 |
 |
|
|
Bad weather day had grounded most of the 8th Air Force. What planes were sent up, did so for Operation Crossbow, the V-1 rocket sites. The 492nd drew a marshalling yard near Creil, France. They dispatched 22 planes under the command of Captain Graham, the pilot of Crew 614. During assembly 2 planes had to abort due to engine problems.
|
|
|
As was the case with all targets to France, fighter protection was excellent. No Luftwaffe was reported on any of the Group's records. The escorts of the 8th Air Force, however, did engage the Luftwaffe, nailing 6 German aircraft.
|
|
|
Flak was very heavy and accurate. We're not sure how many of the Group's ships were damaged, but there were at least six. Lt Frantz of Crew 803 (now designated as Crew 705 with the 857th) was one of the 2 men wounded in action by flak. We don't think that either of them had wounds serious enough for a ticket home. But while recovering from a shoulder and neck wound, Frantz's pilot job was given to his co-pilot, Jack Flanagan.
|
|
|
Of the 20 planes that reached the target, 18 of them were able to unload. One of the planes had engine problems and had to drop out. The other had trouble with its bomb rack mechanism.
|
|
|
The Group made it back in one piece with no losses. They were lucky, as the 8th Air Force lost five B-24s to flak on that milk run. The term milk run referred to any mission that was a short flight. But flak could turn any milk run sour. Every mission was dangerous.
|
|
The weather forecast had predicted that German skies were clearing up. The Group would finish off their month with a couple more trips into Germany. Perhaps their new-found luck would hold.
|
|
| |
| Mission Data |
|
41
|
|
Date:
|
27 Jun 44
|
|
Creil, France
|
Marshalling yard
Crossbow
|
|
Aircraft
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bomb Load
|
|
Tons:
|
34
|
|
Type:
|
n/a
|
|
Result:
|
n/a
|
|
Enemy Action
|
|
Flak:
|
Heavy
|
|
GAF:
|
None
|
|
Counter Action
|
|
Kills:
|
0
|
|
492 Casualties
|
|
KIA:
|
|
|
WIA:
|
|
|
POW:
|
|
|
INT:
|
|
|
|
