TARGET: ENEMY GUN POSITION
METZ, FRANCE
9 NOVEMBER, 1944

A new series of missions by the Eighth Air Force, designed to give direct support to ground forces along the front lines,
The target was enemy gun positions in the Metz area. The Group comprised the 94th B Combat Wing with Major Spencer the Air Commander. Division assembly was properly executed and the course over the Channel and Continent proceeded smoothly. The IP was reached about 18 miles southeast of the briefed point. Bombing was done in Group formation by means of G-H equipment. Cloud coverage in the target area was eight to ten tenths. Too many groups were on the bomb run at the same time, and a considerable amount of caution had to be exercised to avoid collisions. Bomb results were generally good.

Only meager, inaccurate flak was encountered near Metz and all aircraft returned safely.

In the darkness of the morning takeoff, aircraft # 42-107034 had no 2 engine catch fire. The aircraft, piloted by Oliver G. Burgess, circled the field with a flaming engine and proceeded to land on the takeoff runway. Dozens of aircraft, fully fueled and loaded with bombs, were nose-to-tail on the taxi strips waiting to take off. As the aircraft touched down, the landing gear collapsed and sparks flew down the runway as they skidded almost it’s full length. The pilot and his crew escaped the aircraft with no injuries. Takeoff for the mission was switched to another runway.