DOCUMENT 53597

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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: Mrs Knobby
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: You All Right, Der Grossarschvogel
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Snicklefritz
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Damaged B-17 Flying Fortresses including (serial number 44-6146) of the 401st Bomb Group, and of the 486th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'IN-R, 401BG.' A veteran has handwritten on reverse: 'Winter of 1944. This plane's bombardier was my best friend in high school. We joined the aviation cadets together in fall of 1942. Plane is from the 486th Bomb Group. It was struck in the rear by another plane in formation and tail gunner fell to his death over Germany. The Germans buried him and sent ph
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Cheezer
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron

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