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On 4th April, 1945, Liberators of the 2nd Air Division were attacked by Me-262 jet fighters. Aircraft from the 448th Bomb Group flying mission No.248 were to bomb jet airfields throughout Germany and forty-five aircraft from Seething attacked the secondary target at Wesendorf due to cloud cover over the primary target at Parchim.
Approximately fifty German jet and rocket fighter aircraft engaged the formation causing a total loss of eight B-24 Liberators, three of which were from the 448th BG, including 44-50838 (Red Bow, pictured). Also shot down were Trouble N Mind, a B-24H piloted by Captain John Ray, Jr [DETAILS of SHAFTER CREW NEEDED]
Although I have seen the damage attributed to flak in at least one publication the nature and scale of the damage would suggest that the aircraft was hit by an R4M rocket from an Me-262 jet.
(Thanks to donall for his contribution on the forums at armyairforces.com)
Group
The 448th Bombardment Group was organized on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho. The initial training of the air crews took place in Florida. The entire group was assembled Wendover Field, Utah. Both air and...
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 714BS, 448BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Wessendorf with Robert Mains crew 4-Apr-45; A/C downed by fighters, broke up in flight near Lauenburg 1 x POW, 9 x KIA MACR 13730
Only one of the crew, Charles Cupp, survived.
4 April 1945
| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 04 February 2015 22:30:03 | bloodsweatflak | Created entry with caption, unit associations, person associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
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