TARGET: LANDES DE BUSSAC AIRFIELD
LANDES DE BUSSAC, FRANCE
19 JUNE, 1944

German airfields in the Bordeaux region of southeastern France were targets for the 1st Division bombers. The 94th Combat Wing was directed to dispatch three complete wings on the Landes de Bussac airfield 28 miles northeast of Bordeaux. The field had been used as a fighter training base and was being readied as a fighter operational base.

The 45 7th composed the entire 94th A Combat Wing with thirty-six planes, flying third in the Division formation. Lt. Col. Heniy B. Wilson was Air Commander of the lead A box, with Lt. Charles D. Brannan as pilot. Captain Clarence E. Schuchmann was leader of the high A box. Major William F. Smith led the low Abox with Lt. Harry Stafford as pilot.

The flight path again took the Group directly over the Normandy beachhead. Although the weather was ten-tenths during most of the route, it broke to three-tenths overcast in the target area. Bombing results were good. There was no enemy fighter opposition and antiaircraft fire was light.