TARGET: ANTI-INVASION FORTIFICATION

SIRACOURT-ST POL, FRANCE

MAY, 1944

A return was made to the invasion coast where the Eighth bombed rocket sites and fortifications. The target for the 457th was the anti-invasion fortification of Siracourt, located in an open field near St. Pol, another No Ball target. It was one of the eight largest no balls along the coast and considered a very important fortification.

As part of the operation, a practice night assembly was ordered to take place prior to the departure for the target. This exercise commenced at 0420 hours. The aircraft returned to the Glatton Buncher at daylight, and assembled for the flight to the target.

(The Buncher was a non-directional radio homing transmitter located near the field, for formation assembly and other navigation purposes, using each aircraffs radio compass.) The 457th supplied twenty-one planes with Lt. Cot. Henry B. Wilson acting as Air Commander. Lt. Donald E. Lady was pilot. There was ten-tenths cloud cover over the target. After making two 360 degree turns over the target, the Group left and bombed an airdrome at Roye/Amy, a target of opportunity. Bombing results were fair. Flak was intense and accurate, and twelve aircraft sustained damage.