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Summary:
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Because of the diversions of 401st aircraft to other bases, organizing a mission was extremely difficult. However, ships taking off from Deenethorpe and other bases joined the formation at Cottesmore Buncher to make up the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group, and others that had been diverted to 3rd Air Division bases flew as part of the 452nd Bomb Group of the 3rd Air Division.
Weather conditions over the target permitted visual bombing. While two of the squadrons dropped to the right of the assigned MPI, one squadron was able to score hits in the vicinity of the MPI. While on the bomb run the Group were engaged for about 27 minutes by meager but accurate flak which caused battle damage to 22 aircraft and wounded two crew members.
Upon returning from the mission, all but three of the ships were again diverted to other air bases because of poor visibility at Deenthorpe, the majority landing at the B-17 base at Lavenham, where the crews spent Christmas Eve night in makeshift quarters or on chairs and benches. Most of the ships were unable to return to Deenthorpe until December 26 or 27.
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