DOCUMENT 53621

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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 220, 2 Mar 1945, Chemnitz, Germany. The Group was briefed for a long mission at the early hour of 0300. By 0707 hours, all operational aircraft were airborne. One aircraft was forced to abort, and two of the three spares also returned early. The Group provided three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group on this mission. The primary target was the oil refinery at Bohlen, near Leipzig, in eastern Germany. However, the Buckeye Scouting Force (P-51's flying ahead of the bomber stream) reported clouds over the primary target and advised bombing the secondary target, the marshalling yards at Chemnitz. Following this direction, the secondary target was bombed using PFF (radar) techniques, with unobserved results. Little flak was encountered, and the Luftwaffe was not to be seen. Accordingly, the 401st suffered no casualties or battle damage. With briefing at 0300 hours and return to base at about 1600 hours, this was a long day. By 1556 hours all but three aircraft had returned from the mission. The three missing ships were soon located at other bases and were back at Deenethorpe by 1709 hours. Flying Control noted: "Good show!

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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: Dynamite John
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th 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
Factory fresh B-17s
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Cover Girl
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th 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

Locations

Mission

Revisions

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