Mission Details for Watten (#39)

Briefing

Details

Number: 39
Date: 3/19/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Maj. D.E. Silver
Crews Briefed: 24
Details: "Crossbow" (German V-1 rocket launching sites in the Pas de Calais area of France)

Flying Control

Runway: 33
Engines: 1600 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan33.jpg
Taxi: 1615
Take Off: 1630
E.T.R.: 1931
Notes: After the original mission was scrubbed, the Group was briefed for an afternoon mission at 1300 hours. All but one operational aircraft were off by 1706, and all had returned by 2000 hours.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 23
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The 401st led the 94th Combat Wing and was the first over the target. Because the rocket launching sites were small and difficult to find (crews were not even sure what the sites were to be used for), bombing results were poor. No enemy fighters were encountered, but flak was continuous and extremely accurate at all times after reaching the French coast.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants