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Summary:
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The 401st provided the three Boxes comprising the 94th Combat Wing "B" unit. Because of a navigational error and malfunction of the PFF equipment, the Lead Box picked up the wrong target and bombed the town of Gera. The High and Low Boxes were able to find the briefed target and release their bombs visually, the Low Box with good results and the High Box with only fair results.
The Group was hit by accurate tracking flak at the target, resulting in major damage to three aircraft and minor damage to 17 others. Two crew members of one of the badly damaged aircraft, thinking it was going down, bailed out over Saarbrucken. Another aircraft, piloted by Lt. John W. Kovach, with two engines out and losing altitude steadily, managed to cross over into Allied-held territory and landed at an airfield in Belgium. Seven of the crew were flown back to Deenethorpe in a C-47 that night and the others returned the next day. The aircraft was sent to salvage.
As a result of the heavy battle damage from the recent missions, the Group was placed on "stand down" until enough ships could be repaired or replaced to make up the necessary formation.
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