401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 197, 17 Jan 1945, Paderborn, Germany. Group briefing took place at 0600 hours. Aircraft were loaded with six 1,000 pound bombs and 2,600 gallons of gas. By 1020 all operational aircraft were airborne, and the three spares landed early as planned. At 1445 one ship reurned with a broken propeller shaft. By 1624 all operational aircraft had returned. The 401st furnished the three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group on this mission. Because a solid undercast prevented bombing the primary target at Altenberken, the Group bombed rail facilities at Paderborn. As a result of a Gee-H malfunction, bombing was conducted by the PFF (radar) method, with unobserved results. No enemy aircraft and no flak were encountered--a "milk run" for the crews.