Mission Details for Oschersleben (#79)

Briefing

Details

Number: 79
Date: 5/30/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Lt. Col. H.E. Rogner
Crews Briefed: 18
Details: Focke Wolf Aircraft Assembly Plant

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0655 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 0710
Take Off: 0725
E.T.R.: 1401
Notes: Briefing took place at 0430 hours. All operational aircraft were airborne by 0742 hours (18 aircraft in 17 minutes) notwithstanding the necessity of using low visibility takeoff procedures. Sixteen aircraft had landed by 1428 hours; two were missing.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 18
Lost Over Continent: 2
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The Group provided the Lead Box of the 94th Combat Wing on this mission. Lead Bombardier was Lt. Durward E. Fesmire, a veteran of the Pacific Theater. Strike photos showed that bombing results were excellent; the center of the bomb patterns covered the MPI, 50% of the strikes being within 500 feet and 100% within 2,000 feet. Some flak was encountered but the principal opposition came from between 40 and 60 German fighters, which attacked as the Group left the target area. This resulted in the loss of two 401st aircraft and crews, those of Lt. Carleton L. Wilson (42-97440 "Flak Rat II") and Lt. Alpheus L. Kilmer (42-107207).

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants
No Assignments were found.