Mission Details for Bremen (#239)

Briefing

Details

Number: 239
Date: 3/30/1945 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Lt. Col. E. de Jonckheere
Crews Briefed: 40
Details: German U Boat facilities

Flying Control

Runway: 23
Engines: 1025 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan23.jpg
Taxi: 1040
Take Off: 1055
E.T.R.: 1754
Notes: Briefing took place at 0720 hours for this mission. Aircraft were loaded with twelve 500 pound GP's and 2,300 gallons of gas.
By 1132 hours all aircraft were airborne on the mission. One spare returned early because unneeded. At 1505 hours gale winds of 40 to 45 miles per hour were noted. By 1829 hours all operational aircraft had returned from the mission. However, Flying Control observed sourly, "Very 'screwed up' return. All aircraft came home individually and there was so much chatter over R/T that it was almost impossible to maintain R/T contact."

Debriefing

Aircraft: 40
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: On this mission the Group again furnished three squadrons, which made up the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group. Because of the usual cloud cover, the bombing run was begun using PFF (radar) techniques. However, just before bombs away the clouds broke, and the three Lead Bombardiers attempted to make corrections for visual runs. Unfortunately, it was too late to make the necessary corrections, and the bombs of all three squadrons missed the MPI. However, the bombs did land in the middle of the dock area at Bremen.
No enemy aircraft appeared, but the Group was tracked by accurate flak for five minutes over the target area. As a result, three aircraft suffered major battle damage and twenty others sustained minor damage. Two crew members were wounded.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants