351st Bomb Group

1. Roll Call and Airplane Assignments.
2. Target:
   1. Name – Chemical Works
   2. Location – Heroya [Norway]
   3. Name of Secondary – None
   4. Location of Secondary – None
   5. Name of Last Resort – None
   6. Location of Last Resort – None
3. General Information On Formation
   1. Wing formation – 102 CW [Combat Wing], 101 CW, 103 CW.
   2. Order of Groups in formation and altitude of each – 351st, 91st Low, 381st High.
   3. Our formation for bombing – Group Defensive
4. Pursuit Coverage - None
5. Diversions - 102nd CW will go in first. 103rd CW will follow 101st CW.
6. Navigator:

7. Stations –	0800
   Start Engines –	0900
   Taxi –	0915
   Take off –	0930

8. Don't leave gun stations until - Over England.
9. Weather -
10. S-2 [Intelligence] –
11. 1. Bomb Load is – 10 x 500
    2. IAS [Indicated Air Speed] for bombing is – 155
    3. IP Signals are:
       1. 5165
       2. Aldis Lamp
       3. Red Red
    4. Open Doors - On Squadron Leader
12. Special Briefing for all Officers of lead crews in Group S-2 [Intelligence]
13. Special instruction to all personnel: If C.W. assembly is delayed for any reason groups will proceed to target individually.
    Do not leave loaded flares in pistol after landing.
    
    Gunners, Radio operators, Navigators and Bombardiers leave the briefing room.
14. Comments to improve the formation and improve evasive action: Can loosen up on trip home.
15. Climb at 150 IAS. [Indicated Air Speed]
    Cruise at 153 IAS
    Reform after attack at 155 IAS
    Descend at 160 IAS and 200 feet per minute.
16. Any questions on who takes over the lead at anytime?
17. Special instructions in case of bad weather:
    Elsham - Emergency field - 1st choice.
    Wickenby - 2nd choice - Kinloss and Lossiemouth only in extreme emergercy.
18. Call signs:
    

    101 C.W. [Combat Wing]	Goonchild		91 Group	Goonchild Red
    102 C.W.	Bullpen		351 Group	Goonchild White
    103 C.W.	Fatgal		381 Group	Goonchild Blue

19. Identification colors:
    

    101 C.W.	RR [Red Red]		Group
    	YY		Group
    	GG		Group

20. Bomber to Bomber freq. 5165 kc [kilocycles].
21. VHF Channel (Bomber to Fighter) - B
22. Bomber to Fighter Call Signs:
    1. Bombers -
    2. Fighters -
    3. Ground -
    4. Collective Call -
    5. Recall -
    6. Abandon Ops -
23. Turn on VHF [Very High Frequency Radio] at Base - Channel B
24. Colors of the day:

    Time	Color	Ident.	Challenge
    0800 - 1400	YY	H	Y
    1400 - 2000	GG	V	O

25. Taxi Plan.
26. Spare Ship Plan.
27. Any Questions?

1. Twenty one airplanes took off on this Mission. The Group was led by Major R. W. Burns, in A/C #42-29851. The 351st Group was leading the 101st Combat Wing.
2. The assembly with the 91st Group and the 381st Group was made without incident.
3. The weather was exactly as forecast. There was a solid undercast of stratus all the way to the Norwegian coast. Upon reaching the TARGET, the undercast became broken.
4. The group made a two minute bomb run using the A.F.C.E. [Automatic Flight Control Equipment [Autopilot]] the results, as observed, were excellent. Cloud and smoke obscure the photographs.
5. No enemy fighters were seen. Slight and inaccurate FLAK caused minor battle damage on two airplanes.
6. There were no abortives, twenty-one airplanes attacked, and all returned safely.

1. The take-off was made as scheduled and the 351st Group made its rendezvous with the 101st Combat Wing on time.
2. The Combat Wing flew the course as briefed to the target, but altered slightly on the return in order to be over water and thus avoid flak areas. The target was successfully bombed.
3. The Group returned to Base as scheduled.

1. The 351st Group Leading the 101st Combat Wing, arrived at the I.P. [Initial Point of bomb run] at 1320 on course.
2. The target was semi-obscured by a 5/10 cloud overcast.
3. The North and South shore line of the target area was observed and a midpoint was chosen as aiming point with the sight synchronized on the aiming point.
4. Bombs were away at 1325 and hits were observed on the target. It was seen to be giving off large volume of smoke and fire.

