DOCUMENT 53559

By downloading this document, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 235, 23 Mar 1945, Gladbeck, Germany. Briefing took place at 0615 hours. The Group was informed that the Eighth Air Force would again attack tactical targets in support of the impending Allied offensive over the Rhine River, known as "Operation Varsity". All operational aircraft were airborne by 1012, a total takeoff time of 27 minutes for 38 aircraft. The 401st again put up three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group. The primary target assigned to the Group, the railroad sidings and depots at the town of Gladbeck, was attacked visually with good results; all of the Group's bombs fell within a 2,000 feet radius of the MPI. No Luftwaffe fighters were encountered, but flak over the target resulted in minor battle damage to fourteen aircraft but no casualties.By 1615, all ships had returned from the mission. For unaccountable reasons, the Flying Control Log includes the comment: "Lt. Babcock (395) made a very beautiful landing."

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Farmer's Daughter
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: D-Day Dottie
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Factory fresh B-17s
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Baby Lu, Grin N Bear It
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ice Cold Katy
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
Factory fresh B-17s
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Cover Girl
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron

Locations

Mission

Revisions

Date:
Contributoracbernstein1
ChangesCreated entry with caption, unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations