DOCUMENT 53812
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 201, 29 Jan 1945, Bad Kreuznach, Germany During the night a total of 16 RAF Halifax bombers landed at Deenethorpe and were parked on Runway 05. They will be refueled and leave in the morning. Briefing of the Group took place at 0430 hours. All but two of the operational aircraft were off by 0816 hours, and the two who had been delayed were airborne by 0859 hours. All 401st aircraft had returned by 1532 hours. Flying Control reported: "Snowing again". The 401st not only provided the three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group but led the entire 1st Air Division. Because the primary target, rail workshops at Siegen, Germany, was completely obscured by clouds, a run was started on the secondary target. However, the Gee-H system failed, and as a backup a PFF run was ordered. By that time it was too late to attack the secondary, so bombs were dropped by PFF (radar)on the town of Bad Kreuznach. No flak or fighters were encountered, and no battle damage or casualties were reported.
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Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Farmer's Daughter
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Baby Lu, Grin N Bear It
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Miss Aldaflak Section 8
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Cover Girl
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Betty J.
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Locations
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Mission
- Date: 29 January 1945