Mission Details for Marienburg (#47)

Briefing

Details

Number: 47
Date: 4/9/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Capt. J.F. Goodman
Crews Briefed: 21
Details: Aircraft plant and airfield

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0645 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 0700
Take Off: 0715
E.T.R.: 1847
Notes: After two weeks of heavy weather, with a number of missions scrubbed, the Group was briefed at 0345 for a mission to Marienburg. All operational aircraft were off by 0750. However, two aircraft were forced to return early and jettison their bombs in The Wash, and several others aborted the mission with mechanical problems. A number of 401st aircraft landed at other bases before returning to Deenethorpe because of low fuel or other reasons.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 21
Lost Over Continent: 2
Lost Other: 0
Summary: Marienburg, located in East Prussia, was the most distant target yet bombed by the 401st, which provided the High Box of the 41st "B" Combat Wing formation. The target was hit with a good pattern of bombs landing close to the MPI.
Enroute back from the target, while over the Baltic Sea, the Group was attacked by a number of FW 190's in line abreast. B-17 No. 42-38162, piloted by Lt. William R. Dawes, had its nose blown off and was seen going into the sea in an inverted attitude. There were no survivors of the crew, which was nearing the end of its tour. Returning from the target Lt. G. C. Byrd, pilot of B-17 No. 42-97496, who had lost an engine and was short on fuel, set course for Sweden, where he landed safely.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants