Mission 10

Mission Summaries > January 1944

FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

2 missions are flown:

Mission 178:

351 of 382 B-17's and 69 of 120 B-24's hit the I. G. Farben Industries chemical plant at Ludwigshafen, Germany; they claim 30-6-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17's and 17 B-24's are lost, 2 B-17's and 2 B-24's are damaged beyond repair and 104 B-17's and 18 B-24's are damaged; casualties are 14 KIA, 13 WIA and 121 MIA. 71 P-38's, 463 P-47's and 37 Ninth Air Force P-51's escort; they claim 7-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 5 P-47's are lost and 1 P-47 is damaged; casualties are 6 MIA.

Mission 179:

During the evening, 5 B-17's drop 1.08 million leaflets on Paris, Chartres, Caen and Evreux, France without loss.

Target: Ludwigshafen, Germany - I. G. Farben Industries chemical plant
8th Air Force F.O. No:	178
Aircraft Taking Off:	18
Aircraft Dispatched:	16
Aircraft Aborts:	2
Aircraft Over Primary:	16
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	10 x 500 lb. AN-M1 Incendiary Cluster bombs
Group Bomb Load:	160 x 500 lb. AN-M1 Incendiary Cluster bombs
Results:	Unobserved due to 10/10th cloud cover
Tactical Mission Report:	Mission Data: Date: Primary Target: Secondary Target: Last Resort Target: Units Participating: Narrative: Assembly: Firsh ship took off at 0800 and pre-dawn assembly was accomplished in our normal assembly pattern at 9,000 feet over Splasher 6 fourty minutes after first take off. Climb to 15,000 feet was started at 0846. The Wing assembly over Buncher 6 worked very well. The three Groups identified themselves immediately by flares, no VHF was required. The three Groups were on time and at the correct altitude. After Division assembly no Yellow Yellow flares (start climb to division altitude) were seen and the climb started rather abruptly. Climb: This Group formation in the climb was better than usual but the Group did not hold good position in the Wing. Target: Bombing was by Pathfinder. Formation into the target was good. And Groups held the Wing position formation together in spite of the fact that rather violent S'ing had to be done in order to stay behind the B-17's. Yellow Yellow flares were seen at the I.P. and Groups uncovered before bomb release. Return: This Group was briefed to cut down speed after Bombs Away in order to hold the formation together. This was done and our Group stayed in good formation leaving the target but we were unable to keep up with the 389th and 93rd. We were briefed to lose 1,000 feet after Bombs Away. This was done by the 389th but the rate of descent was very slight. The Mag. course taken by the 389th after the Rally Point was not the one briefed. Rather than try to catch up to the 389th, the 445th held their power settings and the group stayed in tight formation during the entire return flight.
Losses: MACR #15103; Aircraft: 41-29119, Name: Un-named; 1st Pilot: 2nd Lt. Lester I. Eike; Casualties: 4 KIA, 5 WIA, 1 DOI; Reason for Loss: 2nd Bomb Wing Command Pilot violated planned and briefed route and speed causing the wing formation to get spread out. 445th Command Pilot (Maj. Jimmy Stewart) directed the 445th Group to slow down and maintain a tight formation. The 389th Group, leading the Wing, and the 93rd Group were attacked by fighters and lost a total of 7 aircraft, including the 389th Command Pilot.
Note: Upon return from an operational mission on 07 Jan 44, the plane on which T/Sgt Howard D. Boone, ASN 12072650, 701st Squadron, Radio Operator, ran out of gas and crashed at Wetheringsett, UK, approximately 14 miles south of Tibenham. His remains were not discovered until several days after the crash as he was buried under the aircraft wreckage. Special Note: The 445th Group Command Pilot was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for "exemplary leadership". The 2nd Bomb Division Commander stressed the importance in following the briefed routes and speeds to maintain Division integrity and to protect each group during the mission.

I.G. Farben Oil Refinery in Ludwigshafen