MISSION DATE:  August 15, 1944
 
MISSION NBR. 122
 
TARGET: Southern France  -  Invasion Coast
 
I. CHRONOLOGY
            Twenty-eight B-24 type aircraft operating in direct support of invasion forces took off at 0220-0250 hours to bomb beach defenses in vicinity of Ste. Maxime on St. Tropez Gulf.  450th Bomb Group target was designated as northern half of Beach 263A.  Twenty aircraft dropped 38.9 tons of 100 lb G>P> bombs at 0708-0729 hours from 15,000 feet.  4.1 tons were jettisoned.  Two aircraft jettisoned total loads (2 tons each) on return route because of fuel shortage.  One jettisoned in the Adriatic before landing, due to rack malfunction.  11.9 tons were retuned to base.  Twenty-six aircraft returned to base at 1030-1045 hours.  Two landed at friendly fields for fuel and have since returned.  None lost.  None missing.
           
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT       

            The briefed route was flown to Starting Point where waves were dispatched on exact time schedule.  The first wave passed beyond the water Initial Point and approached the target on an axis of 290 degrees True instead of the prescribed 250 degrees axis.   The lead box of the first wave attempted to bomb visually but due to solid undercast, where unable to pick up aiming point.  A 360 degree turn was made and a second run was made by the lead box of this wave.  Photographs disclose that the bomb run extended beyond the briefed aiming point and bombs were dropped on beach defense installations approximately 13 miles down the coast.  The second box of this wave dropped on PFF on the briefed target but because of undercast, photos fail to show bomb strikes.  The second wave attacked the briefed target on an axis of 235 degrees True from the water I.P.  The lead box was unable to locate the briefed target because of solid undercast.  A 360 degree turn was made in a second attempt to locate the aiming point.  This bomb run was also unsuccessful  The restrictions on bombing after 0730 hours precluded a third run, so bombs were retuned to base.  The second box followed the first in trail and dropped visually through a small opening in the undercast.  Photos disclosed that the bombs dropped approximately 12 miles southwest of the briefed target.  The area bombed by this box and the lead box on the first wave is very similar, both in general outline and detail.  At study of annotated Mosaic No. 1 of this area shows it to contain beach defense installation similar to Beach 263A.  The two waves returned to base as individual units on briefed course.  Friendly fighters were numerous in the Target Area.

             

III. RESULTS
            No visual observations of bomb strikes was possible.
 
IV.  ENEMY RESISTANCE
A.     Fighters:  None.
B.     Flak:    Scant, inaccurate, heavy at target.      
 
V. CASUALTIES
None.
 
VI  FLIGHT LEADERS:
            Gideon                       Myers              Davis              Richman