Mission Details for Bremen (#1)

Briefing

Details

Number: 1
Date: 11/26/1943 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Colonel Harold W. Bowman
Crews Briefed: 24
Details: The port of Bremen, in Northwest Germany.

Flying Control

Runway: 23
Engines: 0800 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan23.jpg
Taxi: 0810
Take Off: 0825
E.T.R.: 1452
Notes: 0908 hours - Twenty aircraft off okay.

Four of the briefed crews didn't manage to get off the ground. A 614th ship dropped off the perimeter track, and in doing so trapped the 615th Squadron Commander, Major Seawell, behind it. Then, as Lt. V.J. Kaminski neared the tail of Lt. Ralph Dempsey's ship and attempted to brake, he had a brake failure. In the ensuing collision the tail of 42-31091 was demolished by the props of 42-39873.

1538 hours - Last aircraft down.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 20
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The primary target was obscured due to a 10/10's undercast, so bombing was done at 25,000 feet using PFF methods.

Aircraft 42-37833 "Fancy Nancy" as struck from below by a B-17 from another group, cutting off the ball turret and killing the ball turret gunner, Sgt L. Baranik.  The ship was able to return, but force-landed at RAF Detling in Kent, where it was declared damaged beyond repair and scrapped.

Eight other aircraft from the 401st suffered minor flak damage.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants