NOTE: Elipses (...) denote words that were unreadable.
Serial numbers have been omitted.

H2X Report

A/c:   660

Operations Time:   0745
Altitude:   28,000
Temperature:   -40°

Pref.:   A-11
Xtal current:   -
AFC:   40 mils
Manual:   40 mils
Mod current:   6 mils
Rect.:   85 mils
At line:   ... converter steady
Voltage:   nothing
Current:   weak
Max range
      Coastline:   50 mi
      Towns:   78 mi
# photos:   40

Faults:
camera blocks door.
AFC does not lock in crystal current continually dropping off to .007. bomb rel at 9 mi. 1129 30 000th

Remarks:
50 mi on enemy coast
70 on town

6° right drift camera started on ... ... some spirals etc.[?] at first when they left. Practically everything else went exceeding .. ex... [in pencil; smudged]
Steadiest converter I have ever seen.

[reverse side is inspection report]

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Report on AA

Targets
low group as briefed to Weiszenfels to 5119-1205 to 5120-1219 to 5105-1230 at Altenburg
5050-1220 to 5038-1120 to 5045-0923 to 5013-0840 to 5005-0642 to 5004-05.. to Ostend

lead group Orfordness to 5115-0255 5027-0534 5010-0730 5038-0941 5022-1041 5025-1145 5018-1137 5026 -1150 5044-1152 ... to target to 5...-1130 5113-1026 5055-0843 5015-0740 5029-0534 5115-0255 to Clacton

Conditions at target:    0/10 for 15 miles

Visibility on rte:   same

Were a/c seen at target:   seen

Route:   seen

Condensation trails:   dense, persistent contrails

AA:
Merseburg:    moderate, inaccurate, black, white continuously pointed
Leip:    intense, accurate, black, cont ptd

AA enountered or observed en route in order:
possible Weisbaden observed
6a:  one a/c lost to AA Leipzig area (after IP)
5 a/c hit by aa after bombs away before RP
3 a/c hit by aa before bombs away Leipzig area

Chaff carried:
10 a/c discharged 3,388 units between 1115 and 1145
6 a/c used carpet

Position of group in formation:
40A CBW
lead, low groups

Details:

Unusual phenomena:
What is described as a red flare in the middle of a flak area at Merseburg at 1120, which resembled a red stick six feet long and continued bursting, never diminishing in colour and was seen to hit the ground still burning.

Note: 4 a/c were lost for reasons unknown.

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PFF Bombing Report
(Lead Group)

[unreadable; carbon copy, handwritten]

Formation lead:   325 40A CBW

Mickey operator:   Lt. Frederick Keene
# PFF missions:   5

A/c:   8913 T

Briefed position:   deputy
deputy assumed lead
State when and why:   no change

Where was the decision made to bomb by pff?   It was visual.

IP Used:   5057-1148E
Was this the briefed IP?   Yes

Distance at which the mickey operator first identified the target:   40 ASG

Length of bomb run visual:   20 miles   PFF:   --

Was there crowding or interference by other formations on the bomb run?  If so, explain.   No

In the opinion of the Mickey operator was drift killed?   Yes    If not, explain why?

Were bombs released early, on time or late, according to Mickey equipments:   early; 3-5 miles

Was Mickey equipment operating so that satisfactory siting could be made on target:   [Yes is checked]

What was the bombing formation?   By groups in trail.

Target attacked:   Merseburg

Where did the siting team try to center the bomb fall?   Didn't try; visual run

Where do you think the bombs hit?   4 mi short

Bombs away
Altitude:   29,000
Track:   6°
GS:   216
Time:   1123

Type of sighting made: Check one.
(  ) PFF
(x) Visual
(  ) PFF and visual assist
dropped on smoke bombs of....lead a/c

Group.  PFF siting for range only:   [blank]
Visual siting for range only:   [blank]
Other. Explain:   [blank]

In making sighting did the Mickey operator set up course?   no
Sight for range?   no
Supply data to bomb'r for presetting bomb sight?   no
Do anything else?   [blank]     If so, what?   Mickey followed bomb'r through on bomb run

[Back of page]

In making sighting did bombardier sight for deflection?   yes
Sight for range?   yes
Presight bomb sight with data from Mickey operator?   no
Do anything else?   [blank]   If so, explain.   [blank]

What assistance did navigator give bombardier and Mickey operator?   Gave winds

If weather interfered with the success of this mission, state how?   no

What was the nature and extent of the cloud coverage on the bombing run and at the target?   clear

Were scope photos taken?   Yes    If so, how many?   Complete roll
Over the target?
(x) yes
(  ) no
Were beacons tried?
(  ) yes
(x) no

Remarks and Recommendations:   good tight formation reported over target

Draw below bombing formation and given an appropriate...serial number of each pff a/c
[shows lead and deputy lead of lead group
x by 1, 2, 3 positions and dash by one for...660 X; dash by the second 133 P

1 Lt. James M. Adams, Jr.
PFF officer

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PFF Bombing Report
(Low Group)

Mickey operator:   1Lt. Hugh C. Davis
# PFF missions:   23

Pilot:   1 Lt. William S. O'Donnell

Briefed position:   ...
State when and why:   no change

Where was the decision made to bomb by PFF?   It was visual.

