Mission Details for Politz/Sorau (#49)

Briefing

Details

Number: 49
Date: 4/11/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Col. Allison Brooks
Crews Briefed: 32
Details: Synthetic Oil Refinery

Flying Control

Runway: 23
Engines: 0645 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan23.jpg
Taxi: 0700
Take Off: 0715
E.T.R.: 1727
Notes: The Group was briefed at 0400, and all operational aircraft were airborne by 0755. Aircraft returning from the mission landed with wounded aboard and much battle damage. By 1809 hours 28 operational aircraft had returned, but four were unaccounted for.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 32
Lost Over Continent: 4
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The primary target for this mission was the FW 190 assembly plant at Sorau, southeast of Berlin. However, because the primary target was obscured by clouds, the Group bombed the secondary target, the large synthetic oil refinery at Politz, just north of Stettin. Enroute to the target the Group encountered terrific flak, during which three aircraft were lost. They were the B-17's piloted by Lt. Samuel P. Wilson (42-39820), Lt. Francis L. Shaw (42-39847), the famous "Battlin Betty", and Lt. Robert O. Stine (42-39881). Lt. F. O. Kuhl and his crew were also lost to flak, and a number of aircraft returned with wounded men aboard. The target was bombed through clouds, but columns of thick black smoke were seen to rise from the target area.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants