351st Bomb Group

Group Mission #6

Credited Mission #5

Outline for Briefing:

1. Target
   1. Name – Lock Gate in Port Area
   2. Location – St. Nazaire
   3. Name of Secondary – Airplane Assembly Works
   4. Location of Secondary – Nantes
   5. Name of Last Resort –
   6. Location of Last Resort –
2. S-2 Enemy Pursuit Expected
   1. Number and Type –
   2. Pictures and Short description of any new types –
3. Flak Officer – Flak Expected
   1. On Route In
   2. At Target
   3. On Route Back
4. General information of formation
   1. Wing formation – 102 C.W. [Combat Wing] 101 C.W. 103 C.W.
   2. Order of Groups in formation and altitude of each – 91 Group 24,000, 351 23,000, Composite Group 25,000
   3. Our formation for bombing – Group defensive
   4. Pursuit coverag 4 Squadron of Spit V's [Spitfire 5's] from Gaincamp to English Coast and 2 Squadron of Spit IV's from to and Squadron from Same to Same and 3 Squadron of P-47's from Same to Same.
   5. Bomb Loading 2 - 2000 lb. bombs with 1/10 sec. delay nose fuse and 1/40 sec. delay tail fuse per airplane.
   6. IAS [Indicated Air Speed] for bombing will be 160 MPH.
5. Navigator
   1. This Group Assembles with the 91st Comp. Groups at Cambridge at 1140 at an altitude of 16,000.
   2. Route out and times at check points.
   3. Climb will start at St Albans and altitude will be reached at Hereford.
   4. Axis of attack is 251° Magnetic.
   5. Distance from IP [Initial Point of Bomb Run] to Target is 22 min. and time at IP is 1359 and time at Target is 1407.
   6. Direction of turn and course after attack is to the Right to a course of 277. The rally point is 10 Miles East Bells Island.
   7. Route back and times at check points.
   8. Point where descent will start is Mid Channel. Descent will be to 3,000 feet.
   9. Total time for mission is 5:21.
   10. Length of time over 10,000 feet is 3 hr.
   11. Deadline for last take off is 1120 and the point to intercept the group is St Albans at 10,000 feet.
   12. Time Tick.
6. Station – 1225
   Start engines – 1325
   Taxi – 1335
   Take off – 1350
   
7. Don't leave gun stations until _______. Watch Your Own Sector.
8. Point to airplane assignments and explain.
9. Weather Officer
   1. General Weather and visibility along entire Route is
   2. Weather and Visibility at IP and Target is
   3. Winds at cruising altitude are
   4. Temperature at cruising altitude is
   5. Pressure altitude at target is
10. A ______ flare will be fired at the IP.
11. S-2 [Intelligence] – Show Pictures and maps of the target. Have direction of attack laid out on maps and pictures. Any other comments that are desired. (Comments must be cleared with C.O. [Commanding Officer] first).
12. Any special instructions to all personnel.
    
    Gunners, Radio operators, Navigators and Bombardiers leave the briefing room. Report to personal property room.
13. Comments to improve the formation and improve evasive action.
14. Climb at 150 IAS. [Indicated Air Speed]
    Cruise at 160 IAS
    Reform after attack at 155 IAS
    Descend at 170 IAS and 500 feet per minute.
15. Any questions on who takes over the lead at anytime? Between IP and target?
16. Special instructions in case of bad weather.
17. Call signs bomber to bomber:
    91st Group Clubhouse 4
    351 Group Clubhouse 5
    Composite Group Clubhouse 6
    _____ Group ______
    Collective call sign_______
    Recall ____________
18. Identification colors: 91st Group Red Yellow - Aldis [Signaling Light] - D
    351 Group Green Yellow - Aldis - E
    Composite Group Red Green - Aldis - F
    _____ Group ______
19. Bomber to bomber freq. 5010 kc [kilocycles].
20. Bomber to fighter channel B
21. Bomber to fighter call signs:
    1. Bombers VHF
    2. Fighters ___________
    3. Ground ___________
22. Turn on VHF [Very High Frequency Radio] at Portland Bill
23. Colors of the day:

    Time	Color	Ident.	Challenge
    0800 - 1400	YY	L	S
    1400 - 2000	GG	J	P
    2000 - 0200	RR	V	B

24. Taxi plan for take off and landing, and spare airplanes.
25. Any questions.

Operations Narrative:

1. The Field Order for the mission of 29 May was received at 2203 Hours 28 May 1943. Briefing was held at 0900 Hours 29 May 1943.
2. Twenty-one aircraft took off - twenty as scheduled (1350) and one, 42-29877, took off late. 42-29877 was unable to contact the formation and returned to base, Four (4) other aircraft aborted before reaching the target for the following reasons:

A/C No.	Flying Time	Pilot	Reason
42-3141	0:20	Cagle	Runaway Prop, #2 engine
42-3140	3:35	0'Mohundro	Elevator and Stabilizer damaged when testing guns
42-29861	3:03	Jackson	Oxygen line in ball turret broke at 23,000'
42-29684	1:21	Hathaway	Oxygen line in ball turret broke at 10,000'

3. The rendezvous with the 91st Group proceeded as scheduled. Although the visibility in Southern England was restricted no difficulty was encountered. Approaching France, the weather cleared, and was ideal over the target.
4. Scarcely any opposition was encountered short of the target. At the approach to the target, heavy flak, moderate in intensity, and accurate in range and deflection, was encountered.
5. No fighters were seen on the bomb run. One of our aircraft, 42-29838, was apparently hit by flak while on the bomb run. Lt. C. J. RUSSELL was the pilot of this aircraft. He succeeded in dropping his bombs, but straggled and was attacked by some eight or ten fighters. When last seen, 42-29838 was heading for the water and rapidly losing altitude.
6. The lead aircraft, 42-29851, was piloted by Lt. Col. HATCHER. The bomb run was started on the C-1 Auto-pilot. The 91st Group forced the 351st Group off the target. The C-1 Auto-pilot was then turned off, and the bomb run completed manually. Preliminary reports indicate that the bombs may have hit the railroad yards.
7. Fighter attacks were neither determined or numerous. Me-109's and FW-190's were definitely seen; and one gunner reported having seen a JU-88. No attempts at aerial bombing were observed.
[Signed:] THEODORE R. MILTON Major, Air Corps Operations Officer

Group Navigator’s Narrative:

1. The Group took off from the base at 1350 and rendezvoused with the 101 CW at Cambridge at 1440. We proceeded to Hereford as per Flight Plan and rendezvoused with the 102 and 103 CW's. At Hereford the Group was at 22,000'.
2. Splasher #14 was meaconed [to give false signals] and spoiled on all frequencies at 1545 and could not be used. The rest of the mission proceeded as per Flight Plan and bombs were away at 1707 on a heading of 270° magnetic. The 351st Group was forced to the right of target by another Group which came across the target on a northerly heading.
3. Landfall at the base was made on QDM [QDM is magnetic bearing from the A/C to a radio station] as low visibilities existed over that section.
4. Mission was as a whole, very successful from a navigational viewpoint except that Groups and CW's show a tendency to bunch up, several abreast instead of following in trail. This results in congestion over the target, thus lowering the bombing accuracy of what could have been a perfect mission. [Signed:] RALPH MENEES, Captain, Air Corps, Group Navigation Officer.

Bombardier's Narrative:

1. The Initial point was reached by the formation on schedule. The turn on the target was made according to operating procedure and the target was located in the bombsight Optics at once.
2. The approach to the target was made with evasive action and heavy flak was seen over the target. The flak was accurate for range and deflection. The lead Group was seen to be flying in a southerly direction as cur approach was started.
3. As the Group came to the end of the approach, many bomb bursts on and around the target were observed through the optics.
4. When the Group leveled off and went on the bombing run the lead Group had also swung back from the south on its bombing run. They were flying a collision course with the 351st making it necessary for the pilot to swing away from the P.D.I. [Pilots Deviation Indicator] course.
5. Bombs went away at 1707 as per Flight Plan, but the heading at the time was 275 degrees instead of the 250 degrees which was the original and ordered heading of the bombing run. Drift was 6 degrees left.
6. The bombs that were spotted ware accurate for range, but deflection was off to the right.
[Signed:] D. F. STEVENS, 2nd Lt., Air Corps, Lead Bombardier.

Damage Assessment:

1. A study of the sequence and aerial numbers revealed that the main target was well covered; the bursts being concentrated on the “quai Des Fraigates” [Quai des Frégates] (a warehouse dock) with direct hits as near as evidenced, on the gas works and large work shop. The second concentration seemed to be on the “quai De Mangs” [Quai des Marées] with the Civil Engineering department receiving the heaviest damage, and also definite bursts on the buildings to the left of the sub pens.
2. There is evidence that fire was started in this area.
3. The second concentration of bombs is in an area 600 yards N. of the top basin. Damage assessment in this area cannot be predicted.
4. The third large concentration is in an area 3000 yards N.E. of the top basin. There is a definite bomb pattern there, but smoke prevents definite damage assessment.
5. There was some bombs is the basin and In the Channel.
6. The majority of the damage was in the target area with a 60 per cent estimate of effectiveness.
[Signed:] Thomas L. Cooper, 1st. Lt., Air Corps, Group PI [Photo Interpretation] Officer

Intelligence S-2 Narrative:

1. Maximum effort was ordered for this group for 29 May, 1943. Twenty one (21) planes took off between 1350 and 1420 hours. Sixteen planes bombed the primary target, the east gate of the basin at St. Nazaire, with results estimated as good to fair. About 20 to 40 enemy planes were encountered, but only a few came within the range of our guns. Flak both red and black bursts, was encountered over Guernsey and Jersey Islands, on the French coast, both in and out on course to the target, and over the target. It was considered heavy to moderate with the heaviest flak over the target and light inaccurate flak on the northern coast of the French mainland. Five A/C [Aircraft] returned early because of the following reasons:
   (a) A/C T-684, Lt. Hathaway, pilot, turned back at 1447 hours just short of St. Albans Head because of a broken oxygen line. (509th Sqdn.)
   (b) A/C X-877, Lt. Spika, pilot, missed the formation after taking off late and turned back from Cambridge. (509th Sqdn.)
   (c) A/C A-882 Lt, Cagle, pilot, turned back at 1355 hrs. just over the home field because of a runaway prop in the No. 2 engine. (508th Sqdn.)
   (d) A/C P-140, Lt. O'Mohondro, pilot, turned back 20 miles short of the French coast on course at 1630 hrs. because of a gun malfunction in the Right waist gun, in which the stabilizer-elevator was damaged. (509th Sqdn.)
   (e) A/C X-861, Lt. Jackson, pilot, turned back over the English coast on course at 1500 hrs. because the oxygen line to the Ball Turret was broken. The operator, Sgt. Hollinger, hurt his leg leaving the turret.
   
2. Two planes were forced to make emergency landings at wing Aerodrome before proceeding to this field. Lt. Boyd's A/C J-874 suffered a damaged wing when a bomb from a plane above fell on and broke part of the wing. One plane, A/C U-838, was lost near Belle Island after being hit by flak and then being attacked by several FW 190's. Ten chutes were seen to open before the plane crashed. There is one claim of a FW 190 destroyed.

[Signed:] JOHN L. SCOTT Major, Air Corps Group S-2 [Intelligence]

Bomb Camera Photos:
Click on Photo to Enlarge

Track Chart and Combat Duplication Check Form:
Click on Chart to Enlarge

Enemy Aircraft Claims :

• A/C No. 874;     Time 1750;     Height 17,000 feet;    Place where attacked – 45° 55’ N 3° 12’ W
  Story of attack: FW 190 came in at 5:30 to about 600 yards. Four gunners all fired at same time. All four saw E/A fall into spin, smoking badly. Ball turret and tail gunners followed E/A down and saw him crash into water. All state they are equally responsible for destroying this plane.
  Our gun positions firing on E/A: T/Sgt J.J. Gurbindo, Radio Gunner, S/Sgt. K.W. Landstrom, Right Waist Gunner, S/Sgt J.W. Keen, Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt. J.R. Farrell, Tail Gunner –  Corroborated by S/Sgt J.W. Keen, Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt. J.R. Farrell, Tail Gunner –  Other A/C firing at same time? None –  Comments of the interrogator – Designated Clamant: S/Sgt J.W. Keen

Altitude Chart:

Ground Temp. C	+7° C	45°F
Temp. Aloft C	-23° C	-9°F
Total	-4° C
Mean	-2° C
Mean for Computation	-2° C
Indicated Altitude	23,000 ft.
Pressure Altitude of Target	-266
Indicated Altitude above Target	22,734 ft.
Find True Altitude above Target	23,500 ft.
Elevation of Target	0 ft.
True Altitude above Sea Level	23,500 ft.

Flak Report:

Route Followed - 49° 20' N - 03° 00' W - Blain - Target - Bella Isle - Guingamp 49° 00' N - 03° 20' W
Visability at Target - Visibility Unlimited - No Condensation Trails
No. of A/C over Target: 16
General Axis of attack - 225°
How long did formation fly straight and level before bombing? One minute
Turn after bombing - No turn - evasive action only.
Description of Flak en route and at target - Moderate flak over Guernsey Island, good for altitude, poor for deflection. Intense, accurate flak over target. Slight inaccurate flak over coast at Quiberon Bay. No indication of predicted concentrations or barrages.
Any other Comments, Phenomena etc. - Red bursts noted over Guernsey and on coast near target, did not appear to form arrows. Flak ship noted off Brehat [France]- slight inaccurate fire.

Crew Comments:

1. A/C 871 - crew suggests a shorter time at the rendezvous point.
2. A/C 860 - bomb run too long; everyone should have chest packs; bigger lunches should be provided.
3. A/C 843 - better means of recognition should be provided between bombers and fighter escort.
4. A/C 839 - signal for recognition -between bombers and escort is needed. Lead ship should give signal.
5. A/C 817 - high squadron flying too much overhead the lower elements.
[Signed:] JOHN L. SCOTT, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2. [Intelligence]

Aircraft Summary Report:

1. There were no aircraft malfunctions on this mission.
2. No aircraft- failed to take off.
3. Abortive.
   1. Aircraft No. 42-3141, 508th Squadron, returned early due to malfunction of propeller governor causing a runaway propeller.
   2. Aircraft No. 42-29877, 511th Squadron, returned early because of Inability to locate group formation after take-off.
   3. Aircraft No. 42-29684, 509th Squadron, returned early due to failure of Oxygen system in ball turret. This failure was caused by breaking of flexible service line to ball turret at fitting to Oxygen bottle. This occurred upon Initial operation test after takeoff.
   4. Aircraft No. 42-3140, 509th Squadron returned early due to aircraft inability to maintain position in formation, when right elevator and stabilizer were damaged by three (3) shots from right waist gun, while gunner was attempting to clear malfunction of gun.
   5. Aircraft No. 42-29861, 509th Squadron, returned early due to broken flexible service line to Oxygen bottle in ball turret.
4. Battle Damage.
   1. Aircraft No. 42-29887, 510th Squadron, Flak hole in right stabilizer piercing skin, making one (1) hole, two inches in diameter. One (1) flak hole, one-half inch in diameter, in left wing underside. One (1) small flak hole exactly in front of left bomb bay door.
   2. Aircraft No. 42-29925, 510th Squadron, One (1) hole in bottom of nose section made by 30 cal., also puncturing Oxygen cylinder.
   3. Aircraft No. 42-29825, 511th Squadron, One (1) hole three inches in diameter in bombardier's plexi-glass nose section.
   4. Aircraft No. 42-29839, 510th Squadron, A three inch dent in leading edge of right horizontal stabilizer caused by lift raft falling out of compartment. One (1) small hole in leading edge of right wing in the outboard panel caused by flak. One (1) small hole in outboard wing panel in left wing also caused by flak.
   5. Aircraft No 42-3152, 510th Squadron, One (1) small flak hole, one-half inch in diameter, in trim tab.
   6. Aircraft No. 42-29882, 508th Squadron, One (1) flak hole in under side of right wing. Rear spar outer panel damaged by flak.
   7. Aircraft No. 42-29843, 510th Squadron, One (1) flak hole in right wing leading edge, damaging skin of ship only.
   8. Aircraft No. 42-29874, 510th Squadron, One linear foot of wing tip edge damaged by flak.

   [Signed:] JOSEPH A. DICKMANN, JR., 1st Lt. AC, Engineering Officer.

Hot News:

On the mission of May 29, 1943, the following items of hot news were reported.
1. Our A/C 860 observed A/C 838-U drop back after apparently being hit by flak. The ship lost altitude, but was under control, using evasive action. Eight E/AC attacked ship when dropping and evidently finished off. Ten chutes were seen leaving plane. Ship was last seen East of St. Nazaire toward Belle Island. Another report verified position as 47° 53' N - 3° 00' W.
2. Our A/C 860, flying at 24,000 feet at 1727 hours reported two unidentified B-17's collide 10 miles South of Guingamp, [France] on return course. Nine chutes were seen. One ship caught and collapsed a parachute as it went down. The remaining B-17 remained in flight, on course.
3. Our A/C 843-D flying at 18,000 feet at 1744 hours saw an unidentified B-17 crash into the sea, just off the Isle of Jersey. Three chutes were seen.
4. Our A/C 851 flying at 15,000 feet when halfway across channel on return course observed unidentified B-17 heading NW, losing altitude very fast and very close to water. No chutes were seen.
[Signed:] JOHN L. SCOTT, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

Pilot's Explanation to Abort:

1. Ship #140 - At approximately 16:30 approximately 50 miles from coast of France at 23,000 ft. the Right Waist Gunner, while trying to fix his gun, shot the right stabilizer and elevator, causing considerable damage.
   [Signed:] Jack H. O’Mohundro, 1st Lt.
2. Ship #877 – We were late in taking off and never found formation. Our reason for taking off late is that we had to change airplanes three times before we found one in condition. The first plane had bent gun jackets in the ball turret – work on the turret progressed so slow that it became necessary to change planes. The second plane, suppose to be in condition, had grease and dirt in all of the guns – ammunition in tail gun position was in backwards. We had already started to clear the guns when we were given another ship. The group had already started to take off while we were on our way to our third ship.
   [Signed:] Robert M. Spika, 1st Lt.
3. Ship #861 – Time 1600 – English Coast – Ball Turret oxygen line broke and the ball turret man tried to get out. The turret turned catching the man’s Legs and mashed and cut his left leg.
   [Signed:] Robert W Jackson 1st Lt.
4. Ship #684 – Ball Turret oxygen line broke at 10,000 feet. Aborted at 14:47.
   [Signed:] Richard E. Hathaway, 1st Lt.
5. Ship # 141 – Aborted 15:55 hours. No.2 prop governor ran away immediately after takeoff. We were unable to join the formation after feathering #2. We circled the field until all ships had cleared the runway and then called the tower for permission to land.
   [Signed:] Henderson Cagle, 1st Lt.

“J” Form:

1. Total No. A/C in each Squadron and Letters of each:

   Sqdn 508th A/C: 851 – J, 868 – K, 858 – G, 817 – D, 882 – L, 141 – A	(6)
   Sqdn 509th A/C: 860 – W, 861 – X, 838 – U, 684 – T, 140 – P	(5)
   Sqdn 510th A/C: 925 – L, 887 – K, 843 – D, 850 – G, 839 – C, 152 – A, 874 – J	(7)
   Sqdn 511th A/C: 825 – Z, 847 – T, 877 – X	(3)

2. Target: Z – 540 MP1 6575 D 5490/B (St, Nazaire, France)
   
3. Station call sign and Operational call sign respectively of each Squadron

   Squadron	508 Ops:	XC-5		Squadron	510 Ops:	F3P
   	Sta:	Wild Cheer			Sta:	Worm Track
   Squadron	509 Ops	XC-5		Squadron	511 Ops:	XC-5
   	Sta:	Knitwell			Sta:	Shudder

4. Taxi Time – 1st A/C 1335;     Take-Off Time 1st A/C 1350;     E.T.D. Over Field 1415

5. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast OUT:
   1600	23,000 Ft	Portland Bill

6. Time:	Height:	Place of Recrossing Enemy Coast:
   1745	12,000 Ft	Penvenan

7. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast IN:
   1821	12,000 Ft	Portland Bill

8. E.T.R.(Estimated Time of Return): 1901 Hours
9. MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section: "E"
10. Bomb load of Each A/C:
    Squadron: 508 2–2,000 pound, Fuse - 1/10 sec. Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 509 2–2,000 pound, Fuse - 1/10 sec. Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 510 2–2,000 pound, Fuse - 1/10 sec. Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 511 2–2,000 pound, Fuse - 1/10 sec. Nose, 1/40 Tail
11. Fuel Load of each A/C: 1700 Gals
12. Actual Times Off and Return by Squadrons and A/C Letters:

    Squadron	A/C Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.	Squadron	A/C Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.
    508	851–J	1350	1946½	509	860–W	1353½	1940
    	868–K	1351	1948		603–R	F.T.O.
    	858–G	1350½	1947		861–X	1354	1657
    	817–D	1351½			838–U	1354½
    	882–L	1352½	1949		684–T	1355½	1516
    	141–A	1352	1412		140–P	1355	1730
    510	925–L	1357½	1950	511	825–Z	1357	1943
    	887–K	1400	1950½		847–T	1356½	1944
    	843–D	1358	1745		877 –X	1420	1532
    	850–G	1358½	1951
    	839–C	1359½	1946
    	152–A	1359	1952
    	874–J	1401

    Abortives-
    141–A – Run away prop #2 Eng – Landed at 1412
    684–T – Ball Turret oxygen line broke 10,000 ft. Aborted 1447
    877–X – Take off delayed and never found formation at Rendezous point
    861–X – Oxygen line broke and when operator was leaving turret, same slipped and cut operator's left leg.
    140–P – While trying to fix waist gun, gunner shot right stabilizer and elevator causing considerable damage.
    Note: 817–D – Landed at Wing for refueling at 1945
    874–F – Landed at Wing for refueling at 1945
    Report Compiled By C.A. Blanchard Sgt.

