Brief and recon photos for the first mission are below.
7th June 1944, time 06:00, weather good
397th Fighter Squadron of 368th Fighter Group based at Westhampnett in Hampshire flying P47D-27.
56 Squadron based at Shoreham flying Tempest V's.
Please ensure human pilots fly all the flight lead aircraft, which are numbers 1, 5 and 9. Fill these seats first.
Intelligence led ground attack this time boys. Information from sources in France suggests a mansion south east of Le Havre in AQ12 is being used as a German Army HQ for forces being deployed into Normandy. Our mission is to precision bomb the site at low level - thereby avoiding collateral casualties for French civilians. A diversionary raid by Tempests of 56 Squadron will be made on the airfield north of the target shortly before we go in.
397 Fighter Squadron USAAF
Take off and form up on the coast south and then take a heading of 125 until you hit the French coast. Stay at low level. Then turn right to 180. When you reach the road bridge over the river in grid AR12 turn right onto a heading of 270 and follow the road to the target. Leave the target area on a course of 270 until you reach the coast and then return to base on a heading of 360 until you are past Le Havre and then turn to 335. This should keep you away from Le Havre on the return leg where there is heavy AAA.
Target building is a large quadrangular place set in its own grounds set back from the road. Precision bombing without warning is essential with this target but avoid buildings outside the grounds if at all possible. Lead flight will be armed with bombs and rockets and will go in first to suppress AAA. Flights 2 and 3 then go in and bomb the buildings.
56 Squadron RAF
Our mission today is to provide a diversionary attack on the airfield at Triqueville in grid AR13. The Yanks are attacking a high value target south of Triqueville so we go in first to stir things up and draw any defending fighters off.
Take off and form up over Brighton and then take a heading of 150 until we hit the coast. Immediatley turn to 180 and that should take us straight to target. Heavy flak is expected so make one low level pass over the airfield and then head for home. Do not linger over the target. Take a course of 000 to the coast and then home on 330.
![=D]](./images/smilies/eusa_clap.gif "Applause"){kind=small}
