Mission Details for Merseburg (#68)

Briefing

Details

Number: 68
Date: 5/12/1944 12:00:00 AM
Commander: Col. H.W. Bowman
Crews Briefed: 42
Details: Oil Refinery

Flying Control

Runway: 5
Engines: 0810 Thumbnail image for /Images/Takeoff/Plan05.jpg
Taxi: 0825
Take Off: 0840
E.T.R.: 1622
Notes: All 41 operational aircraft were airborne by 0915. A number reported sick men aboard. By 1702 hours all aircraft had returned except one, whose control cables had been shot away and had one wounded man aboard. That aircraft landed safely on A.F.C.E. at 1730 hours.

Debriefing

Aircraft: 41
Lost Over Continent: 0
Lost Other: 0
Summary: The 401st, led by Colonel Bowman, provided the Lead and Low Boxes of the 94th Combat Wing on this mission to bomb synthetic oil refineries supplying fuel to the Luftwaffe. Strike photos indicated fair bombing results, most of the bombs falling short of the MPI, although some struck the MPI. While there were a number of enemy aircraft in the area, friendly fighter support was numerous and effective in keeping the Lufwaffe at bay. Flak was encountered en route and in concentrations over Merseberg.

Mission Assignments

Squadron Participants