Mission Details for Berlin (#65)

Briefing

Details

Number: 65
Date: 5/8/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Capt. C.A. Lewis
Crews Briefed: 30
Details: Aircraft plant

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0550 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 0905
Take Off: 0620
E.T.R.: 1151
Notes: 29 aircraft took off on the mission; four spares plus three other aircraft returned early. A total of 26 operational aircraft were down by 1450; one landed at Woodbridge with elevators shot up and casualties aboard, and another landed at Hardwick with the B-17 a wreck but the crew okay.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 29
Lost Over Continent: 1
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The 401st put up the Low Box and the high squadron of the High Box of the 94th Combat Wing. Because of solid undercast, bombing was by PFF (radar), the Low Box bombing the city of Berlin and the High Box bombing Brandenberg. No enemy fighters were encountered. Flak was moderate to and from the target but intense and accurate over the target. Of the 742 heavy bombers over the target, 36 were shot down and 205 were damaged. The 401st lost Lt. Lt. J. D. Lenkeit and his crew when their B-17 (42-30855 "Old Massa") received a direct flak burst just behind the ball turret.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants