Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group.

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Description: FOCKE-WULF AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Notes: The 96th Bomb Group is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (the 2nd of 2) for its participation in the raid on Poznan. The 96th Bomb Group placed 28% of its bomb drop within 1000 ft of the AP and 71% within 2000 ft. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Notes: 40th Combat Bombardment Wing abandoned the mission over England. Several other units abandoned the mission at various points along the route due to poor weather. Some 1st Bomb Division aircraft of Rahmel force dropped 2 seconds early when mistaking the jettison of bombs from a crippled aircraft as the leader's drop.351st Bomb Group placed 86% of its bombs within 1000 ft. of the AP and 35% within 500 ft. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 457th BG MISSION NO. 23 - GYDNIA, POLAND 9 APRIL, 1944 A large scale attack was launched against the FW-190 eastern complex of aircraft factories in north central Germany and Poland. Twelve Combat Wings were airborne for the deepest penetration to date. The 457th's target was an aircraft factory, situated at Rahmel, seven miles from the center of Gydnia, that produced FW-190s. The 457th comprised the 94th A Combat Wing, and led the Wing. U. Col. Henry B. Wilson was Air Commander with pilot Lt. J. L. Smith. In addition, the 457th supplied two squadrons for the high box. Major Fred A. Spencer as the high box leader, with Lt. Jerome E. (Jerry) Godfrey as pilot. The flight route took the Group in a northeasterly direction over the North Sea, across Denmark and the Baltic Sea, and to the target area. Bad weather, which had hampered the Group in England and over the North Sea, caused seven planes to become lost and abort the mission. In addition, four more were lost from the high box and two, having failed to assemble with the Group, aborted when the Group they joined abandoned the mission. The weather had cleared by the time the formations reached the IP. A good formation produced a good bomb run, and bombing results were good, in spite of enemy fighter attacks along the run. Flak was moderate over the target. Immediately after leaving the target, the formation was attacked by waves of FW-190s and Me-109s, coming in from the nose and from the tail. Aircraft piloted by Lt. Amos W. Shepard and Lt. Robert K. Walker took direct hits, with both being shot down. One member of Lt. Shepard's crew and three of Lt. Walker's crew, including Lt. Walker, failed to survive. The aircraft piloted by Lt. Stuart James took a direct hit, claiming the life of one crew member. The attacks continued over the Baltic Sea, where Lt. David P. Parks was shot down and seven crew members lost their lives. The attacks continued over Denmark. Lt. Donald G. Karr crashed his badly damaged aircraft at Woodbndge, an English base near the coast. Gunners from the 457th received credit for three enemy aircraft destroyed, one probably destroyed and one damaged. The mission required eleven hours. The bombing results drew a commendation from the Division Headquarters.

Description: AIRFIELD

Description: HEINKEL AIRCRAFT FACTORIES