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Report of the 8th Air Force, Normandy Invasion, June 2-17, 1944
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Report of the 8th Air Force, Normandy Invasion, June 2-17, 1944
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SECRET
00
AF
8-AF
TO
S0000128
S.
THE
UTIQUE
S0004128
EIGHTH AIR FORCE
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
IN SUPPORT OF
ALLIED LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
2 ND JUNE- - 17 TH JUNE
1944
DECLASSIFIED 3(E) and 5(D) or (E)
E.O. 11652. 1972
Rwm OSD pwm letter. May NARS 3. Date
BY
LIBRARY
ARMY WAR COLLEGE
COPY 33
SECRET
HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH AIR FORCE
APO 634
SCCC4128
Quizes Elsenhower Library
6 November, 1944
041
SUBJECT: Report of Operations - 2 to 17 June, 1944 inclusive.
TO
: Commanding General, Army Air Forces, Washington 25, D. C.
(Through Channels).
Transmitted herewith is a Special Report on Eighth Air
Force Tactical Operations in Support of Allied Landings in Normandy
covering the period 2 June to 17 June, 1944 inclusive.
For the Commanding General:
Walter 2. tood
WALTER E. TODD,
Colonel, G.S.C.,
Dep. C. of S., Ops.
(E)
E.O. Pum DECLASSIFIED 11652. letter, 3(E) May NARS and 3. Date. 1972 S(D) 11/22/74 or
LIBRARY
ARMY WAR COLLEGE
SECRET
SECRET
The Elsentions
2 JUNE OPERATION
(D minus 3 at time of operation; became D minus 4 when D-Day was postponed.)
Operation No. 384
First Mission
Field Order 709
1, DECISION: Operations on this day were specified for D minus 3
by the Overall Air Plan as modified by Headquarters A.E.A.F. All objec-
tives were located in the Pas de Calais (Fortitude) area, the attacks
having as their purpose deception of the enemy as to the actual assault
area. (Cover Plan.) It was provided that in these operations immediately
preceding D-Day only one-half of the available heavy bombers were to be
employed in order to conserve the force for an all-out assault in direct
support of the troop landings.
2. PLANNING.
a. The weather forecast for the Pas de Calais area indicated
8/10-10/10 stratocumulus with bases 800-1500 feet and tops 7000-9000 feet.
b. In view of predicted cloud conditions, plans were made to
employ through the overcast bombing technique in this operation which would
utilize approximately one-half of the available heavy bombers. The follow-
ing allocation of targets among the three Bomb Divisions was made, the
nature and size of the objective determining the strength of the attacking
force:
Chart
Force
Ref. No.
Target
Assigned
Force I - - 3rd Bomb Division
(Tactical Unit Group of 18 B-17's with 1 H2X Pathfinder)
*1. Boulogne Area
Medium Battery
3 Groups
*3. Equihen Area
Medium Battery
3 Groups
*4. Boulogne Area
Medium Coastal Battery
3 Groups
16. Wimereux Area
Field Battery
3 Groups
17. Wimereux Area
Heavy Coastal Battery
3 Groups
Force II - - 1st Bomb Division
(Tactical Unit Group of 18 B-17's with 1 H2X Pathfinder)
*1. Boulogne Area
Medium Battery
2 Groups
2. Neufchatel Area
Medium Battery
2 Groups
*3. Equihen Area
Medium Battery
2 Groups
*4. Boulogne Area
Medium Coastal Battery
2 Groups
5. Hardelot Area
Medium Coastal Battery
2 Groups
6. Dannes Area
Defended Locality
2 Groups
7. St. Cecily Area
Medium Coastal Battery
3 Groups
SECRET
- 1 -
F.O. 709
SECRET
Dwight D
Chart
2019
Force
Ref. No.
