Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group. German fighter attacks on 1st Bomb Division and 3rd Bomb Group were the heaviest since 11-Jan-44. Just as envisioned by the Allied planners, the Luftwaffe was being drawn up to attack the bomber stream exposing the Luftwaffe to destruction by the fighters and bomber crews. All contributing to the goal of air superiority prior to D-Day. At this point in time the invasion was scheduled for 17-May-44.

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group. 466th BG - Sortied 22 B-24's and dropped 52.0 tons of bombs

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Notes: Another deep penetration into Germany to bomb the ball baring factories at Schweinfurt. 14 aircraft lost was 8.1% of the force despatched, still twice the acceptable level, but much lighter than previous missions to this target. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. The 40th Combat Bombardment Wing (92nd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group and 306th Bomb Group) abandoned the mission after major problems with assembly. 457th BG MISSION NO. 26 - SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY 13 APRIL, 1944 The target was the now-famous Schweinfurt Keigelfischer ball bearing works. A planned mission to Schweinfurt the previous day had been scrubbed after briefing, so this was no great surprise. The 457th supplied eighteen aircraft. Major Leroy Watson was Air Commander of the Group and of the 94th Combat Wing, and Lt. Mark R. Belcher was pilot. Approximately twenty minutes from the target, swarms of Me-109s and FW-190s attacked the wing ahead and the high and low groups of the 94th Combat Wing in head-on attacks. Going in, FW-190s attacked the 457th, in spite of a tight formation-pilots said that one could step from wing to wing of the different planes. Crewmen of the 457th observed ten to twelve B-17s in other groups go down in one of the most vicious air attacks the Group had observed. Returning to England, the Group was again attacked near the coast. Bombing results were unobserved because the targets were covered with smoke and with explosions from bombs dropped by other units. Five aircraft sustained damage. The Eighth lost 38 bombers on the operation.