DOCUMENT 53620

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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 219, 1 Mar 1945, Heilbronn, Germany. Briefing took place at 0710 hours, and all operational aircraft were airborne by 1049 hours. The three spares returned early, as there were no aborts to replace. At 1930 hours Flying Control reported: "All operational aircraft landed OK except IN-G. IN-G went to Woodbridge with hydraulics out. Very nice landings in rough cross wind." This mission was a continuation of the attacks on German railroad, road and communications centers in support of the advancing Allied Armies. The 401st put up three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group. Because of cloud cover, instrument bombing was again employed. The Lead and Low Squadrons bombed individually, using PFF (radar) methods, and the High Squadron used the Gee-H technique. Because of the cloud cover, no results could be observed. No enemy fighters were seen (but plenty of U.S. Air Force P-51's), and flak was meager and inaccurate. The only loss to the entire strike force was two B-17's that collided over Belgium. The 401st suffered no losses or battle damage.

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Units

Aircraft

Factory fresh B-17s
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Cover Girl
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Betty J.
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 401st Bomb Group stand with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31662) nicknamed "Fancy Nancy IV" after fixing her engines. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Another famous Fort and her crew.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fancy Nancy IV
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hells Angels Out Of Chute 13, Grossly Inadequate
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mister Completely, Home James
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron

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