Mission Details for Oschersleben (#26)

Briefing

Details

Number: 26
Date: 2/22/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Maj. W.T. Seawell
Crews Briefed: 35
Details: Aircraft manufacturing plant

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0815 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 0830
Take Off: 0845
E.T.R.: 1645
Notes: 32 aircraft were airborne by 0935. 29 operational aircraft had returned by 1755 while four aircraft were reported down at other airfields in the UK and two were missing.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 32
Lost Over Continent: 2
Lost Other: 0
Summary: Major (later Colonel) W. T. Seawell led the Group on a mission that involved a coordinated attack by the 15th Air Force from its bases in Italy. As a result of heavy flak and fighter attacks, aircraft piloted by Lt. Loy M. Shanks (# 42-31930) and Lt. Vernon A. Arneson (# 42-38002) were shot down. Lt. Arneson's tail gunner, S/Sgt. R. G. Schmitt, was unable to bail out with the other crew members because his parachute was riddled by machine gun fire but survived without injuries when the B-17 landed itself in a field.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants