Mission Details for Harburg (#214)

Briefing

Details

Number: 214
Date: 2/24/1945 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Lt. Col. W.T. Seawell
Crews Briefed: 36
Details: Oil refineries

Flying Control

Runway: 23
Engines: 0710 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan23.jpg
Taxi: 0725
Take Off: 0740
E.T.R.: 1429
Notes: The Group was briefed at 0350. While the 401st put up 36 aircraft, the flying spares were provided by Polebrook because of the shortage of aircraft at Deenethrope resulting from the previous day's diversion to other air bases.
Taxi and takeoff times were delayed by an hour, and at 0825 Flying Control reported: "After many flat tyres, incidents, accidents, etc., all operational aircraft are off except IN-K! Thank God!" All aircraft had returned by 1618 hours, although a flat tire on the landing runway required a change of runways at 1542 hours.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 36
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: On this mission the 401st led the entire 1st Air Division, providing the three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group. Because of heavy cloud cover, the oil refinery at Harburg was bombed using PFF (radar) technique, the three squadrons making individual runs. While no visual observations were possible, crews reported seeing black smoke rising through the clouds to about 12,000 feet.
No enemy fighters were encountered, while flak was moderate but fairly accurate. Two 401st ships sustained major battle damage and eleven others suffered minor damage. Two crewmen were slightly wounded.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants