Mission Details for Schweinfurt (#50)

Briefing

Details

Number: 50
Date: 4/13/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Maj. D.E. Silver
Crews Briefed: 21
Details: Ball bearing plant

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0950 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 1005
Take Off: 1020
E.T.R.: 1700
Notes: Briefing was held at 0700 hours. By 1735 all but two operational aircraft had returned, but seven aircraft had wounded aboard. One B-17, with wounded, landed without hydraulics and ground looped upon landing. Another Group aircraft belly landed at another base.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 21
Lost Over Continent: 2
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The 401st provided the Low Box of the 94th Combat Wing in this attack on the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt. Enemy fighters were agressive and persistent, with as many as 150 to 200 encountered during the mission, and some coming as close as 75 yards. Flak was heavy as well. Clouds over the target made observations of strike results impossible.
The 401st lost two aircraft on this mission, B-17's piloted by Lt. Alfred B. Vokaty (42-31508) and by Lt. Baudinot Stimson (42-97464). Lt. Stephen Lozinski crash landed his B-17 at an RAF field on one wheel and with the bomb bay doors open. None of the crew was injured. Seven of the nineteen returning aircraft had wounded aboard.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants