Mission Details for Cologne (#200)

Briefing

Details

Number: 200
Date: 1/28/1945 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Maj. W.C. Garland
Crews Briefed: 39
Details: Railroad marshalling yards and Rhine River railroad bridge

Flying Control

Runway: 33
Engines: 0755 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan33.jpg
Taxi: 0810
Take Off: 0825
E.T.R.: 1449
Notes: Briefing took place at 0500 hours, and all operational aircraft were airborne by 0912 hours. Two spares landed early, and two other ships aborted, one with No. 1 propeller feathered and full bomb load aboard. All aircraft had returned by 1521 hours.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 39
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: On this, the 200th mission flown by the 401st, the Group put up three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group. Because of cloud cover, bombing was by PFF (radar), but breaks in the clouds permitted visual assists. Results were good, with hits seen directly in and around the marshalling yards.
No enemy fighters were seen, but accurate flak was encountered over Cologne. As a result, two aircraft received major battle damage and twelve others minor damage. However, no crewmen were wounded.
A big party was held at the base to celebrate completing 200 missions. The guests included Lt. General James Doolittle, Commander of the 8th Air Force, and Brig. General Howard Turner, Commander of the 94th Combat Wing and other high ranking Air Force officers.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants