TARGET: PILOTLESS AIRCRAFT SITES
HAUT MAISNIL BLANGEMONT, FRANCE
9 JULY, 1944

A second attempt was made to bomb the pilotless aircraft sites that had been protected by clouds the day before. The 457th was assigned the same targets with the same type of force as was previously dispatched. Lt. Kenneth R. Johnston led the A box on Haut-Maisnil, and Captain Mark R. Beicher led the B box on Blangermont. Clouds over the base caused the assembly altitude to be changed several times, which delayed the operation. As a result, all control points had to be cut off on the flight to the point of departure from the English Coast.

At the French Coast, the forces separated and headed for their individual targets. An almost complete undercast prevailed over this region of France and again these sites could not be bombed. A search was made for targets of opportunity, but the clouds hid everything. The planes then headed for England.

Over the Channel the weather had closed in completely. Pre-frontal clouds existed from 2,000 feet altitude to 20,000 feet, it was raining and visibility was only three miles. At Glatton the clouds extended down to 800 feet. A diversion message was transmitted. The planes landed at other bases and returned to Glatton later that day after the weather cleared.