301st Bomb Group, Mission No. 248, 14 Apr 1945, Royan, France Briefing took place at 0430 hours. While taxying toward the takeoff runway a problem arose when one aircraft had a flat tire on the perimeter track, blocking three other ships behind it. They were finally towed back to Runway 33, and were able to take off by 0619 hours. One aircraft was forced to abort the mission, landing at 0940 hours. All operational aircraft had returned from the mission by 1508 hours. The 401st put up the three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group on this mission. The target was an unusual one--German gun emplacements still held on the French coast, far away from the scene of ground combat in Germany, which were about to be attacked by French troops. With visual bombing possible, and no flak or enemy fighters to defend against, the Group's bombing was again excellent, with 90 percent of the bombs falling within 1,000 feet of the MPI. No battle damage or casualties were sustained.