Mission Details for Frankfurt (#179)

Briefing

Details

Number: 179
Date: 12/11/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Maj. A.H. Chapman
Crews Briefed: 39
Details: Railroad marshalling yards

Flying Control

Runway: 23
Engines: 0720 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan23.jpg
Taxi: 0735
Take Off: 0750
E.T.R.: 1638
Notes: The Group was briefed at 0445 hours. The loading was twelve 500 pound General Purpose bombs and 2,780 gallons of gas. Assemby at Cottesmore Buncher at 10,000 feet.
All but one operational aircraft were off by 0827 hours. Four ships aborted, but one was able to take off in a ground spare and join the mission.
By 1640 hours all aircraft had landed except the Group Leader. At 1700 Flying Control was notified that the Group Leader had landed with engine trouble at an airfield just north of Brussels, Belgium; all crew were okay.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 39
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: On this day the 8th Air Force dispatched the largest force of bombers to date, 1,467 in all, dropping nearly 4,000 tons of bombs on rail targets and bridges in support of Allied ground troops.
The 401st provided the three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group. A solid undercast again necessitated bombing by PFF (radar) methods, and no results could be observed. Over the target the Group lead aircraft (44-8258) lost two engines due to mechanical problems, but the pilot was able to make it back as far as Brussels, where a safe landing was made back of Allied lines. Little flak was encountered and no fighters.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants