Mission Log — All 185 Missions

Between 7 May 1944 and 21 April 1945, the 487th Bombardment Group flew 185 combat missions from Station 137, Lavenham. This is their complete operational record.

The missions began as the Allied air forces worked to suppress German defences ahead of the Normandy landings, striking airfields, marshalling yards and coastal positions across occupied France. As the war progressed the targets moved deeper into Germany — oil refineries, factories, transport hubs, and the industrial infrastructure sustaining the Reich’s war effort. The final mission was flown on 21 April 1945, nineteen days before the German surrender.

This record is transcribed from the original 487th Missions document held in the Group’s archive and from the 487th Bomb Group Association website.

Mission #	Date	Target	Notes	Air Leader
1	07/05/1944	Liege, Belgium	Marshalling Yards	Don Pomeroy
2	08/05/1944	Brussels, Belgium	Schaerbeek Marshalling Yards	Beirne Lay
3	09/05/1944	Laon, France	Laon-Couvron Airfield	Russell Fisher
4	11/05/1944	Troyes, France	Chaumont Marshalling Yards Aircraft lost: 42-29468, Vratny crew - 838th Sqd 42-52763, Brodsky crew - 838th Sqd 42-52444, McCleary crew - 838th Sqd 41-29481, Duncan crew - 837th Sqd Notes: CO Lt Col Beirne Lay, Air Leader on Vratny crew, evaded capture with 2/Lt Walter Duer	Beirne Lay
5	20/05/1944	Liege, Belgium	Marshalling Yards Aircraft lost: 42-52743, Goethe crew - 837th Sqd, crashed shortly after takeoff, in Long Melford	Robert Taylor
6	23/05/1944	Etampes Mondesir, France	Etampes-Mondesir Airfield	Robert Taylor
7	24/05/1944	Poix, France	Poix Airfield	Russell Fisher
8	25/05/1944	Montignie sur Sambre	Charleroi Marshalling Yards	Robert Taylor
9	27/05/1944	Metz, France	Metz Aero-Engine Works	Lyndall Avery
10	28/05/1944	Lutzkendorf, Germany	Lutzkendorf Oil Refinery Aircraft lost: 42-52651, Burckes crew - 837th Sqd	Robert Taylor
11	29/05/1944	Politz, Germany	Politz Oil Refinery Aircraft lost: 42-52577, Willis crew - 838th Sqd	Francis Eberhart
12	30/05/1944	Munster, Germany	Munster-Handorf Airfield Aircraft lost: 42-52739, McCarty crew - 838th Sqd, ditched in channel	Russell Fisher
13	31/05/1944	Jemelle, Belgium	Marshalling Yards Notes: Weather caused abandonment of mission, although one crew bombed a target of opportunity	Howard Todt
14	04/06/1944	Bretigny, France	Bretigny Airfield	Lyndall Avery
15	06/06/1944	Caen, France	Crossroads at Caen, France Aircraft lost: 42-52629, Gross crew - 838th Sqd, apparently ditched in channel	Bernard Stanek
16	06/06/1944	Thury-Harcourt, France	Railroad bridge	Theobold Remaklus
17	06/06/1944	Lisieux, France	Lisieux Crossroads	Howard Todt
18	07/06/1944	Montjean, France	Montjean Bridge Aircraft lost: 42-52624, Schwab crew - 839th Sqd	John Hammett
19	08/06/1944	Tours, France	Cinq Mars Bridge	Russell Fisher
20	11/06/1944	Argentan, France	Argentan Airfield	Richard Munson
21	12/06/1944	Beauvais, France	Beauvais-Nivellers Airfield	Lyndall Avery
22	14/06/1944	Lille Vendeville, France	Lille-Vendeville and Laon Airfields Notes: Group flew as two separate formations Eberhart leading two squadrons, Ozbolt leading one squadron	Francis Eberhart