Target
Assigned
Force III - 2nd Bomb Division
(Tactical Unit - Squadron of 12 B-24's with 1 H2X Pathfinder)
8. St. Aubin Area
Medium Coastal Battery
3 Squadrons
9. Stella Plage Area Medium Coastal Battery
2 Squadrons
10. Berck sur Mer Area Field Battery
3 Squadrons
11. Berck sur Mer Area Medium Coastal Battery
3 Squadrons
12. Berck sur Mer Area Radar Installation
2 Squadrons
13. Berck sur Mer Area Light Coastal Battery
2 Squadrons
14. Berck sur Mer Area Defended Locality
I Squadron
15. Stella Plage Area Defended Locality
2 Squadrons
18. Beauvoir Crossbor Installation (Dump)
6 Squadrons
* Units from more than one Force assigned to these targets.
H2X Pathfinder aircraft utilizing GEE fixes for navigation were to be used
for target location except in the case of the units attacking the Crossbow
installation at Beauvoir. GH bombing equipment was to be used in this
instance.
c. The general plan for routing of the bomber forces followed a
pattern similar to that employed on previous large scale Crossbow opera-
tions, the problem being to avoid interference among the large number of
units attacking 18 different targets located within a realtively small area
and at the same time concentrate the attacks so that a minimum of anti-
aircraft fire could be brought to bear against the bombers as a whole.
Penetration and withdrawal corridors were assigned to each force as well as
specified periods of attack which were 1200-1210 hours for Force I, 1220-
1230 hours for Force II, and 1240-1250 hours for Force III. As a further
measure to improve maneuverability, it was specified that each force would
fly as three formations of equal size. The units of Force III assigned
to the Crossbow Installation at Beauvoir were not included in the afore-
mentioned plan of attack. The six Squadrons detailed to this target were
to be divided into two waves, the first to attack at 1310, the second at
1335. These timings were set to avoid interference with bombers returning
from their attacks on the coastal installations and the interval between
the waves was to permit the GH ground station to change transmitter settings
for the Aiming Point of the later wave. The routing to this target af-
forded the long, straight approach required by the GH equipment and due
consideration was given to avoidance of the strongest anti-aircraft defen-
ses on both the penetration and withdrawal.
d. In determining the strength and disposition of the fighter
support, it was considered unlikely that enemy aircraft would react to a
very limited penetration of the coastal area. Accordingly, area support by
three P-47 Groups and one P-38 Group was deemed adequate for the bombers
operating along the Pas de Calais. For the units assigned to Beauvoir,
which would make a somewhat deeper penetration, one P-51 Group was assigned
as close escort. In addition, one P-47 Group and two P-51 Groups were de-
signated to patrol the Tournai, Compiegne and Evreux areas under Ground
(type 16) control for the purpose of intercepting enemy aircraft which
might be assembling as a precautionary measure against a possible deep
penetration by the heavy bombers.
SECRET
- 2 -
F.O. 709
SECRET
Elsenhemer
3. EXECUTION.
a. Eight hundred and sixty-two heavy bombers were dispatched
in the three forces participating in this operation. Despite the presence
of some cloud layers at assembly levels, units formed without difficulty
and flew their missions essentially as planned.
b. Bombing through 10/10 cloud was accomplished on H2X Path-
finders supplemented by GEE fixes except in the case of the units directed
against Beauvoir which utilized GH Pathfinders. Three units of the Force
I were unable to attack due to failure of Pathfinder equipment and two
Squadrons of the Force III attacked assigned targets of other units when
their respective lead Pathfinder became inoperative. A total of 776
bombers dropped 2322 tons, all except 23 aircraft dropping on assigned
targets. Strike photographs were unrevealing but subsequent reconnaissance
cover was obtained. Bombing results are summarized as follows:
Force I - - 3rd Bomb Division
Chart
A/C Disp. A/C Att.
Total
Ref.No.
Target
Includes () PFF Bombs Dropped Results
*1.
Boulogne
58 (5)
38 (3)
438x500
HE
Nil
16.
