Mission #261 - Querrieu Ammo dump (Flown from Maunertus)

98th CBW.Field Order #236 sent the 323rd and 387th Bomb Groups to attack the ammunition dump at Querrieu.



Take-offs from A-15 commenced at 18.24 hours and 38 Marauders climbed away into a clear Normandy sky. 38 ships formed up and headed for the target, the spares being called to go along all the way after #965 returned early as Lt. Brown could not get enough power out of it's right engine to be able to keep up with the formation.



The weather remained clear all the way to the Seine river, and crew saw a convoy of 75 enemy trucks heading northeast out of Vernon and about 15 wagons in a rail siding at Gourney. A haze began to thicken as the target area approached but over the target they would find 2/10th cover of cumulus cloud at 4,000 ft. with a light haze up to 8,000 ft., - and a hot reception!



Two minutes from the start of the bomb run the defenses woke up. A moderate inaccurate heavy barrage that soon became accurate and heavier followed the formation from the Initial Point until they were well clear of the target. Lt. Jordan's ship, "Lil Itchy Itchy", a B-26C #41-96033, was hit almost immediately and mortally. The Marauder fell out of the formation and dropped away. The pilot appeared to hold her level for as long as he could in the hope that the rest of the crew could bail out. However, only two chutes were seen, before the bomber began to roll in and it exploded on impact with the ground.



The rest of the formation carried on the bomb run and dropped 232 x 500lb GP bombs at 19.54, by flights and employing the area bombing method. Later analysis by the Group PIO, Lt. John M. Lawrence claimed the following results.



Box I 1st 6 - Majority of bursts outside northeast corner of target area in well dispersed pattern causing several large explosion.

2nd 6. - No photo coverage - Camera ran but did not cover bursts. From later prints it appears this flight's bombs fell in western portion of target area, starting fires.

3rd 6. No Photo coverage - Camera ran but did not cover target area. From later prints it appears they also bombed the western edge of target area adding to the fires.



Box II 1st 5. No Photo coverage - planes from this flight joined other flights to bomb. 2nd 6 Majority of bursts in eastern portion of target area in w ell dispersed pattern, causing several explosions and fires.

3rd 6 Did not bomb. Flight leader did not drop.



The formation turned for home and by the time they broke free of the flak, 20 ships had been battle-damage. Lt. McNab's B-26 had it's right engine shot out and he broke away from the formation to make an emergency landing at the Allied landing strip B-17 at Caen, his crew thankfully unscathed Of the rest, they returned to Maupertus at 21 49. and despite the amount of damage the ships had received, none or their crews had been wounded The loss of Lt. Herbert A. Jordan and his crew was felt by all in the 558th squadron. The whole crew was posted as Missing in Action, but three of the crew, including Jordan, survived the crash.



1st Lt. Herbert A. Jordan (POW)

1st Lt. Earl J. Seagars (Evadee)

T/Sgt. Benjamin F. Powell (POW)

T/Sgt. George E. Reis (KIA)

S/Sgt. Donald R. Ball (KIA)

S/Sgt. Howard E. Michael (KIA)