401st Bomb Group, Mission No 2, 1 Dec 1943, Solingen, Germany. The Group flew the low position in the 1st Combat Wing, and this was the third wing over the target. They encountered 25 to 35 FW-190's over the target itself, but the escorting fighters did a good job of protecting the bombers, and although the attack went on for about 30 minutes the Group suffered no losses. The target was bombed using PFF methods. On this mission the Group received credit for bringing down its first enemy aircraft. It went to Sgt Percy W. Stengel, a ball turret gunner with the 612th crew of W. J. Kelly.