HEADQUARTERS 398TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (K-B-6)
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 557 U.S. Army

15 August, 1944.

SUBJECT: Operations Officer's Report of Mission 15 August 1944

TO: Commanding General. First Bombardment Division, APO 557.
Commanding General, 1st Combat Wing, APO 557.

1. SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:

A. Data:

(1) Date of Mission:	15 August 1944.
(2) Target Assigned:	Ostheim, Germany
(3) Target Attacked:	Ostheim, Germany
(4) Units Paticipating:	36 A/C of the 398th Gp. formed the 1st "B" CBW.
(5) Returned Early:	None.
(6) Lost:	None.

2. NARRATIVE:

Lead Group, 1st "B" CBW [602nd]
Take-off was normal and assembly very good. While assembling "Cycle" called and stated the Division assembly had been changed. This CBW was moved from position number ten to number four and the time for arriving at [control point 1] was changed. The flight to the target was as briefed except at control point 3 the wing was out of its position in the division formation. We were unable to get back into our right position. Bombing was visual and results were excellent.

Route back was as briefed.
No enemy fighters were seen. Fighter support was good.
Flak over target was intense and accurate.

Low Group, 1st "B" CBW [600th]
Take-off was normal and on time. Assembly over the Debden Bunsher was very good. This group was fully formed with twelve (12) aircraft upon departure from the assembly point. The route to the target was flown as briefed. Bombing was in _______ by individual groups. Bombing results were fair. The return trip to the coast was flown as briefed. Bad contrails were encountered _______ to and from the target. Return to the base was without incident.

Flak was intense and accurate over the target.
No enemy aircraft were sighted.
Weather was as briefed.
No aircraft were lost.

High Group, 1st "A" CBW [603rd]
Take-off was normal and on time. The assembly over the Debden Bunsher was excellent, all twelve aircraft being in formation before the last circle of the buncher. The route was flown as briefed and bombing was visual by individual groups. Approximately ten minutes before I.P. lead aircraft of the high group tested its bomb bay doors and they functioned perfectly, however, upon bomb run the doors of this aircraft failed to open and Deputy Lead took over the lead. Bombing results were excellent. The lead aircraft, A/C No. A3-38075, dropped its bombs on railroad yard at coordinates 5008N - 0710E. Return trip to coast was flown as briefed. Contrails were the only weather encountered on the mission.

No enemy aircraft were sighted.
Flak over the target was intense and accurate.
No aircraft were lost.


JEAN B. MILLER
Major, Air Corps
Operations Officer

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398th History CD File: B0482d.pdf
PDF Page: 408, 409
Numbered Page: 2114, 2115
Transcribed by: Ann Collins, Sept. 2003

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HEADQUARTERS
398TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H), AAF
Office of the Group Bombardier
APO 557

SUBJECT: Lead Bombardier's Narrative, Mission 15 August, 1944, Lead Group (602nd Squadron), 1st "B" CBW

TO: Commanding Officer, 398th Bombardment Group (H), AAF, APO 557, Station 131.

1. Target - Ostheim Airfield near Cologne, Germany the primary target was bombed as briefed. Length of run was 2 minutes on a magnetic heading of 291 degrees; IAS 150 mph; indicated altitude 27,000 ft; bombs dropped on Group Leader at 1056.

2. Main Bombfall: 12 A/C in the 398th lead group dropped 48 x 1,000 lb M65 GP bombs and 48 x 500 lb M17 incendiary bombs.

3. Mackie, H.L., Capt., was the lead bombardier for the Lead Group. The flak was heavy and accurate. The wing went past the IP before turning towards target to avoid a collision course with another wing. Turn at IP was moderate. C-1 pilot was used on bomb run. AP was covered by smoke from previous bombing so obscured bombing procedure was used with a bomb run of 2 minutes by using reference points on each side of AP for rate and in front of AP for course.

TABULAR SUMMARY

-	A/C on Target	Bombing	Number of Bombs
Main Bombfall	12	12	48 x 1,000 lb M65 GP, 1/10 nose, 1/100 tail 48 x 500 lb M17 IB 127 nose fuse
Other Attacks	0	0	0
Total on Target	12	12	48 x 1,000 lb M65 GP, 1/10 nose, 1/100 tail 48 x 500 lb M17 IB 127 nose fuse
Bombs Returned	0	0	0
Others Expended	0	0	0
Total (Loaded on A/C at T.O.)	-	-	48 x 1,000 lb M65 GP, 1/10 nose, 1/100 tail 48 x 500 lb M17 IB 127 nose fuse

Carl J. Strickrott,
Capt., Air Corps,
Group Bombardier.

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398th History CD File: B0482d.pdf
PDF Page: 455
Numbered Page: 2161
Transcribed by: Ann Collins, Sept. 2003

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Notes:

1. The above document was transcribed from the Statistical History of the 398th Bomb Group which are available in the 398th PX. The transcription is as accurate as possible. It should be recognized that the some documents in the files are faded and sometimes difficult to read.
2. This transcription is a reproduction of the original. Spelling and punctuation changes have been made to improve readability. In some circumstances, material may not have been transcribed or was rewritten.
3. Clarification of acronyms or special words or guesses of certain words and added words are shown in brackets [ ].
4. It should be recognized that the format and layout of the material may be different than the original. This is primarily due to the format constraints of web pages.