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Notes:
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Breakfast for flight crews was at 0200 hours and briefing at 0300 hours--another long day ahead! The aircraft loading was six 500 pound GP's plus four M17 IB's, and 2,780 gallons of gas. Assembly to be at 14,000 feet over a Buncher in France.
After many changes, all but three aircraft were airborne by 0626. One of the ships had veered off the runway on takeoff and blocked the main runway. The last four ships were diverted to Runway 28 for takeoff. Many ships were 30 minutes late in taxying because bombs were not loaded in time. Flying Control remarked: "It was just one of those mornings!!!"
At 0720, Polebrook reported that one of their aircraft had seen a 401st ship (44-6464) crash near Bitteswell, Leicester. It later developed that on takeoff this aircraft, piloted by Lt. R. O. Reinhard, encountered a fire in its No. 1 engine which could not be extinguished. Lt. Reinhard held the ship level long enough for his crew to bail out and was able to follow them out the hatch, with the result that none of the crew suffered injuries greater than sprained ankles.
One other ship aborted, and the remaining aircraft had all returned by 1522 hours--another sixteen hour day!
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