AC # 42-31091 'Maggie' 615th BS, 401st BG

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 5, 13 Dec 1943, Kiel, Germany. Eighteen aircraft attacked the primary target, the bombing having been carried out by PFF methods due to poor weather, with unobserved results. Four aircraft of the 401st sustained battle damage but all returned safely.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 7, 22 Dec 1943, Osnabruck, Germany. The Group flew the lead box position in the Wing formation. After starting the bomb run, the formation found itself on a collision course with a group that had bombed nearby Munster as a diversion, and were forced to turn short and were unable to drop their bombs. In the confusion, aircraft 42-37835 was struck by a bomb from a B-17 in a higher element, but was able to return to England where the crew bailed out over the base. Aircraft 42-37835 (SC-J "Channel Express") was unable to land due to loss of controls and the crew bailed out over the base. The plane crashed near the town of Washingley, Huntingtonshire.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 8, 24 December 1943, Gorenflos, Germany. For some time, through photographic reconnaisance and reports from the French underground, it had been known that the Germans were building concrete ramps near the French coast aimed a a number of points in the U.K. These were the famous V-1 rocket sites which were to rain terror on England. No enemy opposition of any kind was encountered on this mission, and all ships and crews returned safely to base. Milk run.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 9, 30 Dec 1943, Ludwigshaven, Germany. This was the longest mission yet flown by the Group with ten hours engine time recorded. The target was attacked by PFF method in Wing formation. No results were observed. The 401st suffered its first combat-related aircraft loss on this mission, when ship 42-39826, piloted by Lt. Trian Neag, was shot down by flak near Saarbruken, Germany.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 10, 31 Dec 1943, Cognac, France. The primary target (Bordeaux) was obscured by cloud so the Wing Leader (Major Seawell) ordered the formation to proceed to the secondary target, a Luftwaffe Airbase at Cognac, which was bombed with excellent results. Major I Wayne Eveland, 614th Squadron Commander, flying with Lt. H.E. McDanal and his crew in "Flak Rat" (42-37770) was shot down by fighters but evaded capture, ultimately returning to Deenethrope via Spain. The wreckage of B-17 aircraft "Hey Lou" (42-31064), piloted by Lt. D. H. Lawry, was found off the coast of southern England. The cause of the loss was not determined, and only one body was recovered. Two other aircraft ran out of fuel and were abandoned by the crews.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 14, 11 Jan 1944, Oschersleben, Germany. This was one of the greatest air battles of World War II. The Group put up the most aircraft to date as part of a maximum effort. German resistance was fierce, involving heavy flak, dozens of fighters and balloon mines. The Group shot down a number of Luftwaffe fighters. It was on this mission that Major James Howard, a P-51 pilot, remained after all other U.S. fighters had left and engaged a swarm of Luftwaffe fighters attacking the 401st, for which he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Aircraft piloted by Lt. S.G. Nason ("Pee-Tey-Kuh" #42-31033), Lt. H. J. Chapman ("Carolina Queen #42-37809), Capt. J. H. Foster (#42-39969) and Lt. D.C. Sprecher (#42-39893)were shot down by either fighters or flak. Due to bad weather on return, all aircraft were diverted to a number of other bases

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 15, 14 Jan 1944, Gorenflos, France. The Group's bombing pattern, led by Group Bombardier Captain Julius Pickoff, was superb. B-17 SC-M landed safely on instruments after the pilot ordered the crew to bail out over the field. No crew members were injured.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 16, 21 Jan 1944, Pas De Calais. 23 operational aircraft were off by 1230. All planes returned safely by 1554 hours. This short mission was to the French rocket coast. It was a successful mission, with no enemy opposition.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 18, 30 Jan 1944, Brunswick, Germany. All aircraft returned by 1547 except # 856, shot down over the target. Lt. Col. Rogner and the 401st led the Combat Wing on this mission, which culminated 72 hours of the greatest bombing assault ever staged over Europe. Over 800 U. S. heavy bombers were engaged the operation, and 1,800 tons of bombs were dropped. Aircraft "Fancy Nancy III" (42-37856)piloted by Lt. R. R. Rohner,was shot down over the target by an FW-190.