Official 398th Mission Narratives
5 September 1944
Synthetic Oil Field at Ludwigshafen, Germany
HEADQUARTERS
AAF STATION 131
APO 557, U.S. ARMY
(E-B-2)
6 SEPTEMBER 1944
SUBJECT: Operations Officer’s Report on Mission 5 September 1944
To: Commanding General, 1st Bombardment Division, APO 557
Commanding General, 1st Combat Wing, APO 557
1. SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
A. Data:
| (1) Date of Mission: |
5 September 1944. |
| (2) Target Assigned: |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
| (3) Target Attacked: |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
| (4) Units Paticipating: |
36 A/C including a PFF of this group plus 1 PFF from the 381st Group formed the 1st “B” CBW |
| (5) Failed to Take-off: |
None |
| (6) Lost: |
None |
| (7) Returned Early: |
42-97574, 42-102562, 42-109188 |
2. NARRATIVE:
Lead Group, 1st “B” CBW [601st]
Take-off was on time and normal - thirty-seven (37) planes took off. Assembly was at Debden, circling to the south at 15,000 feet. No trouble was experienced during assembly. We departed on course one (1) minute early.
Due to a high layer of clouds on course to departure point I ordered a sharp 360-degree turn to the left while we climbed. This turn also helped to space us in the Division column behind 1st “A” CBW. We hit departure point on course two (2) minutes late, but in our correct position in the Division.
We crossed the English coast at 19,000 feet and as a result of accurate information on weather given by “Buckeye Rd” we remained at 19,000 feet all the way to the control point #2 on time, on course. We started our climb to bombing altitude at control point #3 and were at 25,000 feet by the time our IP was reached.
Target information by “Buckeye Red” was clear, concise and accurate. We bombed blind and results were unobserved.
Flak over target was moderate to heavy and, as far as our wing was concerned, it was inaccurate.
Route back was as briefed. Weather information by “Buckeye Red” was again good.
Communication was good.
Weather information at base could have been better in this respect. We dispersed wing formation over the channel whereas we could have brought Wing over base without much difficulty had we had accurate cloud information at base.
High Group, 1st “B” CBW [602nd]
Mission took off on time and in formation except one A/C aborted with a feathered engine. Route in was followed as briefed with an early climb due to weather. No. 1 engine developed trouble with an oil leak before reaching the target and slowed us down enough so that we had to drop bombs with the low group rather than with the lead group.
We skirted the flak and little or no damage in the group.
Return route was followed as briefed to the channel where we had a Wing dispersal and from there we came in as a group.
We were number two group to land and encountered no trouble during the landing procedure.
Low Group, 1st “B” CBW [600th]
Take-off was normal. Assembly was at 15,000 feet over Debden and was accomplished without incident. Wing departed assembly point one (1) minute early. Wing climbed to 19,000 feet over channel and this altitude was held to control point #3 where climb was started to 25,000 feet.
Bomb run was made at 25,000 feet. Low Group lead was PFF and a separate run was made. High group dropped on low group. Results were unobserved due to cloud.
Let-down and return to base were made without incident.
Flak over target was moderate and inaccurate.
No E/A were observed.
Weather was as briefed.
Detailed reasons why A/C did not attack:
A/C 42-97374 - Not a pathfinder. Left formation and returned to home base due to broken exhaust manifold on No. 1 cylinder of No. 2 engine. Not a sortie.
A/C 42-102562 - Not a pathfinder. Left formation and returned to home base due to internal failure of No. 4 engine. Not a sortie.
A/C 42-107188 - Not a pathfinder. Left formation and returned to home base due to an external hydraulic oil line on #4 engine. Was a sortie.
EDWIN B. DAILY,
Major, Air Corps,
Operations Officer
398th History CD File: B0483b.pdf
PDF Page: 434, 435
Numbered Page: 1012, 1013
Transcribed by: Ann Collins, February 2004
HEADQUARTERS 398TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H), AAF
Office of the Group Bombardier
APO 557
5 September 1944
SUBJECT: Lead Bombardier’s Narrative, Mission 5 September 1944, Lead Group (601st Squadron)
TO: Commanding Officer, 398th Bombardment Group (H), AAF, APO 557, Station 131
1. Synthetic oil field at Ludwigshafen, Germany the primary target was bombed as briefed. Length of bomb run was 80 seconds on a magnetic heading of 044 degrees; IAS 150 mph; indicated altitude 25,200 ft. Bombs dropped on Wing Leader at 1111. Bombing was PFF.
2. Main bombfall: 12 A/C in the 398th Lead Group dropped 71 x 1,000 lb M65 GP bombs. One (1) of the A/C returned 1 x 1,000 lb M65 GP bomb. Fuse settings: 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail.
3. Baxter, M.V., 1st Lt., was the lead bombardier for the Lead Group. Bombing was done by PFF. No difficulty other than flak was encountered on bomb run. Was about 9/10 cloud coverage. C-1 pilot was used on bomb run. C-1 pilot was slightly out of adjustment. Primary target was bombed as briefed. Intervalometer setting was at 200 ft.
TABULAR SUMMARY
|
-
|
A/C on Target
|
Bombing
|
Number of Bombs
|
| Main Bombfall |
12
|
12
|
71 x 1,000 M65 GP, 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
| Other Attacks |
0
|
0
|
0 |
| Total on Target |
12
|
12
|
71 x 1,000 M65 GP, 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
| Bombs Returned |
|
|
1 x 1,000 lb M65 GP 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
| Others Expended |
|
|
0
|
| Total (Loaded on A/C at T.O.) |
|
|
72 x 1,000 M65 GP 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
Carl J. Strickrott,
Capt., Air Corps,
Group Bombardier
HEADQUARTERS 398TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H), AAF
Office of the Group Bombardier
APO 557
5 September 1944
SUBJECT: Lead Bombardier’s Narrative, Mission 5 September 1944, High Group (602nd Squadron)
TO: Commanding Officer, 398th Bombardment Group (H), AAF, APO 557, Station 131
1. Target - synthetic oil plant at Ludwigshafen, Germany the primary target was bombed as briefed. Length of run was 10 minutes on a magnetic heading of 60 degrees: IAS 150 mph; indicated altitude 25,500 ft. Bombs dropped on Group Leader at 1111. Bombing was PFF.
2. Main Bombfall: 11 A/C of the 398th High Group dropped 66 x 1,000 lb M65 GP bombs. One (1) A/C jettisoned 6 x 1,000 lb M65 GP bombs in the channel. One (1) A/C aborted and returned 6 x 1,000 M65 GP bombs. Fuse settings: 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail.
3. Martin, W.W. 1st Lt., was the lead bombardier for the High Group. The bomb run was PFF and flak was moderate. C-1 pilot was not used because Pilot was trying to hold group in wing formation for PFF bombing. Turn at IP was moderate. The primary target was bombed as briefed. Intervalometer setting for lead ship salvo and for Wing A/C 250 ft. On bomb run our group was quite distant from lead A/C.
TABULAR SUMMARY
|
-
|
A/C on Target
|
Bombing
|
Number of Bombs
|
| Main Bombfall |
11
|
11
|
66 x 1,000 lb M65 GP 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
| Other Attacks |
0
|
0
|
0 |
| Total on Target |
11
|
11
|
66 x 1,000 lb M65 GP 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
| Bombs Returned |
|
|
6 x 1,000 lb M65 GP 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
| Others Expended |
|
|
6 x 1,000 lb M65 GP 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
| Total (Loaded on A/C at T.O.) |
|
|
78 x 1,000 M65 GP 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
Carl J. Strickrott,
Capt., Air Corps,
Group Bombardier
HEADQUARTERS 398TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H), AAF
Office of the Group Bombardier
APO 557
5 September, 1944
SUBJECT: Lead Bombardier’s Narrative, Mission 5 September, 1944, Low Group (600th)
TO: Commanding Officer, 398th Bombardment Group (H), AAF, APO 557, Station 131
1. Target - Synthetic Oil Plant at Ludwigshfen, Germany the primary target was bombed as briefed. Length of bomb run was 6 minutes on a magnetic heading of 43 degrees; IAS 150 mph; indicated altitude 24,500 ft; bombs dropped on Wing Leader at 1111. Bombing was PFF.
2. Main Bombfall: 11 A/C in the 398t Low Group dropped 66 x 1,000lb M65 GP bombs. One (1) A/C aborted and returned 6 x 1,000 lb GP bombs. Fuse settings: 1/10 nose, 1/40 tail.
3. Fisher, K.F., 1st Lt., was the lead bombardier for the Low Group. No difficulties were encountered on the bomb run. Primary target was bombed as briefed. Bombing was done by PFF. Intervalometer setting was 200 ft. C-1 pilot was not used as we bombed on the Wing Leader.
TABULAR SUMMARY
|
-
|
A/C on Target
|
Bombing
|
Number of Bombs
|
| Main Bombfall |
11
|
11
|
66 x 1,000lb |
| Other Attacks |
0
|
0
|
0 |
| Total on Target |
11
|
11
|
66 x 1,000 lb M65 GP
1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
| Bombs Returned |
|
|
6 x 1,000 lb M65 GP
1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
| Others Expended |
|
|
0 |
| Total (Loaded on A/C at T.O.) |
|
|
72 x 1,000 lb M65 GP
1/10 nose, 1/40 tail |
Carl J. Strickrott,
Capt., Air Corps,
Group Bombardier
398th History CD File: B0483b.pdf
PDF Page(s): 462, 465, 468
Numbered Page(s): 1040, 1043, 1046
Transcribed by: Ann Collins, February, 2004
Notes:
- 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.
- 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.
- Clarification of acronyms or special words or guesses of certain words and added words are shown in brackets [ ].
- 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.
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