A Classic 321st Mission
Toulon, France - August 18, 1944







I created this little movie of the Toulon mission using 10 still photographs taken with hand-held K-20 cameras from the B-25J Mitchell medium bombers with Nos. 43-4021 Lady Jane and 43-27497 Mrs. C from the 446th squadron; 43-4069 by squadron photographer T/Sgt. Arthur T. Shand from the 447th squadron; and 43-4067 The Big Swing from the 448th squadron.

USAAF Chronology for Friday, 18 August 1944:

MTO Tactical Operations (12th AF): In France, medium bombers blast coastal guns in the Toulon area and shipping in Toulon harbor; fighter- bombers closely support beachhead troops, hit rolling stock and rail lines, and generally disrupt communications as the US VI Corps overruns the primary defenses in the coastal area of SE France; fighters maintain beachhead patrols and area cover for the bombers; and HQ XII Tactical Air Command moves from Italy to France.


445th Bombardment Squadron War Diary:

The squadron went out with the group in full force to attack shipping in Toulon harbor. The results of the mission were extremely successful and the raid will undoubtedly go down in group records as one of the most if not the most effective raid carried out by the 321st. This squadron achieved 100 per cent bombing accuracy and final results showed a cruiser with its decks awash and in a sinking condition, a submarine sunk and a large battleship badly damaged and ablaze in 3 places. Lt. Daniel Galindo deserves a big hand for his part in leading this squadron's bomb fall pattern by dropping his bombs squarely in the target area.


446th Bombardment Squadron War Diary:

A big day for the 321st as we pull off one of the most spectacular attacks of our combat history - the Toulon harbor mission that resulted in the gutting of the battleship Strasbourg, the sinking of a cruiser of the La Galissonniere class and the sinking of a submarine. Lt. Banks led the formation. Excellent concentration in target area. Battleship, cruiser and submarine hit badly. Flak was heavy, intense and accurate. 27 planes holed, 11 men wounded. Window used.


447th Bombardment Squadron War Diary:

Nine of our ships participated in a raid on shipping at the Toulon Harbor, with Lt. Banks leading our squadron. Excellent coverage of target area which sunk a destroyer, a submarine and left a cruiser listing to starboard with decks awash. Some bombs short to SE of target. Bombing accuracy, 22.2%; Mission efficiency 100%. Major Raymond D. Sampson former Commanding Officer of the 447th Squadron was relieved of his assignment and transferred to 321st Group Headquarters. 1st Lt. Herbert J. Banks was promoted to the rank of Captain per SO 201, 12th Air Force.


448th Bombardment Squadron War Diary:

Mission 325 (Group Mission #498): At 10:53 36 planes off to bomb a battleship, cruiser, destroyer, and submarine in Toulon Harbor, France and dropped 151 x 1000 SAP Bombs from 13,000 feet. 28 x 1000 GP bombs were returned and salvoed due to mechanical failure of lead ship in one flight. Excellent coverage of warships, battleship listing with three separate fires, and direct hits on forward deck and turret. Destroyer and submarine sunk and cruiser listing to starboard, decks awash. 100% bombing accuracy 448. Heavy, intense, accurate flak of barrage and tracking type holed 27 planes and wounded 11 crew members: Lts: Furey, Joyce, Schlenk, Hickey, L.P. Greene, Sgts: Pineda, Slafkes, and Markiewicz 448th wounded. Weather: CAVU.


Judging from the squadron mission summaries above, the August 18, 1944 321st BG mission to bomb the ships in the harbor at Toulon was a pretty rough mission. Photographs from the National Archives in College Park also illustrate some pretty rough missions to Toulon harbor for the B-24s of the 15th Air Force:

01 02 03 04


The 12th Air Force B-26s also had some rough missions over Toulon, France as seen from this incredible photograph from the personal collection of Bob Silliman, an armorer in the 380th squadron of the 310th Bombardment Group.


B-17s from the 15th Air Force also hit the harbor at Toulon and damaged the French battleship Dunquerke as illustrated by these National Archive photographs:

05 06 07 08


The overall effect of Allied Air Force attacks on Axis shipping in Toulon harbor is clearly evident from these photographs obtained from the National Archives:

09 10 11 12 13 14


These National Archive photographs show the damage caused specifically by the 321st BG mission to bomb the ships in Toulon Harbor on August 18, 1944:

15 16 17 18 19 20





Following the extensive Mediterranean Allied Air Force bombardments on Axis shipping, a serious problem remained for the Allies because the Germans had mined the harbor at Toulon. My uncle, Ens. William K. Kaiser, participated in minesweeping operations as a blimp pilot in USN blimp squadron ZP-14 to eliminate this problem at Toulon and other harbors in the Mediterranean region (see archival photo above).


If you have any comments or suggestions please email me.