DOCUMENT 53870
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 193, 7 Jan 1945, Bitburg, Germany. Briefing took place at 0500 hours. By 0921 all aircraft were airborne, although four assigned aircraft had to be replaced by ground spares. The three assigned spares returned early, as planned, and all aircraft had returned by 1549 hours. The three squadrons of the 401st made up the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group on this mission, whose target again was communications facilities utilized by German front line troops. Because of heavy cloud cover, visual sighting was not possible. Although no designated Gee-H equipped aircraft was available, 401st Group Navigator Captain R. F. Causey was able to use his navigator's "Gee Box" to direct bombing, which later plotting indicated was highly successful. No enemy aircraft were seen, and flak was negligible. Consequently, the Group suffered no injuries or battle damage.
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Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Diana Queen Of The Chase
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dynamite John
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Farmer's Daughter
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: D-Day Dottie
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Baby Lu, Grin N Bear It
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
Locations
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Mission
- Date: 7 January 1945