Date: Dec 31 43
Dispatched: 49 Aborts: 3
Mission: Withdrawal support (middle units) 2nd ATF (240 B-17’s 1st Div, 120 B-17’s 3rd Div & 180 B-24’s)
Field Order: 211 Target: Bordeaux A/C assembly works
Time Up/Down: 12:24 hrs 15:15 hrs Leader: Major Beckham
Claims Air: 00-00-00 Claims Ground: 00-00-00 Lost/Damaged: 00-00
Group crossed the enemy coast at Grand Camp at 13:23 hrs, 25,000ft. R/V with bombers 13:51 hrs, 15 miles north of Lorient. Left 14:32 hrs vicinity of Lannion at 22,000ft, 14:42 hrs. B-24s sighted 13:46 hrs when Group northeast of Lorient. Three Groups bunched together with one Group 10 miles behind. Two more Groups of B-24s seen to the east of Group. Four boxes of B-17s seen northeast of Vannes flying on a converging course, bombers flying 12-16,000ft. One B-17 seen flying 1000ft above the rest of B-17 formation vicinity of Gorlay. Several stragglers on wide front; no e/a seen. Meagre flak at Lorient.
350th: Capt Pidduck. [No further details available in Squadron records].
351st: Major Beckham. T/U 12:15 hrs. T/D 15:15 hrs. Total flying time 3:00 hrs. Route: In at Grand Camp, R/V in Bannalee area, out at Perres-Guirec. Squadron and Group led by Major Beckham. Took off Metfield crossed out English coast at Newhaven at 13:03 hrs, 17,500ft and in enemy coast at Grand Camp at 13:23 hrs, 25,000ft. Proceeded on course, sighting 4 boxes (of 23, 12, 11 and 18) B-24s at 13:46 hrs making R/V at 13:51 hrs in Bannalee area. Bombers at 15,000ft. Made contact with Goldsmith 2-4 on channel C. Escorted bombers out to coast, leaving them at 14:32 hrs at Perres-Guirec. Squadron landed at Exeter. Took off from Exeter 09:40 hrs 1 Jan 1944 down at Metfield at 10:50 hrs. No E/A seen. R/T good. 4-6/10ths clouds.
| Major | Walter C. | Beckham | (Gp & Sqdn Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | John G. | Treitz | |
| 2nd Lt | Herbert K. | Field | |
| 1st Lt | George N. | Ahles | |
| Capt | Frederick H. | Lefebre | |
| 2nd Lt | Frank J. | Mincik | |
| 1st Lt | Francis N. | King | |
| 2nd Lt | Edgar J. | Albert | |
| Capt | Charles L. | Stafford | |
| 1st Lt | Gordon B. | Compton | |
| 2nd Lt | Francis L. | Edwards | |
| F/O | Cletus | Peterson | |
| 2nd Lt | Don M. | Hurlburt | |
| 1st Lt | Vernon A. | Leatherman | |
| 1st Lt | William J. | Maguire | |
| 2nd Lt | Lloyd A. | Thornell | |
| F/O | Joseph E. | Wood | |
| 2nd Lt | Richard D. | Stanley | |
| 2nd Lt | Hassell D. | Stump | |
352nd: Major Bailey. T/U 12:27 hrs. T/D 15:15 hrs. Total flight time 2:48 hrs. Squadron left English coast over Beachyhead. Landfall #1 was at Grandcamp les B on time. Landfall #2 was made over Malo, Group a little south of course. Made R/V with bombers at 13:52 hrs and bombers were flying at 12,000 to 16,000ft in small bunches (Groups of 12 to 24). Several stragglers were noted and bombers were flying in a very wide front. No e/a were encountered or seen. Goldsmith 24 was heard asking for cover not help. “C” channel was garbled. Escorted bombers out to Brecht and left them at 14:41 hrs. Group landed at advanced bases at 15:15 hrs. At R/V there was an overcast with breaks, tops 10,000ft. Sky at advanced base had 8 to 9/10 clouds, base 1200 to 1500 feet variable with tops at 4,000ft. Meager, medium flak (about 8 bursts) seen fired from Lorient. “A” channel reception fair. 11 down at Exeter, 31 Dec. 1 down Harrowbeer, 31 Dec. 1 down Middle Wallop, 31 Dec. 5 up Exeter, down Yeovilton, 31 Dec. 1 up Middle Wallop, down Metfield 31 Dec. 5 up Exeter, down Metfield, 1 Jan 44. 1 up Exeter, down Harrowbeer 1 Jan 44. 5 up Yeovilton, down Metfield, 1 Jan 44.
| Major | William B. | Bailey | (Sqdn Ldr) |
| 1st Lt | William J. | Jordan | |
| 2nd Lt | Richard V. | Keywan | |
| 2nd Lt | Glenn G. | Callans | |
| Capt | Charles J. | Hoey | (Flt Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Wilton W. | Johnson | |
| 1st Lt | Robert P. | Geurtz | |
| 2nd Lt | Victor L. | Vogel | |
| Capt | Thomas J. | Forkin | (Flt Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Harry H. | Dustin | |
| 1st Lt | William F. | Streit | |
| 1st Lt | Charles W. | Kipfer | |
| 1st Lt | Jesse W. | Gonnam | (Flt Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Joseph A. | Schillinger | |
| 1st Lt | Gordon L. | Willits | |
| 2nd Lt | William S. | Marchant |
Group Aborts/Early Returns/Damaged:
| 42-8634 | ABT belly tank failed to release | LH-X |
| 42-8379 | ABT supercharger trouble | YJ-H |
| 42-8002 | ABT push-rod leaked | YJ-E |
| 42-8375 | ERTN flaps not fully extend | YJ-D |
| 42-8401 | ERTN belly tank fuel pressure | YJ-R |
| 42-8674 | ERTN intake valve leaked | YJ-K |
353rdFighterGroup 