The 149 Sqdn left from Lakenheath at 1943-06-29 at 23:39. Loc or duty Koln

On Tuesday 29 June 1943, a member of the 149 Sqdn, Flight Sergeant C V Howden, took off from Lakenheath in the United Kingdom. His mission is mentioned elsewhere on Back to Normandy. You can find the other details of this mission by searching here. Training and cargo flights are not separately mentioned as a mission. The plane left at 23:39.

He flew with a Short Stirling (type III, serial BK703, code OJ-K).

Campaign report of the USAAF:

(Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 70: 108 B-17's are dispatched against the air depot at Villacoublay, France and another 40 against the airfield at Tricqueville, France; neither groups hit the target due to heavy cloud cover and return to base; they claim 0-3-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 14 B-17's are damaged. Another 84 B-17's are dispatched against the aeroengine works at Le Mans, France; 76 hit the target between 1959 and 2003 hours local. Both of the 2 YB-40's dispatched as escorts are forced to abort.

The lack of success of the YB-40's in this and previous missions in Jun 43 convinces Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker, Commanding General Eighth Air Force, that if the escort bomber is to succeed it must be able to carry bombs and must be endowed with the same flight performance as the B-l7. The 548th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 385th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Great Ashfield, England from the US with B-17's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on 17 Jul 43.

Campaign report of the RAF:

28/29 June 1943

608 aircraft - 267 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes, 85 Wellingtons, 75 Stirlings, 12 Mosquitos to Cologne. 25 aircraft - 10 Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 5 Stirlings, 2 Wellingtons - lost, 4.1 per cent of the force.

The circumstances of this raid did not seem promising. The weather forecast said that Cologne would probably be cloud-covered although there might be a break; the Pathfinders had to prepare a dual plan. The target was cloud-covered and the less reliable skymarking system had to be employed. Only 7 of the 12 Oboe Mosquitos reached the target and only 6 of these were able to drop their markers. The marking was 7 minutes late in starting and proceeded only intermittently. Despite all these setbacks, the Main Force delivered its most powerful blow of the Battle of the Ruhr.

4 Mosquitos to Hamburg, 6 Stirlings minelaying in the River Gironde. No losses.

29/30 June 1943

16 Wellingtons were sent to lay mines off Lorient and St Nazaire. 1 aircraft lost.

With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!

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