IP used:   5056-1150
Was this the briefed IP?   Yes

Distance at which the Mickey operator first identified the target:   40 ASG

Length of bomb run visual:   20 miles PFF:   --

Was there crowding or interference by other formations on the bomb run?  If so, explain.   No

In the opinion of the Mickey operator was drift killed?   Yes    If not, explain why?

Were bombs released early, on time or late, according to Mickey equipment:   early; 3-5 miles

Was Mickey equipment operating so that satisfactory siting could be made on target:   [No is checked]

Were scope pictures taken?   visibility - poor

Was bombing formation by groups in trail?   ...

Bombs Away
Altitude:   29,000
Tracking:   6°
GS:   216

In making sighting did the mickey operator set up course?   no
Sight for range?   yes
Supply data to bomb'r for presetting bomb sight?   no
Do anything else?   [blank]     If so, what?   Mickey followed bombardier through on bomb run

In making sighting did bombardier sight for deflection?   yes
Sight for range?   yes
Presight bomb sight with data from Mickey operator?   no
Do anything else?   [blank]   If so, explain.   [blank]

What assistance did navigator give bombardier and Mickey operator?   Gave winds

If weather interfered with the success of this mission, state how?   did not interfere

What was the nature and extent of the cloud coverage on the bombing run and at the target?   clear

Were scope photos taken?   ...tight formations reported over target

325th Squadron
A/c 7660 A? H?
... boxes 12 40th A
Boles

Satisfactory sighting on target on pff:   ...

Workable range:   10
Altitude:   20...

Specific difficulties:
asc (afc?) out
2? crystal current continually fell off

Maximum range on enemy coast:   50
Town:   70
Coastline:   50
Altitude: 15,000-29,000

Checkpoints used:  

IP used:   5056N-1150E
Was this brief IP?   Yes
Target attacked:   Yes

range target ID'd

ASG workable range:   30

H2X workage range:   20

Bombs:   5 1000-lb., 1 smoke
2 miles short

Assembly:   good
English coast out 0838 at Orfordness 10,000 feet
in ...1335
out same place 10,000
English coast... 13634?...

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PFF Interrogation Form

Lead group number of a/c box:   12

1st pilot:    1 Lt. Wm. E. O'Donnell

... Position:   deputy

... on any changes:   No changes

Satisfactory sighting on target on pff:   no

Workable range:   40
Altitude:   29,000

Maximum return:   60
Altitude:   29,000

Workable range:   20
Altitude:   29,000

Maximum return:   30
Altitude:   29,000

Specific difficulties:
Weak range markers.
Crystal current drop off at altitude.
No asimuth stabilization.

Maximum range on enemy coast:   50
Town:   60
Coastline:   50
Altitude: 15,000

Checkpoints used:

Number of scope pictures taken:   100

Beacon:   --
Range:   --
Altitude:   --

IP used:   5057-1148E
Was this briefed IP?   Yes
Target attacked:   Yes

Type of sighting made: Check one.
(  ) PFF
(x) Visual
(  ) PFF and visual assist

PFF HX ASG:   [blank]
PFF visual assist:   [blank]
Visual PFF assist:   [blank]
dropped on smoke bombs of lead ship
Any other:   blank

ASG workable range:   40
Alt.:   29,000
Max return:   60
Alt.: 29,000

H2X workable range:   20
Alt.:   29,000
Max return:   30
Alt.:   29,000

Specific difficulties:   weak range mark Cuptal
current dropped off at altitude
no asimuth stabilization

Max range on enemy coast:   50
Town:   60
Coastline:   50
Alt.:   15,000

Checkpoints used:

Number of scope pictures taken:   100

Beacon-Range-Altitude-IP use?:   5057-1148E
Was this as briefed?   Yes

Where was the decision made to bomb by PFF?   Visual

Distance at which the mickey operator first identified the target:   ASG 40

...

Track:   23

Drift:   3R

Ground Speed:   201

Altitude used on equipment:   29,000

Length of bomb run visual:   20 miles PFF:   --

Was there crowding or interference by other formations on the bomb run? If so, explain.   No

Bombs away:   1123, 29,000 ft

Heading:   20°

Were bombs released early, on time or late, according to Mickey equipment:   early

Bombs dropped:  5 1000-lb., 1 smoke

Other dispositions?   no

Delayed drop?   no

...

Assembly:   good ... good
English coast out 0838 at Orfordness 10,000 feet
enemy coast in 0907 at 5114-0255 10,000 feet

...

nodeviation frm brfd course

360 just before IP no

E/a:   no

In the opinion of the Mickey operator was drift killed?   Yes    If not, explain why?

...

Crew observations:   B-17 blew up over target in wing ahead

Crew illnesses/casualties:  no

Weather affecting success:   no
Cloud coverage:   clear

Mickey operator says bombs released about 4 mi short

[Signed by] F.? L. Faber

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