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After two days off, the 492nd went back to Saarbrucken. This would be the Group's fourth time there. Again, marshalling yards were the primary targets.
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The Group dispatched 22 planes, but 3 of them had to abort due to engine failure. Major Jack Turnbull led the Group while flying on a Pathfinder from the 44th BG. After they had crossed the Channel, another plane began havng engine trouble and had to abort. They got sortie credit.
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There were more fighters today than in the recent past, but the ratio of fighters to bombers was still low. However, since the Luftwaffe was absent, just one fighter would have been plenty.
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Flak was just as moderate as with the last mission, except that this time it was very inaccurate. Perhaps the counter-measures were working better or at least fooling the ground gunners better. The 2nd Air Division was able to run in and out without losing a single bomber.
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This was a Pathfinder-led mission, so its hard to say how well the bombing went. All 18 of the attacking planes were credited for hitting their target.
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The Group was lucky today, as they again suffered no casualites. But yesterday evening, an event took place that would heavily influence the disbandment of the Group. Metfield Airfield blew up!
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Metfield is about 30 miles southeast of Shipdham and was the home of the 491st Bomb Group. As they were unloading HE (high expolosive) bombs, one of them accidentally detonated. That set off a chain reaction of another 1200 tons of HE bombs. It destroyed 5 planes and damaged 6 others. It destroyed several buildings on the base. It damaged private property as far away as 5 miles. The hugh mushroom cloud was easily seen 30 miles away in Shipdham. The base was almost completely destroyed. Amazingly, only 5 men were killed.
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Over the next few weeks the accident would become a major factor in the fates of the 492nd and 491st. On one hand, there was the problem of having a fully functional group operating on a crippled base. On the other hand, there was a crippled group operating from a fully functional base. The solution was obvious and logical. Put the fully functional group on the fully functional base and dismantle the crippled group and base. There were other factors involved, but this was a biggie.
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| Mission Data |
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51
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Date:
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16 Jul 44
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Saarbrucken, Germany
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Marshalling yard
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Aircraft
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Bomb Load
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Tons:
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54
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Type:
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500 lb GPs
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Result:
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n/a
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Enemy Action
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Flak:
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Moderate
Inaccurate
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GAF:
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None
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Counter Action
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Kills:
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0
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492 Casualties
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KIA:
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WIA:
|
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POW:
|
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INT:
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