1. The 351st Group experienced no serious difficulty. It was slightly early, and had to “S” a few times to allow the wing to form.
2. The Combat Wing formation was excellent throughout the entire trip.
3. The cruising speed was held between 150 and 155mph.
4. The A.F.C.E. [Automatic Flight Control Equipment - Autopilot] worked satisfactorily, allowing the bombardier to make a good bombing run.
5. The slight FLAK over the TARGET caused the group no trouble. There were no enemy fighters in sight.
6. Upon reaching the English coast, the Group returned to the base, POLEBROOK, rather than landing at the briefed emergency airfield. There were 200 gallons of gasoline remaining in the tanks.

Bombardier - 1st Lt. William A. Winter  Pilot - Major Robert W. Burns Navigator - 1st Lt. J.E. Danby
Aircraft # 42-29851 Take-off - 0930 Landed - 1705
Objective - Heroya, Norway
Aiming Point - Target  Initial Point (IP) - Jomfruland, Norway
Method of Attack - Group
Number of Planes in Unit - 21
Number of Planes in Each Unit Performing Sighting Operations - 2
Time of Attack - 1320  Time of Release - 1325
Approx. Length of Straight Approach - 55 seconds
Synchronization - On
Information at Release Point:
Altitude, True Above Target - 16,250
Calculated Indicated Air Speed - 155 M.P.H.
True Air Speed - 201 M.P.H.
Wind Direction - 347° True
Wind Velocity - 17 M.P.H.
True Heading - 31°
Drift - 4°R
True Track - 35 Degrees
D.S. - 160.4  Trail - 46   ATF - 33   Tan. D.A. - .54
Type of Release - Train
Point of Impact If Seen - Target
Winds - Altitude -  Direction -  Velocity -  Temp C. - Est. -° C. Actual -° C.

1. The target for the 101st Combat Wing was the Magnesium Works of the Nordisk Lett Works at Heroya, Norway, and the Main Point of Impact for the 351st group was the Aluminum Foundry Building. Results are very good.
2. Twenty-one A/C [Aircraft] were dispatched. All took off, and there were no abortives or loses.
3. No enemy A/C was encountered, but a couple of four-engined bombers were seen inside the coast. From the description they appear to be FW-200’s (Condor or Kurier).
4. Except for two very small pieces of flak, our ships were treated quite gently. It was meager — from 25-50 bursts being seen. Good for altitude, but poor for deflection. However the great abundance of the flak was directed at the Wing ahead and the group behind.
5. The weather was lucky—10/10 clouds along the route, but they broke just in time for the Bombardier to get a good bead on the Aluminum Foundry.
6. Observations were quite plentiful in spite of the weather:
   1. The large convoy discussed at the briefing was seen.
   2. Submarines were seen in the vicinity of 54° 55' N. and 03° 55' E. and 55° 08' N. and 04° 07' E., which is just in the center of the North Sea. Three crews reported one submarine, but one crew said they sighted a full fleet of them.
   3. A few ships were seen in the harbor leading to the target and in Oslo Fjord. Opinions differ, but one or two can be said to be warships—either light cruisers or destroyers. Many fishing boats were seen.
   4. An airfield just east of the target was seen.

1. For the mission of 24 July, 1943 no E/AC [Enemy Aircraft] were encountered, and no claims have been made by our Group.

Target - Heroya, Norway
1. Route followed. - Dead Recognition point at sea - coming in just off south of coast to Jomfruland [Island] Heading 12° M [Magnetic] to target left turn after target. Return within coast over Banda area
2. Visibility at Target. - No trails [contrails]; 4/10 cloud in target area, but target visible on run in.
3. No. of A/C over Target: 21
4. General Axis of attack. - 12° Magnetic
5. How long did formation fly straight and level before bombing? - 20 seconds
6. Turn after bombing. - Shallow turn to left to approximately 210° return.
7. Position of Group in relation to other Groups: 351st Lead, 381st high, and 91st low.
8. What evasive action was taken? - Ordinary "S"ing going into target.
9. A short description of Flak en route. - Going in, the first encounter with several bursts was at Jomfruland. At target, from 24 to 50 bursts (black with few scattered white) were intended for our Group. More intense flak was seen directed at preceeding Wing and Group behind. Long intervals between bursts and generally fair for height, but poor for deflection. Mostly trailing.
10. Any other comments, phenomena, etc. - shortly after target, upon nearing coast near Sandviken, four bursts were seen low and trailing. It is believed a flak ship was in the bay. Flashes from guns at target area verified at least six guns in vicinity. Seen continuous following used thruout [sic].

