Third Force—96th CBW Assembly Plan & Execution

This document details the complex, multi-stage assembly plan for the 96th Combat Bombardment Wing as specified in original operational planning documents for Mission 760. The 96th CBW was a critical component of the Third Force (2nd Air Division) and was itself comprised of elements from the 467th Bomb Group (BG), the 466th BG, and the 458th BG. Understanding this assembly is key to reconstructing the initial flight phase for aircraft such as Leading Lady (467th BG).

(Note: For context on overall mission structure and preceding ground/takeoff operations, refer to SMDB Posts 1 and 2.)

I. Overall Structure of the 96th Combat Wing Formation for Assembly:

The 96th CBW's assembly plan organized its constituent Bomb Group elements into two primary flight components, designated 96 "A" and 96 "B". These components would assemble semi-independently before merging to form the complete Combat Wing.

• 96 "A" (Lead Component of the 96th CBW):

  • This component was designated to form the vanguard of the 96th CBW.

  • Composition:

    • "A" Element (Designated Lead of 96 "A"): Provided by the 467th Bomb Group. This element was comprised of 4 Squadrons, arranged in a standard combat box formation (Lead, Low Left, High Right, High High Right).

    • "B" Element (Positioned Low Right of 96 "A" Lead): Also provided by the 467th Bomb Group. This element was comprised of 3 Squadrons (Lead, Low Left, High Right). (Note: 

    • "C" Element (Positioned High Left of 96 "A" Lead): Provided by the 466th Bomb Group. This element was comprised of 4 Squadrons (Lead, Low Left, High Right, High High Right).

• 96 "B" (Trailing Component of the 96th CBW):

  • This component was planned to fly two minutes in trail of the 96 "A" component once the full Combat Wing was formed.

  • Composition:

    • "A" Element (Designated Lead of 96 "B"): Provided by the 458th Bomb Group. This element was comprised of 3 Squadrons (Lead, Low Left, High Right).

    • "B" Element (Positioned High Left of 96 "B" Lead): Also provided by the 458th Bomb Group. This element was comprised of 4 Squadrons (Lead, Low Left, High Right). Critically, this 458th "B" element also integrated one attached squadron from the 466th Bomb Group, which was planned to fly in the "High High Right" position within this specific formation block.

    • II. Dual Assembly Points & Initial Group/Component Assembly Timings & Altitudes:

    • The two major components of the 96th CBW (96 "A" and 96 "B") utilized separate, designated radio navigation beacons for their initial assembly into cohesive flight elements. The timings provided in the operational plan are relative to a "Zero Hour" (ZH), which, for correlation with Leading Lady's flight, is aligned with her takeoff component's schedule.

      • A. Assembly Plan for 96 "A" Component (at Splasher 5 - Mundesley):

        • Designated Assembly Location: Splasher 5 (SPL-5), a radio beacon identified as being at or near the coastal town of Mundesley, Norfolk. This beacon served as the primary assembly point for the elements forming the 96 "A" lead component.

        • Target Altitudes for Constituent Elements at Assembly Completion:

          • 467th BG "A" Element (Lead): 11,000 feet.

          • 467th BG "B" Element (Low Right, incl.  9,500 feet.

          • 466th BG "C" Element (High Left): 13,000 feet.

        • Scheduled Assembly Completion Time: The entire 96 "A" component (comprising the three elements above, fully formed and established at their respective assigned altitudes) was scheduled to complete its simultaneous group and overall component assembly by Zero Hour (ZH) + 59 minutes.

          • (Cross-referencing with Leading Lady's takeoff at 10:26 AM and her estimated arrival in the Splasher 5 vicinity at ~10:35 AM, this ZH+59 timing indicates a target assembly completion for 96 "A" by approximately 11:25 AM. This implies roughly 50 minutes of dedicated orbiting, climbing, and maneuvering for elements like Leading Lady's after arriving in the assembly area to achieve full 96 "A" component formation).

          
          B. Assembly Plan for 96 "B" Component (at Buncher 15):

• Designated Assembly Location: Buncher 15 (BU-15).

  • (Note: The precise geographical location of Buncher 15 is subject to ongoing research. Initial analysis suggests it was a radio beacon likely situated inland from Splasher 5 and potentially in the vicinity of Horsham St. Faith, the home base of the 458th BG, which formed the core of this component. Its role was pivotal as the primary assembly point for the 96 "B" trailing component).

• Target Altitudes for Constituent Elements at Assembly Completion:

  • 458th BG "A" Element (Lead of 96 "B"): 11,000 feet.

  • 458th BG "B" Element (High Left, incorporating the attached 466th BG Squadron): 12,500 feet.

• Scheduled Assembly Completion Time: The entire 96 "B" component was scheduled to complete its simultaneous group and overall component assembly by Zero Hour (ZH) + 56 minutes.

  • (This timing is 3 minutes earlier than the scheduled completion for the 96 "A" component, a necessary differential to allow 96 "B" to be formed and ready to maneuver into its trailing position behind 96 "A" as the full Combat Wing departed the assembly areas).

  • (Correlating with a notional 10:26 AM ZH for the overall 96th CBW operation, this would target assembly completion for 96 "B" by approximately 

• Integration Note: The operational plan specified: "1 SQDN OF 466TH GP WILL ASSEMBLE WITH 458TH GP AT BU-15," confirming the mixed Bomb Group composition of the 96 "B" component's "B" (High Left) element.

• III. Combat Wing (CBW) Assembly: Rendezvous & Sequencing of 96 "A" and 96 "B"

  Once the individual 96 "A" and 96 "B" components had completed their initial formations over Splasher 5 and Buncher 15 respectively, the next critical phase involved their precise integration into a single, cohesive 96th Combat Bombardment Wing stream. The operational plan dictated a carefully timed sequence of departures and movements to achieve this, ensuring 96 "B" would fall into position behind 96 "A".

  • A. Movement and Sequencing of the 96 "B" Component (Trailing Element):

    • Departure from Assembly Point: The fully assembled 96 "B" component was scheduled to depart its assembly beacon, Buncher 15 (BU-15), at Zero Hour (ZH) + 66 minutes.

      • (This timing, approximately 

    • Track Towards 96 "A"'s Assembly Point: After departing BU-15, the 96 "B" component was to fly a track towards Splasher 5 (SPL-5), which had served as the assembly point for the lead 96 "A" component.

    • Scheduled Arrival Over Splasher 5: The plan called for 96 "B" to arrive over SPL-5 at ZH + 71 minutes.

      • (Approximately 11:37 AM).

    • Achieving Trail Position: This arrival time was critical. The 96 "A" component was scheduled to depart SPL-5 at ZH + 69 minutes (approx. 11:35 AM). By arriving over SPL-5 at ZH + 71 minutes, the 96 "B" component would naturally fall in two minutes in trail of 96 "A", having picked up its departure track.

  • B. Movement and Sequencing of the 96 "A" Component (Lead Element):

    • Departure from Assembly Point: The fully assembled 96 "A" component (which included Leading Lady's element) was scheduled to depart its assembly beacon, Splasher 5 (SPL-5), at ZH + 69 minutes.

      • (Approximately 11:35 AM).

    • Initial Track After Departure: Upon departing SPL-5, the 96 "A" component was instructed to make a "SWEEPING LEFT TURN" and then track towards Buncher 15 (BU-15), the assembly point from which the 96 "B" component had recently departed.

    • Passage Over/Through Buncher 15 Area: The 96 "A" component was scheduled to pass through or over the BU-15 area at ZH + 76 minutes.

      • (Approximately 11:42 AM).

      • (This routing over BU-15 likely served as a key navigational checkpoint and ensured proper alignment and separation as the 96 "B" component maneuvered into its trailing position after departing BU-15 at ZH+66 and heading towards SPL-5's track).

    • Track to Coast Departure Point (Buncher 24 - Hemsby): After passing the BU-15 area, the 96 "A" component, now effectively leading the fully forming 96th CBW (with 96 "B" falling into its two-minute trail position), was to proceed towards Buncher 24 (BU-24), arriving at this coastal departure point from the West.

    • Scheduled Arrival at Buncher 24 (Hemsby): The lead elements of the 96th CBW, spearheaded by 96 "A", were scheduled to arrive at BU-24 (Hemsby) at Zero Hour (ZH) + 81 minutes.

      • (Approximately 11:47 AM).

96th Combat Wing Assembly Timeline/Splasher 5

The following data outlines the assembly process for the 96th Combat Bombardment Wing (CBW) of the 2nd Air Division, Third Force, centred around the Splasher 5 beacon near Mundesley, Norfolk, prior to departure for Mission 760. Timings are relative to Leading Lady"(467th Bomb Group, 791st Squadron).

• 10:26 AM (1026h): Takeoff (Leading Lady)

  • Departure from Rackheath airfield.

• Initial Transit to Splasher 5 Vicinity (Rackheath to Mundesley):

  • Distance: 17 statute miles.

