TARGET: MELSBROEK AIRDROME
BRUSSELS-MELSBROEK, BELGIUM
10 APRIL, 1944
Departure time Glatton: 06.40
Landing time at Glatton: 11.30
Total B-17 dispatched: 18
The target was the Melsbroek Airdrome on the northeastern outskirts of Brussels, home base of Roman III KG6, equipped with the new JU 188 bombers.
The 457th group took off at 0640 and departed the English coast at Clacton at 0830. Air Commander was Major Leroy Watson, with Lt. Belcher as pilot.
The enemy coast was crossed just north of Dunkerque which was south of the briefed course. Considerable anti-aircraft fire was experienced at this point, which was very accurate. There was some haze but little or nog clouds.
The flight continued toward the IP, across Courtrai and Engheim while the Groups in the 94th Combat Wing took their bombing interval. The 457th, flying high box, had to make a wide turn to the right at the IP to get the proper distance.
Over Belgium and the target area there were little clouds, but the haze impeded visibility. Lt. Rosen, the lead bombardier, was unable to pick up the target in time to make a good bomb run because of the haze.The target was crossed and a wide 360 turn to the left was made, the Group passing over Malines on this turn. The target was approached from the northwest on a second run but it had to be abandoned because other Groups were in the vicinity. The formation then swung around to the right making another 360 turn and a made on a heading of 120 degrees. This time the bombs were dropped from an altitude of 23.000 feet. The results were very good with 3 direct hits on hangar #1, the MPI (Main Point of Impact).
The formation the proceeded on its own course home, not the briefed one and arrived at Glatton between eleven and eleven-thirty.
All eighteen ships returned with FLAK damage, testifying to the accuracy of the anti-aircraft fire in the Brussels area.
Mission no. 24-compressed