Mission Details for Leipzig (#105)

Briefing

Details

Number: 105
Date: 7/7/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Lt. J.J. Connelly
Crews Briefed: 38
Details: Aircraft Plant

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0440 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 0455
Take Off: 0510
E.T.R.: 1308
Notes: The Group was briefed at 0200 hours. At 0400 hours one aircraft on a dispersal pad caught fire and was seriously damaged. However, 37 operational aircraft were off by 0538 hours. Upon returning, one aircraft blew a tire on landing, requiring a change of runways, and another aircraft, landing with one engine out, veered off into the mud. One aircraft did not return; all others had landed by 1425 hours.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 37
Lost Over Continent: 1
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The Group Leader, Major Maupin, was forced to abort the mission when his plane's oxygen system failed. The records differ as to who assumed the Group lead, one account assigning that role to Captain K. H. Opie and the other to Lt. J. J. Connelly of the 613th Squadron.
In any event, the Group made up the Lead and Low Boxes (18 ships each) of the 94th Combat Wing "B" unit. The weather was clear, and both Boxes bombed visually, with an average of 98% of the patterns within 2,000 feet of the MPI.
Flak over the target was moderate to intense and quite accurate. One 401st aircraft, "Belle of the Barbary Coast" (42-37981), piloted by James C. Neill, was lost with its crew after losing an engine and salvoing its bombs.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants