Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG MISSION NO 141: MUNSTER, GERMANY,23 OCTOBER 1944 Transportation targets were concentrated on as the Group, led by Major Snow, comprised the 94th C Combat Wing, and attacked the Munster marshaling yards. The Group assembled 2,000 feet below briefed altitude because of clouds. Diverting south to head off the Division formation, the Group assumed its proper position in the Division formation in mid Channel. The route to the target was flown late by the entire Division formation. Since the target area was obscured by five- tenths clouds, the lead squadron bombed by PFF with a visual assist. Bombs were released from 23,000 feet. The low squadron released its bombs on the smoke markers of the lead. The high squadron's PFF equipment was inoperative, and it had to drop into smoke visible from bombings of previous squadrons. Thick haze made it impossible to see the smoke markers. Moderate and accurate flak was encountered, and twenty five aircraft sustained damage, ten major and fifteen minor.