401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 224, 8 Mar 1945, Essen, Germany. Briefing took place at 0800 hours. The aircraft were loaded with twelve 500 pound GP's. Spares were ordered not to return early. By 1140 all operational aircraft were airborne. "Take off excellent" according to Flying Control. One aircraft returned at 1225 hours with an engine out. The 401st put up the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group, again consisting of three squadrons, on this mission. The primary target was again located in the Ruhr Valley--this time the benzol plant at Bottrop. However, because it was impossible to bomb the primary target visually, the Group again turned to the secondary target, the railroad marshalling yards at Essen, which were bombed using PFF (radar) techniques. The only opposition the Group encountered was five or six bursts of inaccurate flak. All ships had returned from the mission by 1755 hours.