Mission Details for Misburg (#174)

Briefing

Details

Number: 174
Date: 11/29/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Capt. J.R. Locher
Crews Briefed: 39
Details: Oil Refinery

Flying Control

Runway: 23
Engines: 0855 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan23.jpg
Taxi: 0910
Take Off: 1035
E.T.R.: 1603
Notes: The Group was briefed at 0500 hours. Takeoff had to be delayed by an hour because an aircraft had crashed on return from night flying the previous day, and debris had to be removed from the runway. In addition, a huge flock of birds congregated over and on the airfield, resulting in a call to Ordnance to man the shotguns.
In spite of the difficulties, all operational aircraft but one were off by 0957, and that ship took off at 1027 and joined the formation. Four spares and one abort returned early from the mission. By 1345 all aircraft had returned, Flying Control noting: "Very good peeloffs and traffic pattern".

Debriefing

Aircraft: 39
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The 401st provided the three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group as the 1st Air Division once more hit oil targets in Germany. Because of solid undercast, bombing was conducted by PFF (radar), with unobserved results. Perhaps because of recent heavy losses in encounters with U.S. bombers and fighters, the Luftwaffe was nowhere to be seen, and flak was relatively light. The 401st suffered no battle damage and no casualties.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants