389th Bomb Group - June 12, 1944

[Henofred]

Hello/Bonjour,

I would like to know the target of 389th Bombardment Group B-24s for the mission of June 12, 1944. An excerpt from the book "The Sky Scorpions: The Story of the 389th Bomb Group in World War II" could be useful because I have two sources that contradict each other. One says Rennes, and the other says Chartres, two French cities but quite far from each other.

Best regards,
Frederic

[SteveR]

Conches Airfield, per Sky Scorpions page 133.

[MW Giles]

Actually two targets on the 12th June

Conches airfield and bridge at Montfort

There is partial confirmation of this because other groups were also assigned to attack the same targets

Rennes was attacked by the 389th on the 8th June

Chartres had not been visited since September 1943


Martin

[Henofred]

Hello/Bonjour,

Thank you for these answers. But they add now more confusion because a Tactical Report (F.O. 339B) for June 12 states that it was the 453rd Bombardment Group that had Monfort as target.

2nd Combat Wing:
453rd Group - Monfort
389th Group - Rennes
445th Group - Rennes (but more precisely a RR bridge to the west of the city.)

Best regards,
Frederic

[MW Giles]

8th AF Report

Tactical Operations in Support of Allied Landings in Normandy

Operation 407 FO 747

2nd BD

Tactical Unit 3 Sqns of 12 a/c with 1 PFF to attack rail bridges at, the following were dispatched

Porcaro 39 + 3 PFF
Montford sur Meu 36 +3 PFF
Ploermel 41 + 3 PFF
Rennes 34 + 3 PFF

More to come, have to do the Sunday shopping

Martin

[Henofred]

Great Martin! I was asking about the 389 Bombardment Group, but it is actually quite a bit confusing for some. Here is what two reports on the June 12 mission state - and it is indeed F.O. 747 even though one document states F.O. 339B.

Report #1
Monfort RR-Bridge
2 CW - 453 BG / 08:35 / Primary, visual, excellent.
2 CW - 389 BG (2 Sqdn) / 08:35 / Primary, visual, good.
2 CW - 453 BG / 09:25 / Primary, visual, poor.

RR-Bridge W. of Rennes*
2 CW - 445 BG / 09:30 / Primary, visual, good.

Porcaro RR-Bridge
20 CW - 448 BG (1 Sqdn) / 09:43 / Primary, visual, fair.
20 CW - 448 BG (1 Sqdn) / 09:43 / Primary, PFF, poor.

Ploermel RR-Bridge
20 CW - 446 BG (1 Sqdn) / 09:37 / Primary, visual, fair.
20 CW - 446 BG (1 Sqdn) / 09:37 / Primary, visual, poor.
20 CW - 446 BG (1 Sqdn) / 09:37 / Primary, PFF, excellent.

95 CW - 489 BG 09:31 / Primary, visual, poor.

Report #2
Target Assigned / Target Bombed / Force / Method of Bombing / Time / Results
Porcaro / Primary / 448 - 1 Sqdn / Visual / 09:35 / Unobserved
Porcaro / Ploermel / 448 - 1 Sqdn / Visual / 09:42 / Good
Ploermel / Ploermel / 446 - 1 Sqdn / GH / 09:33 / Excellent
Ploermel / Rennes / 446 - 1 Sqdn / GH / 10:14 / T.O. unobserved
Ploermel / Primary / 489 - 1 Sqdn / GH / 09:31 / Fair
Ploermel / Primary / 491 - 1 Sqdn / GH / 09:34 / Fair
Monfort / Primary / 453 - 2 Sqdn / GH / 09:25 / 1 Sqdn Godd, 1 Sqdn unobserved
Rennes / Primary / 389 - 1 Sqdn / GH / 09:33 / Excellent
Rennes /RR-Bridge* / 445 - 2 Sqdn / Visual / 09:36 / Good

*Vezin-le-Coquet (West of Rennes)

Best regards,
Frederic

[MW Giles]

I think that I have worked it out and both of your reports are roughly correct, the main problem is 446 and 448 BGs and where they were initially assigned their primary targets

The CBW involved
2 CBW = 389, 445 and 453 BGs
20 CBW = 93, 446 and 448 BGs
95 CBW = 489 and 491 BGs

Each target assigned to be attacked by nominally 3 Sqns of 12, plus 3 PFF.

Montfort sur Meu = 2 CBW = 1 sqn 389 BG and 2 sqns 453 BG
36+3 assigned and 35+3 bombed

Rennes (Ile & Villaine) = 2 and 20 CBWs = 1 sqn 93 BG and 2 sqns 445 BG
34+3 assigned, 17+3 bombed primary and 11 bombed alternatives

Porcaro = 20 CBW = 1 sqn 446 BG and 2 sqn 448 BG
39+3 assigned, 0 attacked primary, 33+3 attacked alternatives
Either 1 sqn of 448th attacked primary, and 1 sqn to Ploermel or both to Ploermel
The 446th BG attacked a T/O on Rennes airfield

Your reference and "The 448th BG (H) Liberators over Germany in WW2" suggests one sqn attacked Porcaro, but the 8th AF report says no

Ploermel = 20 and 95 CBW = 1 sqn 446 BG, 1 sqn 489 BG and 1 sqn 491 sqn
41+3 assigned and 37+3 bombed, 1 attacked alternative

Your reference and "The History of the 446th BG (H) 1943-5" confirms attacks on Rennes and Ploermel

This adds up, in my head anyway

Regards

Martin

[Henofred]

Many thanks Martin for all these details. I will analyse all these data and between my information and yours I think I will get closer to the truth. Once again, merci.

Best regards,
Frederic