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

Formation

Low Group of 40th A

High Squadron:   326 Squadron
Lead - Cook/A 8182
Right Wing - Smith/R 7299
Left Wing - Coleman/P 8069 [note written in "Manston" 407 Sq a/c]

Lead Squadron:
Lead - Donlon-Ruckman/Z 8389
MIA lost over Leipzig area

#2 - three dead
     BT
     WG
     RO
Woodbridge 1456
Henderson/U 6158

#3 MIA - Peck/M T 7848
dropped pr ...

#4 [circled] 2nd element lead
Kralik/X 7181

right wing MIA
X Eck/B 1250

left wing - Hertz/L 8364

#7 says 94 Wring a/c X
moved in position behind Kralik

Low Group
40th A Wing
High Squadron 326

X Cook - A 8281

Smith ... X   R 7299

#3 Kolman
written above his name is Marston - P 8069 (407)
below that written in 510 ... ovo9

Low Squadron:   327
Lead - X Dickerson/L 7479 [circled]
Right Wing - Darlington/W 1326
MIA returned next day
left wing - Stallings/M 1995
MIA
lost engine over target
may have blown up

...

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Lead Group 40th A

Lead Squadron
Lead - Boles-Parkinson/X 7660 pff
Right Wing - O'Donnell/P 8133 PFF
Left Wing - Bideganeta/U 7288
Second Element Lead - Bolan/Q 8445
Right Wing - Batey/N 7559
Left Wing - Pilliod/B 2424

326th Squadron
Lead - AB  Gravelle/S 7535 [circled]
Right Wing - Blitz/P 7227 [has arrow drawing from him over to the low squadron at Yanitelli's spot in the same position]
Left Wing - Beard/S 7872 [Prozneck written by name]
#4 - Prozneck 94th Wing a/c

Low Squadron    325th Squadron
Lead - Buescher/F 8307
Right Wing - Yanitelli - E 8156 [circled] Abort
Left Wing - Saftler/R 2495

High   326th Squadron
Lead - Gravelle/S 7535
Right Wing - Yanitelli/E 8156
Left Wing - Beard/S (F?) 7872
Second Element Squadron Lead - Boles-Parkinson/X 7660 pff
     Prozneck 40th Wing a/c
Right Wing - O'Donnell/P 8133 pff
Left Wing - Bideganeta/U 7288
Second Element Lead - Bolan/Q 8445
Right Wing - Batey/B 7559
Left Wing - Pilliot/B 2424

Low   325 Squadron
Lead - Buescher/S 8307
Right Wing - Litz/P 7227
Left Wing - Sastler/R 2495

Take-off:   0640
ETR:   140...3?

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Alert Form

Teletype report

all stations stand by for Sup 2 so from 122247B

3a.   Forces required
       6 combat boxes

  b.   Assembly
      1.   Able Combat Wing
      92 Group furnish lead and low groups with 22 a/c +2 PFF for lead group
      306 Group high with 11 a/c + 1 pff a/c
      assemble on Honeybourne buncher at 7,000 feet
      depart buncher 0 minus 55 minutes

      2.   Baker Combat Wing
      305 group furnish lead and low groups with 22 a/c + 2 pff a/c for lead group
      306 group high w/11 a/c+1 pff a/c
      assemble on Podington buncher at 7,000 ft
      depart buncher 0 minus 50 mins

G.   Bombing Instructions
     See 1BD FO 495

X.   Special instructions
     (1) fuel load 2500 gallons
     (2) 305 group furnish one pff a/c to 92 group

5.   Communications
     A.   Air commander - Major Parkinson
           Foxhole Able leader
     C.   40th abandon operations
           Carter's liver pills

C.   Weather Ship 92 Group
      quill pen
      O oboe

D.   Weather code sequence at BIV

E.   Splasher assignments
     A wing let down Podington buncher 255 true
     B wing let down Mt. Farm Buncher 030 true

F.   Unit call signs - flares & W/T collective:   SOP

G.   Foxhole scout
       P 47 from 305 Group Major Garybea

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General Info

Field Order 595

1a.   Fighter support to follow

  b.   Friendly activities:
       10 CBW of 3rd BD departing Beachy Head at 0 hour to attack GS-38GN-3802A, GL-2656A and GZ 2704
       Penetration for this force will be approximately 80 miles south. The withdrawal will be 10 miles south of the 1st BD routing.

       10 CBWs of 2nd BD departing Selsey Bill at 0 hour to attack GN-5815, GH-5525B, factory at 4826-1016E and GU-4113.
       Penetration for this force will be approximately 120 miles south. The withdrawal will be 10 miles south of 1st BD routing.

2.   Targets and MPIs
      Target MPI Primaries
      Force
      Bomb Load

      Primaries:
      GQ-15121A CBW No. 2 ill/736 a/c
      10x500 GP 1/10-1/40
      1B CBW No 6 ill/736 a/c
      same 94A CBW No 2 ill/736 same

      ZQ 1515 94 B CBW no 4 ill/1436
      10 500 GP 1/10-1/40

      40A CBW
      No 19 ill/1436
      5 1,000 GP 1/10-1/40

      40B CBW
      14 ill/1436
      end same

      41A CBW
      0440 54/14 36 a/c
      10 500 GP 1/10-1/40

      41 CBW
      NL 1 ill/17 36 a/c
      same

      Secondary (visual all units)
      GY 4679 and GY 4680

      If buckeye reports both the primary and secondary targets obscured, GQ 1515 MPI 034070/14 will be attacked by PFF method.

      Last resort:   any military objective positively identified as being in Germany and east of the Rhine.

3a.   Composition of force:
       1A CBW LEAD
       1B CBW second
       94A CBW third
       94B CBW 4th
       40A CBW 5th
       40B CBW 6th
       41A CBW 7th
       41B CBW 8th

B.   Disposition of PFF a/c
      3 PFF a/c to be furnished to each 36-a/c CBW.  Recommended that two PFF be assigned to each lead group and one PFF be assigned to the high group.

C.   Route and approximate time schedule for lead a/c:
      1st A CBW  Orfordness  zero hour  10,000 ft
      5114-0255E  0+32 min  10,000 ft  begin climb
      5027-0534E  0+76 mins  20,000 feet
      5015-0740  0+104 mins  25,000
      5044-1152E  0+153 mins  28,000
      5057-1148E  IP 0+157 mins  28,000
      target  0+164 mins  28,000
      5120-1139E  0+167 mins  28,000  begin descent
      5055-0843E  0+202 mins  20,000
      5015-0740E  0+222 mins  20,000
      5027-0534E  0+249 mins  20,000  begin descent
      5114-0255E  0+286 mins  10,000  begin descent
      Clacton  0+314 mins  5,000

[following this is the route & approximate time schedule for lead a/c and 94B CBW; not included here]

D.   Special Instructions regarding route
      1.  Base reference altitude:   21,000 ft
      2.   Division assembly line:   Orfordness 5114-0255E
      3.   Interval between CBWs:   2 minutes

E.   Zero hour and date:   830 hours DBST 13 sept 44

X1.   Bomb loadings and fusing see ¶2

X2.   Intervolometer setting
        Visual:   salvo
        PFF:   75 feet for 500 GPs, 150 feet for 1,000 GPs

4.   Supply:   normal

5.   Communications

      A.   Gee information
             eastern Wyoming
             eastern Quincy
             southern Utah
             channel Jefferson on grade A entire mission

      B.   MFB/F section H

C.   RCM

      1.   Window
            All aircraft will commence releasing chaff at 2 minutes before IP and continue for 13 minutes. Each aircraft will carry 312 units.

      2.   Carpet   normal

D.   Fighter-bomber VHS Channels
      8AF fighter-bomber commom

E.   VHF call signs

      1.   Bombers

      2.   Fighters:   balance 3

      3.   Ground sector control:   Colgate

      4.   VHF code word for authentication:   Times Square

F.   VHF relay a/c 40th CBW will operate relay a/c in vicinity of 5140-4200E at 20,000 from 0+10 until recalled

6.   Special instructions

      1.   Splasher assignments:   use CBW bunchers

      2.   Division air assembly:   General Gross 1st A CBW

      3.   Scout force
            "Buckeye Red" eight P-51 a/c will arrive in the target area approximately 25 minutes ahead of the bombers to relay target weather. On penetration Buckeye Red will scout secondary target and in the event the primary is obscured then the secondary target open will pass information in time to allow CBWs to establish a bomb run from the area south of the secondary target. If both the primary and secondary targets are obscured, the PFF target will be attacked.