  • Estimated direct flight transit time: ~7 minutes.

    • Calculation: 17 miles / 150 mph (estimated average ground speed).

  • Assumed flight path includes a 2-minute straight run on takeoff heading before turning towards Splasher 5.

• ~10:35 AM: Estimated Arrival Time in Splasher 5 Vicinity.

  • Calculation: 10:26 AM (takeoff) + 2 minutes (straight leg) + 7 minutes (transit).

  • Estimated altitude upon arrival: ~2,700 feet.

    • Calculation: 9 minutes total initial flying time x 300 ft/min (estimated average climb rate).

• Commencement of 96th CBW Assembly Maneuvers (Over/Around Splasher 5):

  • Aircraft from constituent Bomb Groups (primarily 467th BG and 466th BG) initiate orbit patterns around the Splasher 5 beacon.

  • Objective: Achieve designated formation positions and altitudes while climbing.

• Formation Structure and Target Altitudes (96th CBW):

  • The 96th CBW formed in three primary altitude layers:

    • "C" Group (466th BG aircraft): Target altitude 13,000 feet.

    • "A" Group (467th BG aircraft): Target altitude 11,000 feet.

    • "B" Group (467th BG aircraft, incl. Leading Lady): Target altitude 9,500 feet.

  • Vertical separation between these layers was crucial for safety and organization.

• Duration of Wing Assembly Maneuvers:

  • Approximately 79 minutes.

    • Calculation: From estimated arrival in Splasher 5 vicinity (~10:35 AM) until target Wing Assembly complete time (11:54 AM).

  • This period encompassed orbiting, climbing, and integrating all assigned aircraft from the 467th BG (elements designated 467A and 467B) and the 466th BG (element designated 466C) into their respective "Group" echelons and altitude layers within the 96th CBW structure.

• 11:54 AM: Target Wing Assembly Complete Time.

  • Source: Referenced from post-mission report notes and/or planning documents.

  • Status: The 96th Combat Bombardment Wing is considered fully assembled in its three-layered formation over the Mundesley area, prepared for the subsequent phase of joining the larger 2nd Air Division (Third Force) stream.

Third Force (2nd AD) - Divisional Assembly (Mundesley to Hemsby) & Coast Departure

I. Divisional Assembly Corridor: Mundesley to Hemsby

• Status of 96th Combat Wing (Lead Elements): By approximately 11:47 AM (ZH + 81 minutes for 96 "A" component), the lead elements of the assembled 96th CBW were scheduled at Buncher 24 (BU-24 - Hemsby), the coast departure point.

• Coastal Assembly Track: The ~15-20 statute mile coastal stretch between Mundesley (Splasher 5) and Hemsby (BU-24) served as the primary assembly corridor for the various CBWs of the 2nd Air Division to merge into the single Third Force stream.

• Consolidation Timings:

  • While lead 96th CBW elements reached Hemsby by ~11:47 AM, the entire multi-wing Third Force required additional time to sequence and pass this departure point.

  • Previously logged SMDB data indicated a general "Wing Assembly Complete" (implying multiple wings ready near the coast) around 11:54 AM.

  • The actual logged "Coast Departure" for the entire 2nd Air Division from Hemsby (BU-24) was 12:20 PM.

  • The period from ~11:47 AM/11:54 AM to 12:20 PM was utilized for the alignment and sequential departure of all Third Force CBWs.

II. Coast Departure and Transit to Initial North Sea Waypoint (INSW)

• Departure from Hemsby (Buncher 24):

  • At approximately 12:20 PM, the consolidated Third Force (2nd Air Division) commenced its departure from English airspace over Hemsby.

• Track to Initial North Sea Waypoint (INSW):

  • Designated INSW: Coordinates 52°40' N, 002°30' E.

  • Location: Approximately 38-40 statute miles ESE of Hemsby, in the North Sea.

  • Purpose: Primary navigational fix and rallying point over water post-departure to confirm heading, formation cohesion, and serve as the start for the next leg towards the Continent.

• Estimated Flight Time and Arrival at INSW:

  • Distance (Hemsby to INSW): ~38-40 statute miles.

  • Assumed Average Ground Speed: 160-180 mph (B-24 formation).

  • Calculated Travel Time: ~13-15 minutes.

  • Estimated Arrival at INSW (Lead Elements): Departing Hemsby at 12:20 PM, lead elements of the Third Force would reach the INSW (52°40' N, 002°30' E) between approximately 12:33 PM and 12:35 PM.