MISSION HISTORY

FLAK MAGNET   JZ-T       31255

23 May 43 - Ostende Docks - Target Destroyed
Link-up and RV went well.  Fighter escort was well out in front.  Visibility good to tgt.  Light to med flak.  RTB.
30 May 43 - Calais Docks - Target Destroyed
RV OK.  Fighter escort linked up midway across Channel.  Scattered but heavy cloud cover.  Tgt obscured and forced go-around from along coast.
Fighters seen in distance.  Flak med to hvy over tgt.  RTB.  Minor dmg to nose and cockpit.  Bombardier slightly injured from flying glass.  
2 June 43 - Dunkerque Rail Bridge - Target Destroyed
Good formation with our squadron but we lagged behind main group at target.  Viz good with scattered thick cloud.  Flak med.  Fuel leak and light damage to nose area.  RTB.  Fighters engaged main body near Calais and over Channel.  We managed to avoid them but confirmed at least one smoking fighter going down, apparently from Green Goddess gunners.
8 June 43 - Anvers (Antwerp) Docks - Target Destroyed
Very good formation this mission. Main body was ahead at RV but we closed up prior to target.  Heavy broken cloud but primary target visible and attacked.  Bombardier witnessed direct hits on the battleship.  It was seen as on fire bow to stern and heavy smoke.  I told the bombardier to hit the docks alongside the battleship.  Other bombs seen to hit the north side of the dock facility with good results.  Despite medium to heavy flak, no damage.  No fighters seen although calls heard on radio.  RTB.  No injuries to report.
13 June 43 - Lens Factory complex - Target totally destroyed
Again, slow on the form up but squadron was tighter over the target than before.  Broken cloud at approx 10,000ft but good viz to target.  Flak was heavy over target.
Escort linked up as planned over Channel.  Fighters engaged by escort near target.  Main formation not attacked until after target, near Arras.  Despite avoiding Calais, flak was thick and received damage to nose and cockpit.  Our flight was ahead of main formation.  Main formation was bounced by 190s coming out of Calais.  Our flight landed safely back at Boxted.  Minor injuries reported by bombardier, copilot and top-gunner.
19 June 43 - Rotterdam Docks - Target only partially destroyed
Formation wasn't complete until near target.  Lead flights got to altitude well before ours so we played catch up until near target.
IP is still too close to target, not enough time to do a proper bomb run but managed to get bombs onto target.  Bombardier witnessed a LOT of bombs going into the 
water beside the target.
Flak was THICK.  No idea how we avoided damage.  Witnessed a bomber collision just before IP, no chutes seen.
Despite Ops briefing there WERE fighters present, both before and after the target.  Escort did a good job and the RAF showed up as we crossed back over the coast.
RTB without incident, crew OK.
24 June 43 - St Omer (Longuenesse) - Target missed
The Squadron CO is apparently on the carpet for this one.  The pilots have been trying to figure out what went wrong as the mission was a bust.
Recon photos show the airfields were barely touched by our bombs.  There is an investigation as to the Norden settings or something as there was
no real excuse for such a lousy result.  Flak was heavy over the target but once again our flight was late to the party and missed any fighter interference.
Flak Magnet made it back to base without only slight damage to the starboard wing tip.  Crew all OK but scratching their heads.  Word has it we'll be re-visiting this one very soon.
AIRCRAFT LOST    **********  28 June 43 - St Omer (Longuenesse) - Target partially to totally destroyed  **********
0810hr, Flak Magnet was seen to successfully bomb the primary target (Fort Rouge airfield).  The aircraft left the target area with flak damage and leaking fuel and coolant.  Cpt Keaton radioed that he was making a direct run for home towards Calais.  Fighters engaged shortly afterwards and Flak Magnet's starboard wing was seen to disintegrate and the aircraft went into a steep, spinning dive.  6 chutes were witnessed by other Squadron members before the aircraft crashed.  Word has been received via the underground that at least 6 allied flyers were captured in the area of Flak Magnet's crash.  IRC is investigating on behalf of the Allied Forces.