Mission Details for Chemnitz (#220)

Briefing

Details

Number: 220
Date: 3/2/1945 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Maj. C.A. Lewis
Crews Briefed: 39
Details: Railroad marshalling yards

Flying Control

Runway: 23
Engines: 0530 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan23.jpg
Taxi: 0545
Take Off: 0600
E.T.R.: 1623
Notes: The Group was briefed for a long mission at the early hour of 0300. By 0707 hours, all operational aircraft were airborne. One aircraft was forced to abort, and two of the three spares also returned early.
By 1556 hours all but three aircraft had returned from the mission. The three missing ships were soon located at other bases and were back at Deenethorpe by 1709 hours. Flying Control noted: "Good show! All aircraft back."

Debriefing

Aircraft: 39
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The Group provided three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group on this mission. The primary target was the oil refinery at Bohlen, near Leipzig, in eastern Germany. However, the Buckeye Scouting Force (P-51's flying ahead of the bomber stream) reported clouds over the primary target and advised bombing the secondary target, the marshalling yards at Chemnitz. Following this direction, the secondary target was bombed using PFF (radar) techniques, with unobserved results.
Little flak was encountered, and the Luftwaffe was not to be seen. Accordingly, the 401st suffered no casualties or battle damage. With briefing at 0300 hours and return to base at about 1600 hours, this was a long day.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants