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.