Mission Details for Chemnitz (#221)

Briefing

Details

Number: 221
Date: 3/3/1945 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Lt. Col. J.W. Maupin
Crews Briefed: 38
Details: Railroad marshalling yards

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0510 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 0525
Take Off: 0540
E.T.R.: 1525
Notes: Briefing again took place at the early hour of 0300. The aircraft loading was ten 500 pound bombs for the High and Lead Squadrons and eighteen 250 pound bombs for the Low Squadron.
38 operational aircraft were airborne by 0709, one ship having been run into on the ground by a jeep and made unserviceable. One abort and one spare returned early.
Beginning at 1350 hours Flying Control began to receive messages that 401st ships were landing at other bases, several with severe battle damage and casualties. By 1721 hours most aircraft had returned and all but two aircraft had been accounted for.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 38
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The 401st provided three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group on this mission. The primary target was an oil refinery at Ruhland, and, while a run was made over the target, clouds prevented visual sighting, and the bombs were not released. Turning to the secondary target, the marshalling yards at Chemnitz were again bombed using PFF (radar) techniques.
While no enemy fighters were seen, "moderate" flak over Frankfurt and Dresden resulted in severe battle damage to two aircraft, minor damage to 19 others and the wounding to one crew member. One of the ships that suffered major damage ("Hell's Angeles Out of Chute 13") landed on the Continent and was abandoned.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants