Thirty-seven aircraft were dispatched at 19:07 hours on a course via Beachy
Head to Etretat and then to the Initial Point for the bombing run at 48 degrees
North .01 degrees 36 minutes East to the target which was reached at 20:46
hours.

Twenty-three of the B-26’s dropped forty-five 2000 pound general purpose
bombs on the bridge, six B-26's failing to identify the target until too late,
five others releasing on a point mistaken for the primary target, two failing to
attack due to mechanical troubles, and one hit by flak on the run.

Of the six flights, only one received a “Good” rating from the first phase
interpretation of the strike photos, which said “In a scattered pattern, bombs
fell on and near the M.P.I., with hits on the centre of the bridge and on the
buildings at the northeast bank of the river.”

Intense and accurate heavy flak fire was encountered shortly after opening
bomb bay doors, and it continued from seven to ten minutes. Number three ship
of the high flight, first box, (42-95827 O8µG) was hit in the right engine over
the target, the engine catching fire. The prop was feathered by the pilot, and
the plane, while losing altitude gradually, was returning on single engine when
light flak fire from the vicinity of Louvieres caught it and it crashed soon after.
Three chutes were seen.

In the mean time number five ship of low flight, first box, was hit over the target
and was seen to crash in the vicinity of Averned, but six chutes were seen
indicating that the entire crew escaped. Twenty-five of the remaining ships
suffered flak and battle damage, and four crewmembers were wounded.