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Summary:
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The 401st provided the Lead and Low Boxes of the 94th Combat Wing "A" formation, part of a total force of 1,000 bombers. The Lead Box had the misfortune of having the Deputy Leader hit by flak over the target, causing his bombs to be released, and the remainder of the Lead Box dropped on his bombs. The Lead aircraft went on to drop on a secondary target, Harborn. The Low Box bombed another secondary target, the Kolleda airfield, visually, with excellent results.
No enemy air opposition was encountered, but flak over Leipzig was intense and accurate. As a result, two crews were lost, and 20 others suffered battle damage, three of them major damage.
One of the planes shot down, "Pistol Packin Mama" (42-31037) was piloted by Lt. K. R. Murgatroyd. While all crew members parachuted down, one of the crew was killed when his chute failed to open, and two were beaten and shot to death by German civilians. The other lost aircraft, No. 42-102917, piloted by Lt. J. L. Frederick, made it back to the area of Rotterdam, Holland, where it crash landed. All crew members were captured, although one evaded capture for six days.
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