This is from Terry Fairfield's "The 479th Fighter Group in World War II":
VIII FC FO 421
No. 84 Wednesday. The group's assignment was an escort for 3rd BD B-24s
attacking their 8th AF Mission 445 primary target, a marshalling yard near
Saarbrucken, Germany and a target of opportunity, an airfield northeast of
Brussels, Belgium. Approximate time up: 060 hrs, down: 1115 hrs. L/F was in
the vicinity of Blankenberghe at 0735 hrs/19,000 ft. R/V with the assigned
bombers was over Saarbrucken, Germany at 0835 hrs/22,000 ft. The bombers
were ten minutes late. Heading back into Belgium, the Big Friends attacked
an airfield ten miles northeast of Brussels. The results were partially
obscured by overcast, but hits on a barracks were noted. The bombers and
some stragglers were escorted to about mid-point over the North Sea where
the group broke escort at 1045hrs.
Observations made during the mission included: What was possibly a
long-nose Fw 190, was seen about 30 miles southwest of Koblenz at 0835
hours. Five freight trains heading northwest towards Koblenz were spotted
about the same time. There was possible enemy voice jamming on the VHF
channels. Flak was heavy, moderate and inaccurate at Saarbrucken, but both
light and heavy as well as intense at Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Ray Ortensie
ronald.ortensie@moody.af.mil photoray1970@hotmail.com