Wimereux
56 (3)
18 (1)
210x500
Good
*3.
Equihen
58 (3)
56 (3)
651x500
Nil
*4.
Boulogne
54 (3)
52 (3)
600x500
Nil
17.
Wimereux
57 (3)
54 (3)
625x500
Nil
283 (17) 218 (13) 2524x500
Force II - 1st Bomb Division
*1,
Boulogne
38 (2)
38 (2)
444x500
Nil
*3.
Equihen
37 (2)
35 (2)
372x500
Nil
#40
Boulogne
37 (2)
37 (2)
394x500
Nil
5.
Hardelot
38 (2)
37 (2)
406x500
Nil
2.
Neufchatel
43 (2)
42 (2)
500x500
Nil
6.
Dannes
38 (2)
38 (2)
415x500
Nil
7.
St. Cecily
55 (3)
52 (3)
610x500
Nil
286 (15) 279 (15) 3141x500
Force III - 2nd Bomb Division
9.
Stella Plage
24 (2)
23 (2)
4x1000
Fair
84x2000
15.
Stella Plage
24 (2)
24 (2)
4x1000
Nil
88x2000
12.
Berck sur Mer
24 (1)
Nil
Other Targets
23 (0)
92x2000
13.
Berck sur Mer
24 (2)
24 (2)
275x500
Nil
14.
Berck sur Mer
12 (1)
12 (1)
138x500
Nil
SECRET
- 3 -
F.O. 709
SECRET
Chart
A/C Disp. A/C Att.
Total
Ref.No.
Target
Includes ( ) PFF Bombs Dropped Results
11.
Berck sur Mer
37 (3) 36 (3) 402x500
Good
10.
Berck sur Mer
37 (3)
36 (3)
26x1000
Nil
113x2000
8.
St. Aubin
39 (3)
38 (3)
6x1000
Nil
137x2000
18.
Beauvoir
71 (6)
63
(5)
744x500
Fair
293 (23) 279 (21) 40x1000
514x2000
1559x500
Total
862 (55) 776 (49)7224x500
40x1000
514x2000
*Units from more than one Force assigned to these targets.
Although it is indicated that only four of the specific targets were affec-
ted by the bombing, there is evidence of damage to other installations in
this heavily fortified area.
c. Fighter support was provided by 365 aircraft, 175 P-47's,
46 P-38's, 144 P-51's from the eight assigned Groups. As planned, one
P-38 Group and three P-47 Groups afforded area cover, one P-51 Group gave
close escort to the units assigned to Beauvoir and one P-47 and two P-51
Groups operated under Ground (type 16) control.
d. Enemy opposition was confined solely to anti-aircraft fire
which varied from meager to moderate and was generally inoffective.
e. All bombers and fighters returned from this operation.
Eleven of the former and one of the latter sustained battle damage, all
due to anti-aircraft fire.
SECRET
- 4 -
F.O. 709
SECRET
The Eisanheisen LIBITY
STATISTICAL SUMMARY
First Mission
2 June 1944
Force I
Force II
Force III
(3rd B.D.)
(1st B.D.)
(2nd B.D.)
Mission
HEAVY BOMBERS
B-17's
B-17's
Totals
A/C Airborne
283
286
293
862
A/C Sorties
273
283
284
840
A/C Executing Assignments 218
279
279
776
Bombs Dropped (Tons)
631
785.25
923.75
2340
A/C Lost
0
0
0
0
Category "E"
0
0
0
0
A/C Battle Damaged
11
0
0
11
Claims Against E/A
0
0
0
0
Mission
FIGHTERS
P-47
P-38
P-51
Totals
A/C Airborne
175
46
144
365
A/C Sorties
171
43
139
353
A/C Executing Assignmonts 166
40
133
339
A/C Lost
0
0
0
0
Category "E"
0
0
0
0
A/C Battle Damaged
1
0
0
]
Claims Against E/A
0
0
0
0
SECRET
- 5 -