401st Bomb Group (H) -- Combat Mission Summary
Mission Briefing | |||
| Mission Number: | 196 | ||
| Date: | Sunday, 14 January 1945 | ||
| Group Air Commander: | Capt. E.W. Mercer | ||
| Crews Briefed: | 15 | ||
| Target: | Cologne | ||
| Target Details: | Rhine River railroad bridge | ||
Flying Control | |||
| Runway: | 05 View take-off plan form | ||
| Engines: | 0900 hours | ||
| Taxi: | 0915 hours | ||
| Take Off: | 0930 hours | ||
| E.T.R.: | 1611 hours | ||
Flying Control Notes: | Briefing was held at 0600 hours. Twelve of the fifteen 401st aircraft were assigned to fly the High Squadron of the 94th Combat Wing "B" Composite Group, and the other three were to join the 351st Group. By 0939, all aircraft were off on the mission. Once they were airborne, the ships that had been diverted to Woodbridge the previous day were ordered back to Deenthorpe, and by 1700 all but seven had returned. Meanwhile, the fifteen aircraft on the current mission had landed by 1640. | ||
Mission Debriefing | |||
| Aircraft on Mission: | 15 | ||
| Aircraft Lost | |||
| Over Continent: | 0 | ||
| Other: | 0 | ||
Mission Summary: | Only fifteen ships were assigned to the mission because of the large number of 401st aircraft that had been diverted to Woodbridge the previous day and had not yet returned. They made up the High Squadron of the 94th Combat Wing Composite "B" Group. Good weather again permitted visual bombing, with excellent results. 96% of the bombs landed within 1,000 feet of the MPI. Meager to moderate, but accurate, flak was met at the target and at the front lines, both going in and coming out. As a result, seven aircraft received minor flak damage. No enemy fighters were encountered. Once again the 1st Air Division was spared Luftwaffe attacks, which again were directed at B-17's of the 3rd Air Division. Six 3rd Air Division bombers were shot down, but the Luftwaffe was decimated by the guns of the bombers and by the Allied fighter escort. | ||
Combat Air Crews Flying this Mission | ||||||
612th Bomb Squadron (H) | Aircraft | |||||
| 1st Lt C.J. Campbell and crew | 42-102468 | IY-C | The Farmer's Daughter | |||
| 1st Lt C.L. Hudnall and crew | 42-102398 | SC-H | Dynamite John | |||
| Capt J.A. Roadman and crew | 44-6506 | SC-N | Satisfaction Guaranteed | |||
| 1st Lt M.M. Smith and crew | 43-38680 | SC-S | Honey Pie | |||
613th Bomb Squadron (H) | Aircraft | |||||
| 1st Lt H.P. Cox and crew | 43-38941 | IN-L | ||||
| 1st Lt R.L. Steele and crew | 42-102947 | IN-S | D-Day Dottie | |||
614th Bomb Squadron (H) | Aircraft | |||||
| 1st Lt R.S. Hubbell and crew | 42-97780 | IW-R | Blue Bomb Express | |||
| 1st Lt H.C. Mays and crew | 42-97478 | IW-Q | Shade Ruff II | |||
| Capt E.W. Mercer and crew | 44-8259 | IW-G | (PFF & Gee-H Ship) | |||
| 1st Lt G.H. St Aubyn and crew | 42-97322 | IW-D | ||||
615th Bomb Squadron (H) | Aircraft | |||||
| 1st Lt G.K. Cracraft and crew | 42-31983 | IY-G | Mary Alice | |||
| 1st Lt J. Udy and crew | 43-38779 | IY-O | Rough But Right | |||
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