Mission Details for Cologne (#196)

Briefing

Details

Number: 196
Date: 1/14/1945 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Capt. E.W. Mercer
Crews Briefed: 15
Details: Rhine River railroad bridge

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0900 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 0915
Take Off: 0930
E.T.R.: 1611
Notes: Briefing was held at 0600 hours. Twelve of the fifteen 401st aircraft were assigned to fly the High Squadron of the 94th Combat Wing "B" Composite Group, and the other three were to join the 351st Group.
By 0939, all aircraft were off on the mission. Once they were airborne, the ships that had been diverted to Woodbridge the previous day were ordered back to Deenthorpe, and by 1700 all but seven had returned. Meanwhile, the fifteen aircraft on the current mission had landed by 1640.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 15
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: Only fifteen ships were assigned to the mission because of the large number of 401st aircraft that had been diverted to Woodbridge the previous day and had not yet returned. They made up the High Squadron of the 94th Combat Wing Composite "B" Group. Good weather again permitted visual bombing, with excellent results. 96% of the bombs landed within 1,000 feet of the MPI.
Meager to moderate, but accurate, flak was met at the target and at the front lines, both going in and coming out. As a result, seven aircraft received minor flak damage. No enemy fighters were encountered.
Once again the 1st Air Division was spared Luftwaffe attacks, which again were directed at B-17's of the 3rd Air Division. Six 3rd Air Division bombers were shot down, but the Luftwaffe was decimated by the guns of the bombers and by the Allied fighter escort.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants