Mission Details for Berlin (#177)

Briefing

Details

Number: 177
Date: 12/5/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Capt. D.A. Currie
Crews Briefed: 39
Details: Munitions and tank production facilities

Flying Control

Runway: 28
Engines: 0635 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan28.jpg
Taxi: 0650
Take Off: 0705
E.T.R.: 1545
Notes: Briefing took place at 0400 hours. Pilots were briefed on normal stand-off procedures upon return, although Flying Control speculated that, with good weather at the base and fuel running short, the ships would land as quickly as possible.
All aircraft had taken off by 0805 hours. One aircraft aborted at 1054 hours with an engine windmilling, and two spares returned early, although one was forced to crank its wheels down. All but one operational aircraft had returned by 1611 hours, and the laggard landed at 1630 hours.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 39
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: Because of virtually complete cloud cover, the the target was bombed using PFF (radar) techniques. While results were unobserved, the strike was later found to have been made about four and a half miles east of the MPI but within the city limits of Berlin.
While heavy and accurate flak had been anticipated, it turned out to be moderate and inaccurate, so no battle damage resulted. No enemy aircraft penetrated the bomber screen, but U.S. fighter aircraft claimed 91 German fighters shot down, seven probables and 28 damaged. U.S. fighter losses were 17 P-51's and P-47's.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants