DOCUMENT 53621

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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 220, 2 Mar 1945, Chemnitz, Germany. The Group was briefed for a long mission at the early hour of 0300. By 0707 hours, all operational aircraft were airborne. One aircraft was forced to abort, and two of the three spares also returned early. The Group provided three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group on this mission. The primary target was the oil refinery at Bohlen, near Leipzig, in eastern Germany. However, the Buckeye Scouting Force (P-51's flying ahead of the bomber stream) reported clouds over the primary target and advised bombing the secondary target, the marshalling yards at Chemnitz. Following this direction, the secondary target was bombed using PFF (radar) techniques, with unobserved results. Little flak was encountered, and the Luftwaffe was not to be seen. Accordingly, the 401st suffered no casualties or battle damage. With briefing at 0300 hours and return to base at about 1600 hours, this was a long day. By 1556 hours all but three aircraft had returned from the mission. The three missing ships were soon located at other bases and were back at Deenethorpe by 1709 hours. Flying Control noted: "Good show!

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Damaged B-17 Flying Fortresses including (serial number 44-6146) of the 401st Bomb Group, and of the 486th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'IN-R, 401BG.' A veteran has handwritten on reverse: 'Winter of 1944. This plane's bombardier was my best friend in high school. We joined the aviation cadets together in fall of 1942. Plane is from the 486th Bomb Group. It was struck in the rear by another plane in formation and tail gunner fell to his death over Germany. The Germans buried him and sent ph
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Cheezer
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Budd's Dudds
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Prop Wash Hare's Breath
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Satisfaction Guaranteed
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Carrie B IV
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

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Date:
Contributoracbernstein1
ChangesChanges to caption and aircraft associations
Date:
Contributoracbernstein1
ChangesCreated entry with unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations