Us Official Photographs

B-26 Marauders over Ghent

incl.: B-26 "Marauder" raid on Ghent, Belgium, 5 Sept. 1943. (From Andrews Field, Air Support Command.) 72 planes participated in this mission against marshalling yards at Ghent, which is 40 miles N. of Belgian-French border. Salvos of 500-lb. bombs were dropped; results reasonably good. Target reached at 8:28 A.M. - good visibility. Heavy and light flak encountered all the way from crossing over enemy territory; flak accurately sent up. Only good evasive action by "Marauders" saved most of them from being hit. Some enemy fighters were on hand, but kept off in distance & were taken care of by our fighter escort of 21 Spitfire squadrons. Bombing altitude was 11,500 ft. Photo #7: Underneath v. of 6 "Marauders" heading away from their field after take off. Photo #8: B-26's starting bomb run near target of marshalling yards. Photo #9: Salvo of 500-lb. bombs leaving bomb bay of a B-26. Photo #10: B-26's crossing Belgian coast on way home, after bombing the marshalling yards at Ghent. (Photos by: Sgt. Albert Mandelero.)