23	15/06/1944	Etampes Mondesir, France	Etampes-Mondesir Airfield	Lawrence Herman
24	17/06/1944	Alencon Lonray, France	Alencon Airfield	Fred Peck
25	20/06/1944	Misburg, Germany	Misburg Oil Refinery Aircraft lost: 42-95217, Erwin crew - 838th Sqd	Lyndall Avery
26	20/06/1944	Pas de Calais, France	V-Weapon site	Howard Todt
27	22/06/1944	Pas de Calais, France	V-Weapon site	David Reed
28	23/06/1944	Coulommiers Juvincourt, France	Coulommiers and Juvincourt Airfields Aircraft lost: 42-28822, Van Dyke crew, 836th Sqd	George Richmond
29	24/06/1944	Chateaudun, France	Chateaudun Airfield	David Ozbolt
30	25/06/1944	Bourges, France	Bourges Airfield
31	25/06/1944	Romilly-Sur-Seine, France	Nantueil Bridge
32	27/06/1944	Domleger, France	Domleger Military Installation
33	30/06/1944	Conches Evreux, France	Conches and Evreux airfields	Theobold Remaklus
34	02/07/1944	Belloy-Sur-Somme, France	V-Weapon site Aircraft lost: 42-52609, Logan crew - 836th Sqd	Fred Peck
35	04/07/1944	Creil, France	Creil Airfield	John Hammett
36	05/07/1944	Eindhoven, Holland	Eindhoven Airfield	David Reed
37	06/07/1944	Belloy-Sur-Somme, France	V-Weapon site	Fred Peck
38	08/07/1944	Laloge Au Pain, France	V-Weapon site Notes: Mighty 8th War Diary states - 1 487th B-24 Cat E (Damaged beyond economical repair while engaged in performing operational mission)	Lawrence Herman
39	09/07/1944	France	V-Weapon site	Winston Rogers
40	12/07/1944	France	V-Weapon site	John Hammett
41	14/07/1944	Peronne, France	Peronne Airfield	George Richmond
42	17/07/1944	Gien, France	Railroad bridge Aircraft lost: 42-52581, Borchert crew - 838th Sqd, crashed on approach to Lavenham airfield	Mayfield Shilling
43	18/07/1944	Frenouville, France	German troop concentrations	Winston Rogers
44	19/07/1944	Saarbrucken, Germany	Marshalling Yards	Fred Peck
45	20/07/1944	Russelsheim, Germany	Factory	Francis Eberhart
46	21/07/1944	Kempten, Germany	Kempten Aircraft Factory Notes: Final B-24 mission for the group	Theobold Remaklus
47	01/08/1944	Tours, France	Tours Airfield Notes: First mission after transition to B-17's	Lyndall Avery
48	02/08/1944	Val-des-Joncs, France	La Briqueterie and Val-des-Joncs V-Weapon sites	Howard Todt
49	03/08/1944	Joigny-Laroche, France	Joigny railroad bridge	Russell Fisher
50	04/08/1944	Nordholz, Germany	Hamburg Oil Refinery	Robert Taylor
51	05/08/1944	Magdeburg, Germany	Mageburg Airplane Factory Aircraft lost: 43-38007, Deuschle crew - 838th Sqd	Lyndall Avery
52	06/08/1944	Berlin, Germany	Berlin Industrial Plant Aircraft lost: 43-37805, Hatfield crew - 837th Sqd	Francis Eberhart
53	07/08/1944	Jussy, France	Jussy Railroad Bridge	Howard Todt
54	08/08/1944	St. Sylvain, France	Ground support near Saint Sylvain	Robert Taylor
55	09/08/1944	Nuremberg, Germany	Nuremberg Ball Bearing works original target, target of opportunity marshalling yard in St. Vith Belgium actually bombed	Flesher
56	11/08/1944	Villacoublay, France	Belfort Marshalling yards and Villacoublay Airfield, France	Mayfield Shilling
57	13/08/1944	Seine & Dreaux, France	Tactical Support of Ground Troops	Lyndall Avery
58	14/08/1944	Sandhofen, Germany	Sandhofen Airfield	Howard Todt
59	15/08/1944	Twente-Enschede, Holland	Twente Airfield	Francis Eberhart
