DOCUMENT 53597
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 228, 14 Mar 1945, Lohne, Germany. Briefing took place at 0745 hours. All aircraft were loaded with 34 100 pound GP's plus 2 M17 IB's. All operational aircraft were airborne by 1040 hours without incident. The two spares returned early, as there were no aborts. The 401st provided the three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group on this mission. Because of intense ground haze, all three squadrons began bombing runs using PFF (radar) techniques. However, near the target the haze cleared, and the lead bombardiers of the three squadrons were able to drop visually. While the Lead Squaron hit short and to the right of the MPI, the other two squadrons hit the assigned MPI with good results. While flak over the target was not intense, it was fairly accurate, and nine of the Group's aircraft sustained minor damage. No injuries occurred, however.
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Units
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Shade Ruff #2
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: NOW GO!, Blue Bomb Express
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Madame queen
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Satan's Chillen
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron