The Group received the Field Order at 0320 May 13, 1943. Briefing was held at 0930. Eighteen airplanes were scheduled. Four failed to taxi, and fourteen took off on schedule. The Group joined the 96th Group as scheduled. Due to a combination of poor visibility and the aborting of 96th Group leader and Deputy Group leader confusion occurred after joining. Col. Hatcher decided to proceed to the point of departure when it became evident that any other action would cause an abortive mission.
Upon reaching the point of departure, North Foreland, the Group headed on course in an attempt to join
the 401st Combat Wing. It was impossible to accomplish this before the enemy coast was reached. Col. Hatcher turned the
Group around and returned to base. The mission was abortive in all respects.
[Signed:] Theodore R. Milton, Major, Air Corps, Operations Officer.
Sqdn 508th A/C: 858 – G, 821 – F, 868 – K, 862 – H, 141 – A, 817 – D | (6) |
Sqdn 509th A/C: 838 – U, 841 – V, 684 – T, 863 – Y, 861 – X | (5) |
Sqdn 510th A/C: 848 – F, 701 – B, 874 – J | (3) |
Sqdn 511th A/C: 847 – T, 872 – W, 877 – X, 150 – Q | (4) |
Squadron | 508 Ops: | R1U | Squadron | 510 Ops: | PM3 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sta: | Pointer | Sta: | Sprocket | |||
Squadron | 509 Ops | R1U | Squadron | 511 Ops: | PM3 | |
Sta: | Pointer | Sta: | Sprocket |
Time: | Height: | Place of crossing English Coast OUT: |
---|---|---|
1523 | 25,000 Ft | Orford Ness |
1615 | 25,000 Ft | Dungeness |
Time: | Height: | Place of Recrossing Enemy Coast: |
---|---|---|
1641 | 25,000 Ft | Gravelines |
Time: | Height: | Place of crossing English Coast IN: |
---|---|---|
1701 | 25,000 Ft | Clacton |
Squadron | A/C Letter | A.T.O. | A.T.R. | Squadron | A/C Letter | A.T.O. | A.T.R. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
508 | 858–G | 1341 | 1716 | 509 | 838–U | 1349 | 1727½ |
821–F | 1342 | 1718 | 684–T | 1349 | 1725 | ||
862–H | 1342½ | 1720 | 861–X | 1347½ | 1724 | ||
868–K | 1349 | 1732 | |||||
141–A | 1348 | 1720½ | |||||
817–D | 1343 | 1717 | |||||
510 | 848–F | 1346 | 1638* | 511 | 847–T | 1350 | 1659* |
701–B | 1359 | 1726 | 878–W | 1355 | 1618* | ||
874–J | 1347 | 1619* |
Group Formation | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
508th Squadron | ||||||||
Hatcher – Stewart J. A/C 42-29858 G | ||||||||
Argiropulos A/C 42-29821 F | Geiger A/C 42-29868 K | |||||||
McCoy A/C 42-29862 H | ||||||||
Forest A/C 42-3141 A | Fitchen A/C 42-29817 D | |||||||
509th Sqdrn. | 510th Sqdrn. | |||||||
Ledoux – Russell A/C 42-29838 U | Forsythe – Stewart R. A/C 42-29863 Y | |||||||
Spika A/C 42-29841 V | Hathaway A/C 42-29684 T | Boyd A/C 42-29848 F | Norris A/C #43-3150 Q |
|||||
Adams A/C 42-29847 T | Carraway A/C 42-29701 B | |||||||
Peters A/C 42-29872 W | Moss A/C 42-29877 X | Strouse A/C 42-29861 X | Garcia A/C 42-29874 J |