Mission 54

Mission Summaries > April 1944

WEDNESDAY, 19 APRIL 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 308:

772 bombers and 697 fighters are dispatched in 3 forces to bomb Germany; they claim 17-1-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:

271 of 277 B-17s hit the Kassel area, Eschwege Airfield, Limburg and a target of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost and 119 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 5 WIA and 47 MIA.

243 of 246 B-17s hit Lippstadt and Werl Airfields and a target of opportunity; 21 B-17s are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 8 WIA and 55 MIA.

230 of 249 B-24s bomb Paderborn and Gutersloh Airfields, Soest, Koblenz, Büren and targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 10 are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 8 MIA.

27 of 27 B-24s bomb V-weapon sites at Watten, France; 1 B-24 is lost; escort is provided by 47 Ninth Air Force P-47s without loss.

Escort is provided by 127 P-38s, 439 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 131 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; they claim 16-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost and 4 P-47s and 5 P-51s are damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.

HQ, 56th Fighter Group and 61st and 63d Fighter Squadrons move from Halesworth to Boxted, England with P-47s.

Target: Paderborn, Germany - Paderborn Airfield Last Resort: Büren, Germany - City Center
8th Air Force F.O. No:	308
Aircraft Taking Off:	26
Aircraft Dispatched:	26
Aircraft Aborts:	0
Aircraft Over Primary:	14
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	12
Aircraft Bomb Load:	10 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	Primary: 140 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs Last Resort: 120 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Results:	Excellent for Lead Squadron Unobserved for High Right Squadron
Tactical Mission Report:	Mission Data: Date: 19 Apr 44 Primary Target: Paderborn Airfield Secondary Target: Gutersloh Airfield Last Resort Target: Any positively identified city in Germany Units Participating: 2nd and 96th Combat Bomb Wings - Paderborn Airfield 14th and 20th Combat Bomb Wings - Gutersloh Airfield Narrative: Assembly: The first ship of the Group took off at 06:45. The assembly was accomplished visually over the field by 07:40. At 08:06 we joined the 2nd Combat Wing over Buncher #6. The Division assembly was normal and we departed the coast on time in fairly good. The route into the target was as briefed. There was difficulty at the Group I.P. with the 453rd Group being on top of our High Right Squadron. Bomb Run: The Lead Squadron bombed the primary target with a magnetic heading of 232 degrees. The results were excellent. The High Right Squadron turned out to allow the 453rd Group, who were on top of the High Right Squadron, to bomb. The High Right Squadron bombed a target of opportunity, the City of Büren. Route Out: The route out was flown as briefed. Enemy Fighters: None. Fighter Support: Excellent. Flak: No flak encountered.
Losses: None.
Note: 453rd Group was admonished to maintain proper station when flying on the side of the lead group in formation.

Paderborn Airfield