854
28 February 1945Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
ABLAR
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Notes: This is a fighter-bomber strafing mission.
ARNSBERG
Description: VIADUCT
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
BIELEFELD
Description: VIADUCT
HAGEN
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
KASSEL
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
MESCHEDE/HENSCHEL
Description: TANK FACTORY
NEUSTADT
Description: HIGHWAY JUNCTION
OFFENBACH
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
SCHWERTE
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
SIEGEN
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
SOEST
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 457th BG MISSION NO. 198 : SOEST, GERMANY : 28 FEBRUARY, 1945 Marshalling yards were designated as the highest priority transportation targets in the Ruhr Valley. Today's target for the 457th was in the high priority category, the marshalling yards at Soest. Second only to the Hamm yards, it handled the heaviest traffic from the Ruhr Valley to central Europe. The Group comprised the 94th C Combat Wing, with Major Spencer as Air Commander. Assembly in the Wing formation and Division line were without incident. The route over the Continent until just before the IP was flown as briefed. Slight deviations off course were made in order to remain in Division formation. At the IP, the G-H equipment of the lead squadron was not functioning properly and the lead was turned over to the high squadron G-H craft. A G-H bomb run was made on the pnmary target with all squadrons in group formation. Bombs were dropped from 24,800 feet. Results were unobserved due to clouds. Antiaircraft fire was moderate and fairly inaccurate. The craft piloted by Lt. Roy E. Kirk was forced to ditch in the English Channel. No. 3 engine was on fire and the wing fell off. Six crew members were rescued. Lt. Kirk, Sgt. Edward A. Grover and Sgt. Willard Kmeger lost their lives. February ended with the Group having flown eighteen missions. The torrid pace the Group commenced on 19 February, would continue into March.
WERDORF
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
WURZBURG-MUNICH
Description: FIGHTER STRAFING
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2073028
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator, Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-20558065
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-777097
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37672668
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 490th Bomb Group 849th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2063355
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Cover Girl
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Homesick Angel
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fancy Nancy IV
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Shark Tooth
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Worry Bird : Voan : Snuffy
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.