The 76 Sqdn left from Holme on Spalding Moor at 1944-12-26 at 12:52. Loc or duty St-Vith
He flew with a Handley Page Halifax (type III, serial MZ740, code MP-R).
Campaign report of the USAAF:
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 762: Poor weather inhibits operations but 151 bombers and 336 fighters are dispatched to hit rail targets behind the Bulge; they claim 11-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 fighters are lost:
1. 74 B-17s are sent to hit the railroad bridge at Neuwied (23) and the Andernach marshalling yard (9); secondary targets hit are the marshalling yard at Neuwied (12) and communications center at Sinzig (12); 1 B-17 hits a target of opportunity, the communication center at Mayen; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft; 30 B-17s are damaged.
2. 77 B-24s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Niederlahnstein (36) and the rail bridge at Sinzig (35) without loss.
3. The bombers are escorted by 249 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 11-0-0 aircraft without loss.
4. 70 of 73 P-51s make a sweep in the Bonn area to support the bombers; they claim 3-0-0 aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
5. 2 of 2 P-51s fly a scouting mission without loss.
Mission 763: 3 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): The 9th Bombardment Division attacks road junctions, rail bridges, rail head, communications and casual targets in the breakthrough area as the enemy's westward drive ends short of the Maas River; fighters fly escort, armed reconnaissance, sweeps, and support the US III and VIII Corps S of Bastogne, Belgium, as the US 4th Armored Division breaks the ring around the city.
Campaign report of the RAF:
26 December 1944
The weather at last improved and allowed Bomber Command to intervene in the Ardennes battle. 294 aircraft - 146 Lancasters, 136 Halifaxes, 12 Mosquitos - of all the bomber groups (not No 100 Group) attacked German troop positions near St Vith. This was the first time since mid-October that aircraft from all the bomber groups had joined together in one raid. The bombing appeared to be concentrated and accurate. 2 Halifaxes lost.
1 Halifax flew a signals patrol.
With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!
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