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Annex #2

Field order 595

Revised Time Schedule

Revised plan schedule
zero hour   10,000 feet   Orfordness
0+32   begin climb
0+76   20,000
0+102   25,000
0+146   28,000
0+151   28,000   IP
0+158   28   target
0+161   ...
0+198   20,000
0+219   20,000
0+ 246   20,000   begin descent
...33 to   10,000
at 10,000   begin descent
0+310   5,000

Orfordness 0+6 10,000
0+38   10,000   begin climb
0+82   20,000
0+108   25,000
0+152   28,000
0+150   28,000
0+169   ...
0+164   target
0+207   20,000
0+228   20,000
0+255   20,000   begin descent
0+292   10,000   being descent
0+319   5,000

0+82 mins   FRV

[Fighter support information follows; not listed here]

Geographic checkpoints

S Ness???
I Strassbourg
M Stuttgart
P Ludwigshaven
L Ulm
...E

letters spell SIMPLETON

Wings will assign one of the visual secondary targets to each 36-a/c wing

Wings will approach Orfordness as indicated below
1a, 1b ... [La...y?]
40a, 40b from Chelmsford
41a, 41b from Splasher 7
94a, 94b from Attleborough

Fighters:   moderate to intense e/a opposition may be expected

Tides:   high and low 912, 307 and 2150, 1540

There is no indication these targets being effectively hit recently.

Convoys:    none expected

4.    Scouting force location: 1512- 5118-115...
       GQ 1515 51...00E

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Fighter Escort Info

A group of P-51s FRV at 5024-0840E will rendezvous and then sweep ahead to the target area to break up any gaggles attempting to form.

Target
1 group P-47s will furnish additional target support balance 3-6 0+154

6. (4)   CBWs will approach Orfordness as indicated below:
          1st A, B Lavenham
          40th A, B Chelmsford
          41st A, B Splasher 7
          94th A, B Attleborough

(5)   H2X scope photos will be taken of penetration and target area.

Target Information

Intelligence Annex to F/O 495
There is no indication these targets being effectively hit recently.

Convoys:   none expected

The Scouting force locations:
GQ 1512--- 5118-1152E
GQ 1515--- 5119-1200E

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Handwritten Notes:

Target - Primary Visual
Your primary visual target again is the synthetic oil plant at Merseburg. Your MPI is a boiler house in the northern part of the plant.

Secondary Visual
The aero-engine plant at Eisenach is your secondary visual target taget and your MPI is the power plant located in the center of factory area.

PFF Primary
Your PFF primary is the approximate center of the Merseburg oil plant.

Last Resort is the optical glass factory at Wetzlau. Your MPI is the center of the factory.

Both your primary visual and primary PFF are in the large oil plant at Merseburg. Again the target area has many checkpoints, chiefly predominating on the quarries located to the west of the plant, and peculiar curve in the Saale River just east of the target. Previous bombing has reduced this plant to about 50% of its normal production. Your secondary is located in the built-up area in the northern part of the town of Eisenach. This plant is known to produce about 200 radial area engines per month.

If your MPI is well hit (the power plant)... then Your last resort target is an optical plant located in the eastern edge of the town of Wetzlau. Not much is known of this target.

Friendly Efforts
Ten CBWs of Third Division are attacking targets at Ludwigshaven, Sindelfingen and Stuttgart. On penetration this division will be about 80 miles south of your route and on withdrawal about 10 miles south of your route.

Ten CBWs of Second Division will attack targets at Ulm and Schwabische Hall. Penetration of this force is 120 south of your route and withdrawal 10 miles south. Five CBWs of First Division are on the same target as yours, but all have a different MPI. Three other wings of First Division are attacking the synthetic plant at Lutzkendorf.

Route [underlined three times]

Fighter Support

Close support
Three groups of P-51s will meet you here, here and here. Another group of P-51s will rendezvous first here and then sweep ahead of bombers to break up any e/a trying to form. Another group of P-47s will furnish additional target support.

E/A:
Moderate to intense e/a opposition may be expected

Flak
The flak hasn't changed here here at your primary since the other day although your route gets you out of range of approximately 50% of the guns at this target. Your secondary and last resort targets have very little flak. It is suggested by First Division that evasion action be taken between the bomb run.

[torn off here]