
|
|
Flak:
|
n/a
|
|
GAF:
|
0
|
|
Counter Action
|
|
Kills:
|
0
|
|
492 Casualties
|
|
KIA:
|
|
|
WIA:
|
|
|
POW:
|
|
|
INT:
|
|
|
|
