Mission Details for Siegen (#223)

Briefing

Details

Number: 223
Date: 3/7/1945 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Lt. Col. D.E. Silver
Crews Briefed: 38
Details: Railroad marshalling yards

Flying Control

Runway: 23
Engines: 0710 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan23.jpg
Taxi: 0725
Take Off: 0740
E.T.R.: 1432
Notes: Briefing took place at 0430 hours. The aircraft were loaded with twelve 500 pound GP's. By 1822 hours all but one aircraft were off on the mission; that aircraft, which required a tire change, took off at 0845 hours. One spare returned at 1150 hours.
Flying Control's notation for 1508 hours was as follows: "All operational aircraft from today's mission returned. IW-O, pilot Lt._______, made a 'hot' approach and landing, and had to use excessive braking. Aircraft was told to pull-up and go around while on approach, and the pilot answered, 'I can make it, clear the runway'. Pilot ordered to report to Col. Seawell."

Debriefing

Aircraft: 38
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The three squadrons of the 401st made up the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group on this mission. The briefed target was at Dortumund in the heart of the Ruhr, known to crews as "Happy Valley". Because visual sighting was impossible due to cloud cover, and the Gee-H sets both went unserviceable, the Group bombed the secondary target, the railroad marshalling yards at Siegen. Bombing was conducted by H2X in Group formation. Because of the clouds, results could not be observed.
The Group did not encounter any enemy flak or fighters.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants