Description

This mission was directed at the industrial areas of Leverkusen and Solingen, Germany. The mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a combined force of 221 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (27); 92BG (18); 303BG (17); 305BG (16); 306BG (22); 351BG (36); 379BG (20); 381BG (25); 384BG (19); 401BG (15); and 482BG (6) PFF equipped. The primary target for this element was Leverkusen, Germany but clouds obscured the target so the whol element diverted to the secodary target at Solingen, Germany. 201 aircraft were effective on the secondary. 19 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 67KIA 88POW 1DIC 11EVD 23RTD (rescued by ASR); 2 aircraft crashlanded on return and were declared Dmaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 1KIA 2WIA 16RTD; 4 airmen were KIA and 17 Wounded in Action (WIA) in returning aircraft. The bomber gunners claim 3-0-3 of attacking German aircraft.



The second element is a combined force of 78 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 44BG (18); 93BG (21); 389BG (24); 392BG (15) despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Solingen, Germany. 69 aircraft are effective on the target. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 17KIA 31POW 2EVD. 1 battle damage aircraft crashlanded on return 9 KIA; 6 airmen in returning aircraft were Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claimed 1-5-2 of attacking German aircraft.