| From Combat
Diary - Sgt Harley Tuck
|
|
Updated: 01/28/2004 |
| NOBALL #107 - GRAND PARC (Again) Date: 21 January 1944 |
Return to Chronology of the 447th |
|
Mission Commentary MISSION #9, Between the hours of 1240 and 1301, 21 January 1944, 21 A/C of the 447th Bombardment Group (H) took off and assembled over base. There were no difficulties encountered in assembly of the Group and there was no Wing assembly. The Group met all control times accurately and bombed the target with 21 A/C. All A/C returned to base with no casualties. Bombing results were reported as from good to fair. SAV photos show bursts in priority target area. Rocket type missiles from ground came up to approximate altitude of formation. Some spiraled or zig-zagged up. Some when spent, traveled horizontally then dropped; with no apparent residue. B-24's in the immediate area of bombing run caused a small part of formation to break up slightly just before "bombs away". |
|
NO STRIKE PHOTO AVAILABLE |
Combat Roster
Details provided by Iver G. Igelsrud
| The 447th again 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. As with the previous mission to this target
on 14 January, the bombing altitude was 12000 feet.
LEAD
HIGH
Low
Ground Spares
|
From Operational Charts (Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group 1946)
| Mission No. | 9 |
| Mission | NOBALL No. 107 GRAND PARC |
| Date | JAN 21 |
| Field Order | 137 |
| A/C Airborne | 21 |
| A/C Dispatched | 21 |
| A/C Attacking | 19 |
| A/C Failing to Attack | 2 (Mechanical) |
| Bombs Dropped | |
|
No./Type |
217 GP |
|
Tons |
54 |
| Result of Bombing | Good |
| Bombing Altitude | 12,000 |
| Time of Take Off | 1248 |
| Time of Landing | 1640 |
| Position in Combat Wing | Flew as a Group |
| Group Leader | Maj. L. W. Sheppard |
| Confirmed Claims on E/A | |
| Destroyed | 0 |
| Probable | 0 |
| Damaged | 0 |
| Aircraft Lost | 0 |
| Casualties | |
|
K |
0 |
|
W |
0 |
|
M |
0 |
| A/C Battle Damage | |
|
Maj. |
0 |
|
Min. |
0 |
| Other Data |
| From Combat
Diary - Sgt Harley Tuck
|
If you have additional
information or personal recollections of this mission,
Please let us know!
Any commercial use or republication of
these materials
requires the explicit written consent of the contributors.
We
got up at 7:30, briefing at 9, when they told us we were going on a
mission at noon. After the usual preparations we made a Noball raid,
bombing the rocket installations on the coast of France. T.O. at 12,
landing at 4: 15. No flak, no fighters, we missed the target by 500 ft,
hit a railroad instead, bombing at 12,000 ft. The Jerries were shooting
up some sort of rockets at us; they got up to our altitude + exploded,
off to one side about a mile. We saw about six of them, none coming
close at all + we are not sure what they are. After landing we got away
from the ship in 15 min. the record, just about, got thro undressing,
packing interrogation by 5:30, ate chow, went to the barracks to get
mail. Mom and Alice seem not to have got any mail from me yet, the
address is still APO 9006, Tad has it tho. Tonight the Jerries are
keeping the searchlights busy, we can see light from exploding bombs in
distant towns but cannot hear it. The Jerries must be mad. B- l0:30