60	16/08/1944	Rositz, Germany	Rositz and Zeitz Oil Refineries	Lawrence Herman
61	18/08/1944	St. Dizier, France	St. Dizier Airfield	Russell Fisher
62	24/08/1944	Freital, Germany	Freital Oil Refinery	Raymond Dunn
63	25/08/1944	Rechlin, Germany	Rechlin Experimental Airfield Aircraft lost: 43-37980, Duncan crew - 839th Sqd	Francis Eberhart
64	26/08/1944	Brest, France	Coastal defenses at Brest	John Hammett
65	27/08/1944	Berlin, Germany	Daimler-Benz Engine factory Notes: Heavy cloud cover forced mission abort at enemy coast	Howard Todt
66	01/09/1944	Russelsheim, Germany	Clouds at the French coast forced turn back	Theobold Remaklus
67	03/09/1944	Brest, France	Tactical Targets	Russell Fisher
68	08/09/1944	Mainz, Germany	Supply depot	Russell Fisher
69	09/09/1944	Dusseldorf, Germany	Armament factory	John Hammett
70	10/09/1944	Nuremberg, Germany	Tank and motor factory	Howard Todt
71	11/09/1944	Bohlen, Germany	Oil refinery	Carl Fisher
72	12/09/1944	Magdeburg, Germany	Oil refinery Aircraft lost: 44-6305, Preston crew - 838th Sqd	John Hammett
73	13/09/1944	Darmstadt, Germany	Marshalling yards	Howard Todt
74	17/09/1944	Schouwen Island, Holland	Flak gun emplacements	Francis Eberhart
75	19/09/1944	Limburg, Germany	Bridge at Limburg Notes: Original target, oil refinery near Rheine, Germany couldn't be attacked because of solid cloud cover. Bridge at Limburg was attacked as target of opportunity	Lyndall Avery
76	22/09/1944	Kassel, Germany	Tank factory Aircraft lost: 43-38260, Smith crew - 837th Sqd	Francis Eberhart
77	25/09/1944	Ludwigshafen, Germany	Marshalling yards	Lyndall Avery
78	26/09/1944	Bremen, Germany	Motor factory	John Hammett
79	27/09/1944	Ludwigshafen, Germany	Chemical plant	Howard Todt
80	28/09/1944	Merseburg, Germany	Oil refinery Aircraft lost: 44-6463, Lamason crew - 839th Sqd	Bernard Stanek
81	30/09/1944	Bielefeld, Germany	Marshalling yards Aircraft lost: 43-38037, Jackson crew - 836th Sqd 43-38154, Oesch crew - 836th Sqd	Francis Eberhart
82	02/10/1944	Kassel, Germany	Tank factory	Lyndall Avery
83	03/10/1944	Nuremberg	Tank factory, Germany	John Hammett
84	06/10/1944	Berlin, Germany	Armor depot	Howard Todt
85	07/10/1944	Lutzkendorf, Germany	Oil refinery	Francis Eberhart
86	09/10/1944	Mainz, Germany	Marshalling yards	Lyndall Avery
87	14/10/1944	Cologne, Germany	Marshalling yards	Russell Fisher
88	15/10/1944	Cologne, Germany	Marshalling yards Aircraft lost: 42-38008, Warner crew - 839th Sqd	Raymond Dunn
89	17/10/1944	Cologne, Germany	Marshalling yards	John Hammett
90	18/10/1944	Kassel, Germany	Marshalling yards	Howard Todt
91	19/10/1944	Mannheim, Germany	Motor transport works	Francis Eberhart
92	22/10/1944	Munster, Germany	Marshalling yards	Lyndall Avery
93	26/10/1944	Hannover, Germany	Gun factory	Lawrence Herman
94	28/10/1944	Hamm, Germany	Marshalling yards	Robert Taylor
95	02/11/1944	Merseburg, Germany	Oil refinery	Howard Todt
96	04/11/1944	Neuenkirchen, Germany	Coking plant	Francis Eberhart
97	05/11/1944	Ludwigshafen, Germany	Chemical works Aircraft lost: 43-37858, Schwarzin crew - 836th Sqd	Lyndall Avery
98	06/11/1944	Neumunster, Germany	Marshalling yards	Raymond Dunn
99	09/11/1944	Saarbrucken, Germany	Fort at Thionville, France and Marshalling yards, Saarbrucken, Germany Aircraft lost: 44-6290, Herring crew - 836th Sqd	John Hammett
100	11/11/1944	Oberlahnstein, Germany	Marshalling yards	Howard Todt
101	16/11/1944	Duren, Germany	Troop concentration, Duren area	Francis Eberhart
102	21/11/1944	Merseburg, Germany (recalled)	Target was to be oil refinery, Merseburg	Lyndall Avery
103	25/11/1944	Merseburg, Germany	Oil refinery Aircraft lost: 44-6307, Shields crew - 837th Sqd 42-97997, Lauraine crew - 839th Sqd	Raymond Dunn
104	26/11/1944	Hamm, Germany	Marshalling yards Aircraft lost: 43-38141, Davidson crew - 839th Sqd	John Hammett
105	27/11/1944	Bingen, Germany	Marshalling yards	Howard Todt
106	30/11/1944	Merseburg, Germany	Oil refinery Aircraft lost: 43-37887, Kersten crew, 836th Sqd	Francis Eberhart
107	02/12/1944	Cobbling, Germany	Marshalling yards (mission recalled near I.P.)	Russell Fisher
108	04/12/1944	Mainz, Germany	Marshalling yards	Lyndall Avery
109	06/12/1944	Merseburg, Germany	Oil refinery	Raymond Dunn
110	11/12/1944	Giessen, Germany	Marshalling yards	Richard
111	12/12/1944	Darmstadt, Germany	Marshalling yards	John Hammett
112	15/12/1944	Hannover, Germany	Marshalling yards Aircraft lost: 43-38003, Edwards crew - 839th Sqd	Howard Todt
113	18/12/1944	Mainz, Germany	Marshalling yards	Francis Eberhart
114	24/12/1944	Babenhausen, Germany	Airfield at Babenhausen Aircraft lost: 44-4844, Harriman crew - 836th Sqd 44-8121, Reed crew - 836th Sqd 44-8192, Lang crew - 838th Sqd 43-37569, Ball crew - 836th Sqd, aircraft from 839th Sqd 43-38926, Waldron crew - 836th Sqd 44-8614, Turnquist crew - 836th Sqd, aircraft from 838th Sqd 42-102497, Curtiss crew - 836th Sqd 42-98019, Kraker crew, 839th Sqd, aircraft from 838th Sqd Notes: 487th led the 8th Air Force on this mission Brig. General Frederick Castle, Air Leader on Harriman crew awared Medal of Honor	Frederick Castle
115	28/12/1944	Coblenz, Germany	Marshalling yard	Howard Todt
116	29/12/1944	Aschaffenburg, Germany	Marshalling yards Aircraft lost: 43-38169, Perrot crew - 838th Sqd Notes: Both Major John Hammett and 1/Lt Stephen Sherrill are shown as Air Leaders	John Hammett
117	30/12/1944	Mannheim, Germany	Marshalling yards	Howard Todt
118	31/12/1944	Hamburg, Germany	Oil refinery Aircraft lost: 42-97398, Gatlin crew - 836th Sqd, aircraft from 838th Sqd	John Hammett
119	01/01/1945	Ehmen & Coblenz, Germany	Oil storage depot at Ehmen and Marshalling yards at Coblenz	Lyndall Avery
120	02/01/1945	Nalbach Area, Germany	Enemy positions, tactical targets	Francis Eberhart
121	03/01/1945	Aschaffenburg, Germany	Marshalling yards at Aschaffenburg and Pforzheim	John Hammett
122	06/01/1945	Ludwigshafen, Germany	Marshalling yards	Russell Fisher
123	07/01/1945	Paderborn, Germany	Railroad workshops	Fred Peck
124	08/01/1945	Frankfurt, Germany	Marshalling yards	Raymond Dunn
125	13/01/1945	Mainz, Germany	Marshalling yards	Bernard Stanek
126	14/01/1945	Magdeburg, Germany	Oil refinery at Magdeburg and Marshalling yards, at Osnabruck Aircraft lost: 44-8563, Stemple crew - 838th Sqd 43-37933, Nyland crew - 838th Sqd 42-98013, Kochczynski crew - 838th Sqd 43-38002, Moser crew - 838th Sqd	Russell Fisher
127	15/01/1945	Augsburg, Germany	Marshalling yards	William Martin
128	16/01/1945	Dessau, Germany	Marshalling yards	Raymond Dunn
129	18/01/1945	Kaiserlautern, Germany	Marshalling yards	Lawrence Herman
130	20/01/1945	Heilbronn, Germany	Marshalling yards at Heilbronn and Pforzheim	William Martin
131	21/01/1945	Mannheim, Germany	Marshalling yards	Edgar Fuller
132	28/01/1945	Hohenbudberg, Germany	Marshalling yards	Russell Fisher
133	29/01/1945	Kassel, Germany	Marshalling yards	Francis Eberhart
134	01/02/1945	Wesel, Germany	Highway bridge	Fred Peck
135	03/02/1945	Berlin, Germany	City center Aircraft lost: 42-98014, Rothstein crew - 836th Sqd	Raymond Dunn
136	06/02/1945	Chemnitz, Germany	City center Aircraft lost: 43-38044, Parker crew - 837th Sqd	Lawrence Herman
137	09/02/1945	Weimar, Germany	Motor transport factory Aircraft lost: 43-38988, Shepard crew - 839th Sqd	William Martin
138	14/02/1945	Dulmen, Germany	Oil storage depot	Russell Fisher
139	15/02/1945	Cotbus, Germany	Marshalling yards	Francis Eberhart
140	16/02/1945	Hamm, Germany	Marshalling yards	Edgar Fuller
141	17/02/1945	Frankfurt, Germany	Marshalling yards at Frankfurt and Giessen	Frederick Smith
142	20/02/1945	Nuremburg, Germany	Railroad station Aircraft lost: 43-38596, McCullough crew - 837th Sqd	Russell Fisher
143	21/02/1945	Nuremburg, Germany		Fred Peck
144	22/02/1945	Ansbach, Germany	Marshalling yards	Raymond Dunn
145	23/02/1945	Neumarkt, Germany	Marshalling yards	Lawrence Herman
146	24/02/1945	Bremen, Germany	Shipyards	Francis Eberhart
147	25/02/1945	Neuburg, Germany	Underground oil depot	William Martin
148	26/02/1945	Berlin, Germany	Transportation system	Warren Fischer
149	28/02/1945	Kassel, Germany	Marshalling yards	Fred Peck
150	01/03/1945	Ulm, Germany	Marshalling yards	Raymond Dunn
151	02/03/1945	Dresden, Germany	Traffic center Aircraft lost: 43-37897, Young crew - 838th Sqd	Lawrence Herman
152	03/03/1945	Brunswick, Germany	Industrial targets Aircraft lost: 43-39108, Webb crew - 839th Sqd	Francis Eberhart
153	07/03/1945	Castrop-Rauxel, Germany	Oil refinery at Catrop-Rauxel and Marshalling yards at Siegen	Lyndall Avery
154	08/03/1945	Frankfurt, Germany	Jet engine factory at Frankfurt and Marshalling yards at Giessen	William Martin
155	09/03/1945	Frankfurt, Germany	Marshalling yards	Raymond Dunn
156	10/03/1945	Dortmund, Germany	Marshalling yards	Francis Eberhart
157	11/03/1945	Hamburg, Germany	Industrial area and shipyards Aircraft lost: 43-38888, Sugarman crew - 839th Sqd	Mayfield Shilling
158	12/03/1945	Marburg, Germany	Marshalling yards	William Martin
159	14/03/1945	Hannover, Germany	Tank factory Aircraft lost: 44-6570, Portsch crew - 836th Sqd	Mayfield Shilling
160	15/03/1945	Oraienburg, Germany	Marshalling yards Aircraft lost: 44-8673, Miller crew - 838th Sqd 43-38028, Sylvernal crew - 838th Sqd 44-8746, Conwill crew - 837th Sqd	Russell Fisher
161	17/03/1945	Ruhland, Germany	Oil refinery Aircraft lost: 43-39173, Kohr crew - 838th Sqd 42-97996, Rothstein crew - 836th Sqd	Fred Peck
162	18/03/1945	Berlin, Germany	Marshalling yards Aircraft lost: 44-8276, Leon crew - 837th Sqd	Raymond Dunn
163	19/03/1945	Zwickau, Germany	Communications center Aircraft lost: 43-37969, Virgin crew - 836th Sqd 43-38038, Smoke crew - 836th Sqd	Francis Eberhart
164	21/03/1945	Wittmundhafen, Germany	Airfield	Russell Fisher
165	22/03/1945	Kupferdreh, Germany	Barracks area	Francis Eberhart
166	23/03/1945	Holzwickede, Germany	Marshalling yards at Holzwickede and Aluminum works at Meschede	Raymond Dunn
167	24/03/1945	Varrelbusch, Germany	Airfield	Francis Eberhart
168	28/03/1945	Hannover, Germany	Marshalling yards	Orville Buchanan
169	30/03/1945	Hamburg, Germany	Oil refinery	William Choniski
170	31/03/1945	Brandenburg, Germany	Primary obsured by clouds (unsure what the primary was), as notes say Brandenburg was selected as target of opportunity	William Martin
171	03/04/1945	Kiel, Germany	Harbor installations	Raymond Dunn
172	04/04/1945	Kiel, Germany	Harbor installations	Orville Buchanan
173	05/04/1945	Furth, Germany	Ordnance depot	Russell Fisher
174	07/04/1945	Parchim, Germany	Airfield	William Martin
175	08/04/1945	Hof, Germany	Marshalling yards Aircraft lost: 44-8547, Milner crew - 836th Sqd	William Choniski
176	09/04/1945	Neuburg, Germany	Oil storage depot	Raymond Dunn
177	10/04/1944	Briest, Germany	Airfield at Briest Aircraft lost: 44-8807, McGinnes crew - 837th Sqd 44-8702, Hauenstein crew - 836th Sqd 43-37987, Althouse crew - 839th Sqd 44-6913, Sell crew - 837th Sqd	William Kieffer
178	11/04/1945	Ingolstadt, Germany	Airfield	Howard Todt
179	14/04/1945	Royan, France	Heavy gun emplacement	Russell Fisher
180	15/04/1945	Royan, France	Fortifications in Royan area	Orville Buchanan
181	16/04/1945	Royan, France	Tank traps in Royan area	William Choniski
182	17/04/1945	Dresden, Germany	Marshalling yards	Howard Todt
183	19/04/1945	Pirna, Germany	Rail and road bridge	William Martin
184	20/04/1945	Neuruppin, Germany	Marshalling yards	Russell Fisher
185	21/04/1945	Ingolstadt, Germany	Jet airfield in the Munich area	Orville Buchanan

Details courtesy of 487th Bomb Group Association.

Notes on the Mission Record

Several missions show vague target details or even blank. In some cases this reflects a mission that was recalled before reaching the target due to weather or mechanical failure. In others the target was simply not recorded in the documents from which this log is transcribed. Researchers wishing to investigate individual missions in more detail are encouraged to consult the records held by the 487th Bomb Group Association and the National Archives.

Missions 15, 16 and 17 on 6 June 1944 were flown on D-Day — three separate sorties on the same day in direct support of the Normandy landings.

The Merseburg oil refinery appears multiple times in this log — more than any other single target. It was one of the most heavily defended targets in Germany and was known among Eighth Air Force crews as one of the most dangerous assignments of the war.

The final mission on 21 April 1945 targeted Ingolstadt, Bavaria — seventeen days before Germany’s unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945.

This record has been transcribed from original 487th Missions documents and the 487th Bomb Group Association website. If you can help us fill in any of the gaps, please contact FOLA.