1. The following is a summary of the Hot News reported at the interrogation of the Mission of July 24, 1943;
   1. A/C - X - [42–29861] - 509th Squadron- Flying at 5000 to 6000 feet at 1600 hours on course, approximately 35 minutes from England sighted two dinghies leaving a trail of orange paint for approximately three miles. No one was visible in dinghies. Two B-17’s were near dinghies, but not circling it.
   2. A/C - H - [42-29831] - 510th Squadron - reported a SOS at 1532 hours. This SOS reported engine trouble, gas low, under control. Call Letters 5-M-L-J.
   3. A/C - D - [42-29762] - 510th Squadron flying at 12,000 feet at 1419 hours reported a B-17 from the Group to the rear of the 351st Group, turned back toward Norway. Position at time was 56°58'N. – 06°45'E.
   4. A/C - U - [42-29812] - 509th Squadron saw a submarine breaking the surface near a vessel at 1141.

1. There were no aircraft malfunctions.
2. No aircraft failed to take off as scheduled.
3. Abortives: None.
4. Battle Damage.
   1. Airplane No. 42-29860, 509th Squadron, small flak hole in middle of wing near trailing edge.
   2. Airplane No. 42-29874, 510th Squadron, very small flak holes on right side of Fuselage.
   3. Extent and cause of battle damage.
   Total A/C 2 - Minor Damage 2 – Major Damage 0 – By Flak 2 - By Fighter 0 – By Friend 0
   [Signed] Otto R. Vasak, Captain, Air Corps, Group Engineering Officer.

1. The following are the deficiencies and disabilities as determined by interrogation following the mission on July 24, 1943.
2. Squadron - 508 A/C - 140 Crew Member - S/Sgt L. Legendre (BT) - Oxygen mask is ripped.
3. Squadron - 508 A/C - 140 Crew Member - T/Sgt W. Harber (TT) - Stomach cramp.
4. Squadron - 508 A/C - 716 Crew Member - S/Sgt L. Mount (TG) - Needs new fit on oxygen mask.
5. Squadron - 510 A/C - 831 Crew Member - S/Sgt G. Glick (TG) - Gloves and boots inoperative.

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

   Sqdn 508th A/C: 851 – J, 823 – C, 090 –N, 821 – F, 868 – K, 716 – A	(6)
   Sqdn 509th A/C: 860 – W, 841 – V, 630 – S, 861 –X, 9812 – U,	(5)
   Sqdn 510th A/C: 874 – J, 762 – D, 850 – G, 831 – H, 839 – C, 948 – B, 272 – M,	(7)
   Flying Spare A/C: 509th - 140 – P, 749 – Z, 511th - 824 – S,	(3)

2. Target: SN-136
   
3. Station call sign and Operational call sign respectively of each Squadron

   Squadron	508 Ops:	P1P		Squadron	510 Ops:	MV3
   	Sta:	Wild Cheer			Sta:	Worm Track
   Squadron	509 Ops	P1P		Squadron	511 Ops:	MV3
   	Sta:	Knitwell			Sta:	Shudder

4. Taxi Time – 1st A/C 0915;     Take-Off Time 1st A/C 0930;     E.T.D. Over Field 0957

5. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast OUT:
   1032	6,000 Ft	Splasher #5

6. Time:	Height:	Place of Recrossing Enemy Coast:
   1417	16,000 Ft	58°04'N-07°40'E

7. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast IN:
   1630	2,000 Ft	53°30'N-00°10'E

8. E.T.R.(Estimated Time of Return): 1659 Hours
9. MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section: O
10. Bomb load of Each A/C:
    Squadron: 508 10–500 pound G.P.[General Purpose], Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 509 10–500 pound G.P.[General Purpose], Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 510 10–500 pound G.P.[General Purpose], Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: Spares 10–500 pound G.P.[General Purpose], Fuse - 1/10 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	0930	1707	509	860–W	0939	1712½
    	823–C	0939	1721		841–V	0940	1713½
    	090–N	0934	1720		630–S	0941	1715
    	821–F	0935	1722		861–X	0942	1717
    	868–K	0936	1723½		9812–U	0942	1718
    	716–A	0936	1723	Spares	140–P	0938	1728
    					749–Z	0937	1724½
    510	874–J	0930	1708	511
    	762–D	0931	1710	Spare	824–S	0938	1732
    	850–G	0931	1710½
    	831–H	0932	1711
    	839–C	0932	1712
    	948–B	0933	1719
    	272–M	0941	1715½

    Report Compiled By C.A. Blanchard, S/Sgt.
    

* Denotes Camera Ships