------ WORK IN PROGRESS -----------------
Bridges attacked prior to D-Day:
May 7th - Namur, Belgium: Dive bombed railway bridge with
scattered hits, bridge damaged but remained intact.
May 8th - Sudan, France: Carrying 108 gal drop tanks and two
1000lbs bombs, the group flew 600 miles round trip Sudan, France.
The group dove from 10,000' at an angle of 60 degrees releasing
bombs at 2000' scoring several direct hits destroying the bridge.
May 12th - Namur, Belgium: Return to Railway bridge at
Namur, Belgium: Operational order directed that destroying this
bridge was critical and additional flight were to be dispatched as
needed. Major Haesler led the first flight of four planes; his flight
scored four direct hits and left the bridge a pile of rubble in the
river. The remaining flights were able to decimate the nearby
marshalling yards.
May 25th - Hasselt, Belgium: Railway bridge at Hasselt,
Belgium: Destroyed using a “glide bomb” technique. Bombs were
released from a shallow 15 degree glide to hit the bridge abutments.
May 30th - Elbeuf, France: In one mission, group destroys 2
bridges across Seine River; Elbeuf (primary target) & Pont-de-L’
Arche (secondary target). With bombs left after destroying primary
and secondary targets, the group severely damaged the railway
bridge at Le Manior 2 miles east of Pont-de-L'Arche.
May 31st - Liege, Belgium: Railway bridge over the Meuse River
destroyed.
June 4th – Rouen, France: Group was assigned to take out two
important highway bridges over the Seine River. The southeast
bridge was hit and left in the river, the northwest bridge was
severely damaged and unusable.
Bridges attacked prior to D-Day:
May 7th - Namur, Belgium: Dive bombed railway bridge with
scattered hits, bridge damaged but remained intact.
May 8th - Sudan, France: Carrying 108 gal drop tanks and two
1000lbs bombs, the group flew 600 miles round trip Sudan, France.
The group dove from 10,000' at an angle of 60 degrees releasing
bombs at 2000' scoring several direct hits destroying the bridge.
May 12th - Namur, Belgium: Return to Railway bridge at
Namur, Belgium: Operational order directed that destroying this
bridge was critical and additional flight were to be dispatched as
needed. Major Haesler led the first flight of four planes; his flight
scored four direct hits and left the bridge a pile of rubble in the
river. The remaining flights were able to decimate the nearby
marshalling yards.
May 25th - Hasselt, Belgium: Railway bridge at Hasselt,
Belgium: Destroyed using a “glide bomb” technique. Bombs were
released from a shallow 15 degree glide to hit the bridge abutments.
May 30th - Elbeuf, France: In one mission, group destroys 2
bridges across Seine River; Elbeuf (primary target) & Pont-de-L’
Arche (secondary target). With bombs left after destroying primary
and secondary targets, the group severely damaged the railway
bridge at Le Manior 2 miles east of Pont-de-L'Arche.
May 31st - Liege, Belgium: Railway bridge over the Meuse River
destroyed.
June 4th – Rouen, France: Group was assigned to take out two
important highway bridges over the Seine River. The southeast
bridge was hit and left in the river, the northwest bridge was
severely damaged and unusable.
| Bridge Busting by the 368th Fighter Group |
The 368th Fighter Group made a reputation for itself as "Bridge Busters"
The 368th FG damaged or destroyed more bridges than any other group.
The 368th FG destroyed 33 bridges and severely damaged another 44.
The 368th FG damaged or destroyed more bridges than any other group.
The 368th FG destroyed 33 bridges and severely damaged another 44.
Bridges attacked after D-Day:
June 6th - 0612 hours - Road bridge at St. Sauveur, France
(destroyed)
June 14th - south of Caen, France
July 15th – Rail Bridge at Mastes-Gassicourt destroyed.
August 24th - 2 bridges
August 25th – 368th delivers a final blow at Oissel, a partly
repaired emergency rail bridge over the Seine River was
being used for vehicular traffic at time of attack. This
trapped the retreating German Army.
Group destroys or damages 252 vehicles including many
tanks.
October 28th -
November 5th -
Feb 10th - Bullay Bridge over Mosselle Destroyed.
Feb 24th – 395th FS attacks and severely damages a rail
bridge at Salmrohr.
25th – 397th FS finishes off the Salmrohr rail bridge
June 6th - 0612 hours - Road bridge at St. Sauveur, France
(destroyed)
June 14th - south of Caen, France
July 15th – Rail Bridge at Mastes-Gassicourt destroyed.
August 24th - 2 bridges
August 25th – 368th delivers a final blow at Oissel, a partly
repaired emergency rail bridge over the Seine River was
being used for vehicular traffic at time of attack. This
trapped the retreating German Army.
Group destroys or damages 252 vehicles including many
tanks.
October 28th -
November 5th -
Feb 10th - Bullay Bridge over Mosselle Destroyed.
Feb 24th – 395th FS attacks and severely damages a rail
bridge at Salmrohr.
25th – 397th FS finishes off the Salmrohr rail bridge
La Londes Forrest Bridge
Destroyed August 24th, 1944
Destroyed August 24th, 1944
Oissel
Map of Normandy area shows the location of the bridges destroyed in the Elbeuf
and Rouen area. These bridges would be vital to the Germans trying to move
troops and armor to the beachheads.
and Rouen area. These bridges would be vital to the Germans trying to move
troops and armor to the beachheads.
| Rouen, France today |
St. Sauveur --->
| Namur, Hasselt, & Liege, Belgium |