April 29th, 1944
Mission No. 667
Toulon, France
Mission and Target: Cover bomb run of three groups of Composite Wing, then circle and cover withdrawal of four groups of 47th Wing. Target: Toulon Harbor, submarine, and arsenal.
Aircraft and Chronology: 54 took off by 0905 hours; 7 returned early (6 mechanical, 1 escort, 3 of these get sorties); 47 over target from 1140 to 1230 hours. All planes refueled in Corsica on return and 2 remain there overnight. 45 down at base by 1926 hours.
Route: Base to Ponza Island - 135 miles; to Rendezvous 25 miles SW of Toulon - 395 miles; to target - 25 miles; to Popgo A/B - 180 miles; to Ponza Island -215 miles; to base - 135 miles. Total miles 1300 (including 215 miles allowance for circling at rendezvous and in target area).
Rendezvous, Formation and Assault: 82nd was 20 minutes early at rendezvous, arriving even before B-17's. Circled waiting for Composite Wing of B-24's and took them in to the target with 95th Squadron on left and 2,000 feet above, 97th Squadron on right and 2,000 feet above, 96th Squadron with P38-J's to rear and 4,000 feet above.
B-24's apparently made first bomb run on wrong axis and all B-24 groups made wide circle for a second run on the target. The 96th Squadron made 360's at first SW of target area and then East of the target area, picking up the 47th Wing withdrawing. 97th Squadron circled widely over Ciano before escorting 47th Wing out. 95th Squadron circled widely West of target area and came back underneath bombers, having lost altitude in brief fight. All squadrons were at rendezvous and in target area for approximately 70 minutes. They left the bombers 100 miles out to sea on withdrawal at 20,000 feet and at 1305 hours.
Results of Bombing: Not accurately observed because of smoke screen and haze.
Strafing: None
Enemy Aerial Activity: Two Fw190's kept dipping out of clouds above one group of B-24's in target area, finally making pass at B-24's without apparently spotting P-38's behind. Major Phillips, formation leader, overtook one of these two E/A and shot it down as it was climbing, straight and level for cloud cover. Other Fw190 saw P-38's in time and dove for deck. Two other S/E E/A were seen and inconclusively pursued.
Flak: Medium to intense, accurate, heavy in target area, main from NE section.
Significant Observations: (a) Enemy Shipping: At least two M/V's proceeding East along coast 15 miles West of Toulon - seen from 20,000 feet at 1200 hours. Considerable shipping in harbor proper and several ships apparently leaving harbor to escape bombing - seen from 22,000 feet at 1150 hours. (b) Smoke screen surrounded target area in great circle - open space in center, and NE wind blowing smoke to SW.
Weather: (a) Enroute - overcast over Italy and Corsica, clear over water. (b) Over target - haze to 10,000 feet, visibility about 15 miles, and solid overcast at 25,000 to 28,000 feet.
Air-Sea Rescue: None.
Radio: Fairly satisfactory. One bomber heard throwing everything overboard to lighten ship, up to and possibly including heaviest crew member.
Friendly Aircraft Lost: (a) one B-24 went down over target with three chutes opening. (b) One B-24 exploded over target with eight chutes opening. (c) One B-24 (see per RADIO) heard lightening ship.
Enemy Aircraft Destroyed by Others: None.
Victories and Losses: Destroyed: 1 - Fw190 - Major Herbert L. Phillips.
Sorties: 47 - effective, 3 - non-effective: Total - 50 sorties.
Formation and Flight Leaders: 95th Squadron; Major Phillips (formation leader), Lts. Johnson, DiLaure, and League. 96th Squadron; Lts. Dolezal, Dean, Mouss, Capt. Trammell. 97th Squadron; Lts. Tate, Chatfield, Phillips, Eckerman, and Engh.
Comments: (a) Formation leader feels various P-38 groups should, if possible, be staged at different A/D's in Corsica since refueling at Eastia took over three and one-half (3 1/2) hours. (b) Lt. Thomas had one engine throw a rod near rendezvous. Engine caught on fire but he side-slipped fire out and reach Ajaccic safely for one engine landing.
Aircraft and Chronology:
Took Off------------------------Early Returns-------------------Over Target------------------Base-------
95th------16-------------------------2----------------------------14------------------------14--------
96th------18-------------------------3----------------------------15-----------------------*14--------
97th------20-------------------------2----------------------------18--------------------***17---------
*- Lt. Thomas remains at Ajaccic .
**- Lt. Griffith remains at Borgo after hydraulic system flooded cockpit.
Signed: David Weld, Captain, Air Corps, Intelligence Officer
Toulon, France
Mission and Target: Cover bomb run of three groups of Composite Wing, then circle and cover withdrawal of four groups of 47th Wing. Target: Toulon Harbor, submarine, and arsenal.
Aircraft and Chronology: 54 took off by 0905 hours; 7 returned early (6 mechanical, 1 escort, 3 of these get sorties); 47 over target from 1140 to 1230 hours. All planes refueled in Corsica on return and 2 remain there overnight. 45 down at base by 1926 hours.
Route: Base to Ponza Island - 135 miles; to Rendezvous 25 miles SW of Toulon - 395 miles; to target - 25 miles; to Popgo A/B - 180 miles; to Ponza Island -215 miles; to base - 135 miles. Total miles 1300 (including 215 miles allowance for circling at rendezvous and in target area).
Rendezvous, Formation and Assault: 82nd was 20 minutes early at rendezvous, arriving even before B-17's. Circled waiting for Composite Wing of B-24's and took them in to the target with 95th Squadron on left and 2,000 feet above, 97th Squadron on right and 2,000 feet above, 96th Squadron with P38-J's to rear and 4,000 feet above.
B-24's apparently made first bomb run on wrong axis and all B-24 groups made wide circle for a second run on the target. The 96th Squadron made 360's at first SW of target area and then East of the target area, picking up the 47th Wing withdrawing. 97th Squadron circled widely over Ciano before escorting 47th Wing out. 95th Squadron circled widely West of target area and came back underneath bombers, having lost altitude in brief fight. All squadrons were at rendezvous and in target area for approximately 70 minutes. They left the bombers 100 miles out to sea on withdrawal at 20,000 feet and at 1305 hours.
Results of Bombing: Not accurately observed because of smoke screen and haze.
Strafing: None
Enemy Aerial Activity: Two Fw190's kept dipping out of clouds above one group of B-24's in target area, finally making pass at B-24's without apparently spotting P-38's behind. Major Phillips, formation leader, overtook one of these two E/A and shot it down as it was climbing, straight and level for cloud cover. Other Fw190 saw P-38's in time and dove for deck. Two other S/E E/A were seen and inconclusively pursued.
Flak: Medium to intense, accurate, heavy in target area, main from NE section.
Significant Observations: (a) Enemy Shipping: At least two M/V's proceeding East along coast 15 miles West of Toulon - seen from 20,000 feet at 1200 hours. Considerable shipping in harbor proper and several ships apparently leaving harbor to escape bombing - seen from 22,000 feet at 1150 hours. (b) Smoke screen surrounded target area in great circle - open space in center, and NE wind blowing smoke to SW.
Weather: (a) Enroute - overcast over Italy and Corsica, clear over water. (b) Over target - haze to 10,000 feet, visibility about 15 miles, and solid overcast at 25,000 to 28,000 feet.
Air-Sea Rescue: None.
Radio: Fairly satisfactory. One bomber heard throwing everything overboard to lighten ship, up to and possibly including heaviest crew member.
Friendly Aircraft Lost: (a) one B-24 went down over target with three chutes opening. (b) One B-24 exploded over target with eight chutes opening. (c) One B-24 (see per RADIO) heard lightening ship.
Enemy Aircraft Destroyed by Others: None.
Victories and Losses: Destroyed: 1 - Fw190 - Major Herbert L. Phillips.
Sorties: 47 - effective, 3 - non-effective: Total - 50 sorties.
Formation and Flight Leaders: 95th Squadron; Major Phillips (formation leader), Lts. Johnson, DiLaure, and League. 96th Squadron; Lts. Dolezal, Dean, Mouss, Capt. Trammell. 97th Squadron; Lts. Tate, Chatfield, Phillips, Eckerman, and Engh.
Comments: (a) Formation leader feels various P-38 groups should, if possible, be staged at different A/D's in Corsica since refueling at Eastia took over three and one-half (3 1/2) hours. (b) Lt. Thomas had one engine throw a rod near rendezvous. Engine caught on fire but he side-slipped fire out and reach Ajaccic safely for one engine landing.
Aircraft and Chronology:
Took Off------------------------Early Returns-------------------Over Target------------------Base-------
95th------16-------------------------2----------------------------14------------------------14--------
96th------18-------------------------3----------------------------15-----------------------*14--------
97th------20-------------------------2----------------------------18--------------------***17---------
*- Lt. Thomas remains at Ajaccic .
**- Lt. Griffith remains at Borgo after hydraulic system flooded cockpit.
Signed: David Weld, Captain, Air Corps, Intelligence Officer