401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 217, 27 Feb 1945, Leipzig, Germany. Briefing took place at 0700 hours, and all operational aircraft were airborne by 1032 hours. The five spares returned early, as they were not required to replace aborts, and by 1821 hours all aircraft had returned from the mission. This day marked the transfer of all Lead Crews to the 615th Squadron from the other three squadrons. For the second straight day the Group was on partial standown, only 12 crews having been briefed. Six 401st ships were directed to provide part of the High Squadron of the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group (the other elements being supplied by other Groups); one ship was assigned to fly with the "A" Group; while the other five ships provided spares for the Glatton and Polebrook formations. The spares for Glatton and Polebrook were not needed and returned early. The 401st ships that continued on the mission released their bombs on signal from the lead aircraft of the 351st Bomb Group. No air opposition was encountered, and the flak at Halle and over the target was meager and inaccurate.