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Summary:
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On this mission the 401st furnished the 94th Combat Wing's "A" Group, consisting of three 12 ship squadrons. Because of cloud cover, the target was again bombed by PFF techniques, with some visual assistance provided when breaks in the clouds permitted. Photo evaluations indicated excellent results had been achieved by the Lead and High Squadrons.
While the Luftwaffe did not appear, flak was accurate, resulting in the loss of one aircraft, major damage to two and minor damage to 10 others. The aircraft that went down, No. 42-107009 ("Lady Jane"), piloted by Lt. R. H. Hilstad, was hit by flak in two engines. As it lost altitude the Radio Operator sent out an SOS and the crew prepared to ditch in the North Sea. However, when it became obvious they would crash into the sea just off the Dutch coast, the pilot turned their badly damaged aircraft back to Holland and crash landed at Enschede. As that part of Holland was still in German control, the crew were captured and made POW's.
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