June 6, 1944 "D" Day Mission #11
Location of target: Courseulles, north of Caen, 49"20'N 00"28'W

Load: 2300 gals of gas, and 38-100 lb GP bombs.
Altitude: 14,500 feet.
Flight Time: 5:55 hours
Escort: No special escort, just a mass of planes.

Force of raid: 11,600 planes. Bombed from individual squadrons. There were probably 2,000 planes in vicinity at the same time.

Position: No. 3 of high element.
Opposition: Two puffs of flack over the target; a German observation plane at 30,000 feet that scooted off for Germany

Battle Damage: None
Results: Bombed PFF could not observe the results
Day's losses: Unknown

Remarks:
We were awakened at 12:30 AM after three hours of sleep. We hurried to briefing, looking for another milk run. We saw the on-flight board listings of individual squadrons. We were #2. We all began to wonder what was up as this was unusual. We all became quiet while they raised the curtain over the wall map. There was a mission plotted which looked like the last few raids. Major Jones, the S-2 officer took the floor with a pointer. He said this looks like another milk run gentlemen, but it is not. This is the beginning of the invasion, and you are part of it. Everybody was more or less stunned. I think that I shook a little. I heard Owen, who was sitting next to me, mutter "God help them" (meaning the ground forces). We received our briefing targets and alternates. "Do not drop your bombs after 0720." We were over at 0701, our exact appointed time. Colonel Hunter got up to impress upon us what it meant. We knew too well. Today there were 11,000 some odd aircraft in the sky.

We could not deviate from our course a mile. Everything was based on timing. We took off before daylight. There was a heavy overcast from 4,000 to 8,000 feet. We climbed with considerable trouble. The artificial horizon went out, air speed froze up, and the gyrocompass was not up to speed. We reached altitude and got in formation. We started on course. There was complete under cast. Everyone was calling me for ETA's and positions. Just before the ETA to target, there was a hole in the clouds. I saw six landing boats heading for the beach. Bombs went away with two puffs of flack.

When we were back near the English coast, we saw the water. One battleship was at anchor, hundreds of landing boats were in one long string heading for the beach. We flew over the coastal towns, and saw landing operations.

I saw hundreds of planes. All telephones were disconnected during the night. Ground crew worked all night. Flying officers were the only ones who knew. Our enlisted men did not even know until we were almost off the ground. Security was perfect. When we came back, ground crew knew what was going on. They all sweated us out. Now 12 -1/2 hours after they hit the beach, every last man is praying and hoping for the best