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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.
Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 5/3/44; Hunter 7/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-C] Deenethorpe 3/5/44; 614BS [IW-S]; 106m, Returned to the USA Bradley 7/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 14/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 19/1/44; Dalhart 4/2/44; Presque 23/3/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-D] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; force landed continent 19/4/45; Sal; Returned to the USA Bradley 11/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 12/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 24/2/44; Gr Island 7/3/44; Grenier 5/4/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-J] Deenethorpe 2/5/44; 612BS [SC-O]; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 21/10/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 25/2/44; Kearney 17/3/44; Grenier 6/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-F] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; mechanical fault, with Dave Stauffer, caused fire and burnt out at RAF Saltby 25/43/45; 111m, Salvaged 2 SAD 25/3/45. CHUTE THE WORKS.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 8/4/44; Kearney 4/5/44; Dow Fd 21/5/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-Q] Deenethorpe 1/6/44; 614BS [IW-A]; Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 10/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 4/8/44; Lincoln 15/8/44; Grenier 3/9/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 10/9/44; transferred 613BS/401BG [IN-D] Deenethorpe 12/9/44; 615BS [IY-P]; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45;...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 16/8/44; Lincoln 24/8/44; Grenier 18/9/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-F] Deenethorpe 17/10/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Hunter 30/9/44; Dow Fd 11/10/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-N] Deenethorpe 23/11/44; 614BS [IW-G]; Returned to the USA Bradley 4/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 10/6/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 14/5/44; Kearney 24/5/44; Dow Fd 1/6/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-R] Deenethorpe 10/6/44; 613BS [IN-R]; Returned to the USA Bradley 7/6/45; Sth Plains 9/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 14...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Kearney 29/6/44; Grenier 12/7/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-F] Deenethorpe 23/7/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; Sth Plains 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 19/12/45. BUDD’S DUDDS.
27 February 1945
Military site : airfield
Deenethorpe was a base purpose-built for American heavy bombers, with the Class A regulation 2,000 and 1,400-yard runways. All the buildings on site,such as the accommodation and administrative blocks, were temporary. In December 1943, several local...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 28 November 2021 20:08:03 | acbernstein1 | Created entry with caption, unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
http://401bg.org/Main/History/Missions/Details.aspx?Number=217 |
||