Formation Chart:

Group Formation Take–Off
				508th Squadron
				Hatcher A/C #42-29851 J
			Kern A/C #42-29868 K		Reed A/C #42-29858 G
				Argiropulos A/C #42-29817 D
			Geiger A/C #42-29882 L		Cagle A/C #42-3141 A
	510th Sqdrn.						509th Sqdrn.
	Blaylock - Carraway A/C #42-29925 L						Ledoux - Johnson A/C #42-29860 W
Copeland A/C #42-29887 K		R.E. Smith A/C #42-29843 D				Spika A/C #42-29877 X		Jackson A/C #42-29861 X
	Kozarek A/C #42-29850 G						Russell A/C #42-29838 U
Hansen A/C #42-29839 C		Frischolz A/C #42-3152 A				Hathaway A/C #42-29684 T		O'Mohundro A/C #42-3140 P
	Boyd A/C #42-29874 J						Wilson A/C #42-29847 T
								Norris A/C #42-29825 Z

Spare Ships – Moss –877, Forest – 826

Group Formation Over–Target
				508th Squadron
				Hatcher A/C #42-29851 J
			Kern A/C #42-29868 K		Reed A/C #42-29858 G
				Argiropulos A/C #42-29817 D
					Geiger A/C #42-29882 L
	510th Sqdrn.						509th Sqdrn.
	Blaylock - Carraway A/C #42-29925 L						Ledoux - Johnson A/C #42-29860 W
Copeland A/C #42-29887 K		R.E. Smith A/C #42-29843 D				Norris A/C #42-29825 Z		Wilson A/C #42-29847 T
	Kozarek A/C #42-29850 G						Russell A/C #42-29838 U
Hansen A/C #42-29839 C		Frischolz A/C #42-3152 A
	Boyd A/C #42-29874 J

Time Schedule:
Zero Hour: 1600  Stations: 1225  Start Engines: 1325  Taxi: 1335  Take-off: 1350   Rendezvous: 1415
E.T.R.[Estimated Time of Return]: 1901

Missing Air Crew Report (MACR):

A/C# 42-29838   RQ-U   "The Concho Clipper"   Pilot: Lt. Russell   A/C's 4th Mission       MACR #16399

Aircraft Loss Circumstances:

Information in the MACR:
Returning crew members of other aircraft on same mission reported that Lt. Russell’s plane was hit by flak over the target area and dropped out of formation under control. His plane although losing altitude was using evasive action and had guns firing at 8 enemy aircraft that were following him. 10 parachutes were seen to come from the plane when last sighted 35 miles N and slightly E of St. Nazaire, France headed N. from Belle Island at approx. 47°53’N-03°0’W.

According to the book "The 351st Bomb Group in WWII" page 9, Just after bombs away 42-29838, piloted by Lt. Russell, was hit in the open bomb bay by an 88mm shell. The blast almost completely tore away the ball turret, along with the gunner, Sgt. Bader. The same blast killed Sgt. Welk in the radio room and Sgt. Baldwin, the waist gunner, and started a fire in the bomb bay. With two engines knocked out, the plane dropped out of formation. Immediately it was attacked by several FW 190s which scored hits almost at will. Lt. Russell put the plane into a dive which extinguished the flames, but number three propeller was "running away" and shaking the entire ship violently. Leveling out at roughly 22,000 feet, Lt. Russell gave the order to bail out. Sgt. Williams, tail gunner, and Sgt.Eaton, top turret, went out through the hole torn by the blast. Lts. Russell and Gritkas(sic) went through the bomb bay and Lt Woerhle, bombardier, through the front hatch. As Lt. Stealey, navigator, sat on the edge of the hatch, the plane blew up. Regaining consciousness, he looked up to see his parachute streaming in tatters. He just had time to brace himself before he hit the water. After 90 minutes he was rescued by some French people and taken to a hospital where it was established that he had a broken left arm, two broken ribs, and a hairline fracture of the skull. The rest of the crew landed on the shore and were captured immediately, except for Lt. Russell who exaded capture and lived with a Free French Group for several months before being betrayed.

From the web site: armyairforces.com forum it was stated that a memorial was dedicated on 18 November 2006 in the town of Ploeren, France where the Concho Clipper crashed.

Individual Accounts of Crewmen Fates:

Interrogation of Former Prisoners of War [2nd Lt. Leo Grikstas] 15 November 1945
To: Commanding General, Army Air Forces, Room 4315 Munitions Building
In compliance with your TWX AFPPS, 28 Sept 45, the following information is submitted:

1. Name of casualty: McLaughton (I don’t remember first name)
2. Rank: Sgt.
3. Crew Position: Waist Gunner
4. Date last seen: 29 May 1943
5. Place last seen: At time of take off for bombing mission over St. Nazaire.
6. Circumstances of loss of aircraft: I was co-pilot on this mission. At approximately 1700 on 29 May 1943 our B-17 aircraft which was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group, 509th Squadron was attacked by fighters and flak over the target area St. Nazaire. Our number 3 engine was burning, the number 2 engine failed to function and all instruments were out. It was approximately 10 to 15 minutes from the time the aircraft was originally hit until the time the pilot gave the order to bail out.
7. Known information (eye witness only): I bailed out through the nose hatch and landed about 4 Km. from the town of Vannes, France. I could not see whether Sgt. McLaughton bailed out because the door between the pilot’s section and the bomb bay section was closed.
8. Hearsay information: I met my pilot at Miami, Florida when I returned to the states and he said that he met a crew that thought they saw nine parachutes leave our plane, however, another plane in our group was shot down about 100 yards behind us and it is possible that the crew members of this second plane may have been confused with crew members of our plane. Within the past week I received a letter from the pilot, Lt. C.J. Russell, who is stationed at Turner Field, Alabama Air Base, who advised me that he received a letter from France which indicated that all of the missing crew members from our plane were buried with military honors. In my reply to this letter, I suggested to the pilot that he bring the letter to the attention of the Intelligence Officer at the field where he is presently stationed.
     [Signed:] Leo Grikstas, 2nd Lt., Air Corps, Goodfellow Field, Texas

Individual Accounts of Crewmen Fates:

POW Records:

• Pilot - 1st Lt Russell, Colonel J Jr, S/N O-663568 from Texas, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Co-pilot - F/O Grikstas, Leo, S/N T-178, POW in Germany, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Navigator - 2nd Lt Stealey, Roy P. S/N O-733485, from Illinois, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11. Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Bombardier - 1st Lt Woehrle, Charles B. S/N O-733394, from Minnesota, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11. Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Top Turret Gunner - S/Sgt Eaton, Charles T. S/N 6861102, from Kansas, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15. Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Radio Operator - T/Sgt Welk, James F. S/N 16023660, Killed in Action.
• Waist Gunner - S/Sgt Bader, Nahannie S/N 11021957, Killed in Action.
• Waist Gunner - S/Sgt McLaughlin, Maurice A., S/N 31147662, Killed in Action.
• Ball Turret - T/Sgt Baldwin, Wayne I., S/N 12045024, Killed in Action.
• Tail Gunner - S/Sgt Williams, Fred D. Jr, S/N 32424903, From New York, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15. Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.

Burial Records:

The burial records below courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission http://www.abmc.gov and findagrave.com

• T/Sgt Welk, James F., From Wisconsin, Date of Death May 29, 1943, Buried: Forest Home Cemetery, Rhinelander, Oneida Co., Wisconsin.
• S/Sgt Bader, Nahannie, From Massachusetts, Date of Death May 29, 1943, Buried: Plot H Row 1 Grave 13, Brittany American Cemetery, Saint James, France. Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
• S/Sgt McLaughlin, Maurice A., From Maine, Date of Death May 29, 1943, Buried: Plot L Row 2 Grave 22, Brittany American Cemetery, Saint James, France. Awards: Purple Heart
• T/Sgt Baldwin, Wayne I., From New York, Date of Death May 29, 1943, Buried: Plot L Row 12 Grave 21, Brittany American Cemetery, Saint James, France. Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

 [Prisoner of War - 6]  [Killed in Action - 4]