9-10 April 1944 – Chuckie’s first Carpetbagger mission

Tim B

Chuckie’s first mission was actually the second night of combat missions at Harrington. Twenty two aircraft lifted off the runway that night.

Report 168: Chuckie’s first flight mission is documented in a Secret Mission Report dated 10 April 1944. These reports were filed by the Commanding Officer immediately after each aircrew were debriefed when they returned back from its “Special Operation.”

Report 168 lists Chuckie as the Engineer of the B-24 Liberator that took off for France at 10:27 PM on 9 April and returned at 5:40 AM the next morning 10 April. The plane was carrying 12 containers, 8 leaflets and 9 packages to be dropped to the resistance in France.

Their Target was Peter 47 –
specific coordinate was 45° 26′ N 01° 25′ E

Result of Operation: Not Complete

B-24 Liberators were big planes for carrying supplies and people. The bottom gun turret had been taken out and the hole covered with plywood. The opening was known as a “dump hole” or “joe hole.”  Supplies were all packed in long tubes that the crew shoved out when the pilot signaled.

The reason given: “Visibility of the target was very poor – a great deal of ground haze prevented navigation of check points with target was the reason.” The report also notes that at 1:21 AM they encountered enemy opposition enemy opposition at 3,000 feet on their left flank.

I was amazed when after a few clicks on the internet, I was able to get a copies of all the Mission Reports for each of Chuckie’s Carpetbagger missions. The first one was filed 10 April 1944. Stay tuned for the rest.

The Mission Report from Chuckie’s first Carpetbagger Mission

Interrogation (debriefing) of Crews

When an aircraft completed its mission and returned to the home base, its crew were driven directly to the Intelligence Library situated at the rear of the Group Operations Building for debriefing by S-2 Officers.

Drop success that evening had been fourteen complete and nine incomplete. Three out of the four agents had been delivered, 156 of 252 containers had been delivered, 202 of 210 bundles delivered and 95 out of a possible 139 packages had been delivered.

The interrogation may find a crew showing the stress of a hard dangerous mission which has lasted from five to eight hours. Free, frank interchange of information is encouraged. The S-2 Officers handle the jumpy crew with a great deal of tact and flexibility. An official Report is then filed by the Commanding Officer.



The movie playing that night was
Murder on the Waterfront  – the 1943 American film staring Warren Douglas and Joan Winfield.