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Updated: 01/28/2004 |
| NOBALL #107 - GRAND PARC Date: 14 January 1944 |
Return to Chronology of the 447th |
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Mission Commentary MISSION # 8 Between the hours of 1328 and 1351, 14 January 1944, 21 A/C of the 447th Bombardment Group took off. Normal clear weather assembly was accomplished on schedule. There was no Wing rendezvous. Fighters gave full support during the entire mission and no flak or enemy fighters were encountered. All A/C of the 447th Group returned without mishap to base. Bombing results were reported as very good except for a few reports of some bombs over or a little wide. All crews reported their bombs to be within the target area. SAV photos available at this time show one "strike" over, two short, remaining in concentrated pattern within target area. |
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Combat Roster
Details provided by Iver G. Igelsrud
| For this mission, the 447th used three squadrons of seven
ships each. The raids were conducted on a group by group basis. Since
the targets were near the northern coast of France, the BGs enjoyed
constant fighter protection. The bombing altitude was quite a bit lower
than for strategic targets, 12000 feet.
LEAD
HIGH
Low
Ground Spares
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From Operational Charts (Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group 1946)
| Mission No. | 8 |
| Mission | NOBALL No. 107 GRAND PARC |
| Date | JAN 14 |
| Field Order | 131 |
| A/C Airborne | 21 |
| A/C Dispatched | 21 |
| A/C Attacking | 21 |
| A/C Failing to Attack | 0 |
| Bombs Dropped | |
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No./Type |
247 GP |
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Tons |
62 |
| Result of Bombing | Fair |
| Bombing Altitude | 12,000 |
| Time of Take Off | 1340 |
| Time of Landing | 1715 |
| Position in Combat Wing | LEAD 4CBW |
| Group Leader | Col. H. Harris, Jr. |
| Confirmed Claims on E/A | |
| Destroyed | 0 |
| Probable | 0 |
| Damaged | 0 |
| Aircraft Lost | 0 |
| Casualties | |
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K |
0 |
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W |
0 |
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M |
0 |
| A/C Battle Damage | |
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Maj. |
0 |
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Min. |
0 |
| Other Data |
| From Combat
Diary - Edward Beaty
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| From Combat
Diary - Lt. Joseph Gentner
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| From Combat
Diary - Sgt Harley Tuck
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If you have additional
information or personal recollections of this mission,
Please let us know!
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requires the explicit written consent of the contributors.
Briefed
at 1130 a.m. for a short haul over the French coast. Carried 12x500 lb
HE's in "The Gimp" 100, Lt. Lewis' ship. Flew lead of third
element, high squadron. Altitude 12,000 ft. Weather good. Bombed
visually. Target coastal installations. Think we did a good job. No
flak, no enemy fighter attacks. Saw one enemy fighter shot down. 4 hrs.
in the air. Easy run. Four out of six. Mission accomplished. Sweating
out the air medal.
Noball target - rocket installations on the coast of France.
Bombed from 12,000 feet with good visibility. Easy mission. No flak or
fighters, good fighter support. Highly successful mission.
8:20-
Fred and I got to briefing just in time. Capt. Richards is squadron
operations officer now, Dalzell + Lagasse assistants. They had a good
ground school schedule mapped out for us when they alerted us for a
mission. T.W.G. said we could clean guns until briefing at 11 when we
gunners went to their ships, as too much information as to target for
the day has been leaking out before the planes take off so they told
just the officers the target + particulars. The officers got out when
everything was ready + told us that we were an extra crew. The formation
take off was at 1-2:15, we stood by in the ship until 2:30 then came
back + got something to eat. It was a milk run, and for the first time
we would have been in our own ship. They got back at 5:30, no flak or
fighters. All combat crews are alerted tomorrow for a maximum effort,
restricted to barracks. I owe 6 letters + am going to bed instead of
writing. Charlie Harris is going to get a 7 day pass for rest. He
deserves it. B 9:00