May 25, 1944 Eight wings of B-24s Bombing Mission to Eastern France

[Russell M. Brengelman]

Hello All,
I am searching for information ( specific targets, bombing results, and B-24 Bomb Groups, number of bombers involved) in the May 25, 1944 USAAF 2nd Air Task Force mission to attack synthetic oil plants near Sarregumines, France.
My information indicates eight wings of B-24's were involved, but that is derived from reports by fighter escorts. It is my understanding the B-24's did not encounter major German fighter opposition over the target. Any more accurate information would be greatly appreciated. Russ

[SMF144]

Russ,

According to pages 249 and 250 of Roger Freeman's Might Eighth War Diary, the only mention of Saagruemines is that thirty-six B-17s of the 1st Bomb Division attacked the marshalling yard there. There's a long list of targets, airfields, marshalling yards and gun emplacements attacked by groups of Forts and Libs but no mention of oil plants on the 25th. Remarks are "Visual attacks on rail installations and airfields in France and Belgium."

Maybe I am missing something or could it have been other USAAF units operating from the Med?

Stephen

[Leendert]

Russ,

If you're specifically looking for Sarreguemines on 25 May 1944, then one of the Groups involved was the 384th BG, but this was a B-17 outfit.
Target was the marshalling yards, not an oil plant there.

Other M/Y were attacked by (e.g.) 44th BG (Belfort), 351st BG (Metz), 381st BG (Nancy), 461st BG (15th AF, Carnoules), 487th BG (Charleroi), both B-17 and B-24 units.

Regards,

Leendert

[Russell M. Brengelman]

Thanks to All who responded.
You have helped greatly. The mission evidently consisted of eight wings of B-17s and the targets were M/Y not oil plants. The 4th FG provided Penetration Target Withdrawal support. My information indicates fighter R/V with bombers at 0836 west of Chaumont with the target at "Chaumont-Sarreguemines". I am the nephew of a 336 FS pilot downed (PoW) north of Stuttgart holding 109s and 190s off the bombers on this May 25th mission. I now know that the 384th BG was involved. Russ