November 7th 1943

[RSwank]

I don't think it was the 9th airforce. On Sunday, 7 Nov 43:
(Ninth Air Force): 200+ B-26's dispatched to attack airfields at Montdidier and Meulan-Les Mureaux, France are forced to abort the mission because of bad weather. The B-26's are escorted by 54 P-38's and 49 P-47's of the Eighth Air Force; 2 P-38's are lost.



Here is a full description of the 8th activities on that day.
(Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 124. Three targets in Germany are hit without loss. Poor weather restricts operations. 1. 53 of 59 B-17's bomb the Wesel industrial area at 1124-1125 hours; 4 B-17's are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 2 WIA. 2. 60 B-17's are dispatched to the industrial area at Duren; 37 hit the primary target at 1114 hours and 20 hit Randerath, the secondary target, at 1114-1125 hours; 2 B-17's are damaged. 3. 2 of 3 B-17 pathfinders escort the B-17's dispatched to Duren but an Oboe PFF failure resulted in the bombs being widely scattered. The bombers are escorted by 283 P-47's; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 P-47's are lost; casualties are 6 MIA. HQ 20th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) transfers from Hethel to Hardwick, England.

The problem seems to be the time of day. These attacks in Germany seem to be before noon. Not sure when what time the 3. attack occurred which resulted in "widely scattered bombs". Planes returning from Germany could possibly be over Weert in the afternoon but I am not sure why they carry bombs back that far back then drop them.